Don’t Find Your Worth in Your Grades

Let’s admit it. Too many of us let our grades define us. Yes, you know who you are. Believe me, I’m with you.

When we get that A, we feel successful. It gives us energy and makes the day so much better. On the contrary, anything less than perfect causes us anxiety and puts a damper on the rest of the week.

Recently, I wrote a paper for my Western Civilization II class, which I believed merited a good grade. Unfortunately, my professor thought differently.

When he handed back the papers and I saw my grade, I tensed and felt my face flush.

It wasn’t the grade I expected or wanted to receive. I let that one grade ruin my whole day, making me moody and irritated.

It’s so frustrating when you think you’ve done well, but it turns out you haven’t.

However, please don’t let your grades define you.

For a long time, and sometimes even now, I let my grades define me. It influenced every area of my life, especially my self-confidence.

This is crazy, when I think about it. My grades don’t make me a better friend or a better Christian. It shouldn’t influence all other aspects of my life.

Obviously, grades are an integral aspect of college, but they don’t define us as people. I encourage everyone to give their very best at their homework as responsible students. As Christians, we are given a charge by Christ to do everything with excellence. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.” We are serving the Lord Christ.

In some cases, this very best results in a less-than-satisfactory grade, like my Western Civ paper. That’s okay (I’m repeating that to myself). If we gave it our best attempt, what else can we do?

As Christians, we believe that our identity is found in Christ, which is where our worth is found. Let’s work hard to embrace that truth in our day-to-day lives.