Finals Self-Worth Advice - Faith, Stress, Peace, Self-Love You Are Not A Product Of Your GPA

You Are Not A Product Of Your GPA

Finals Self-Worth Advice - Faith, Stress, Peace, Self-Love

With finals week quickly approaching, it’s easy to fall off the self-worth path. This time of the year causes people to sleep less, stress more, and lose sight of what’s important.

You might be thinking if you don’t get all A’s on all of your exams, you will be less of a person. You might think your life will crumble or you’ll never be able to reach your dreams.

Yes, finals are important. Studying is a privilege, because you are lucky enough to go to college in the first place. So this isn’t advice to tell you to drop out and be a lazy bum for the rest of your life.

But this calls you to something deeper. It is a challenge to not put your worth in how well you do on your finals.

When you look at your final grades a month from now, are you going to be distraught? You should not feel like a failure just because of a grade on a test.

If you find yourself falling into these traps, you are putting way too much of your worth in your GPA.

Why are you stressing so much? Maybe because you want to get in to your dream graduate school or to feel confident going into that crucial interview of your dream job. You think once you get your dream job, your life will be sunshine and rainbows.

Yet the above scenario is a total fluke, a utopia. Your work and job will never satisfy you. Before you idolize your career, realize a job is never going to solve all your problems.

You might just need a change of mindset. I certainly did this past semester. I thought my grades would fulfill me, so I stressed myself out and studied for hours on end.  But I found I was studying for myself, so I would be able to call my mom and flaunt about all the hard work I did to get that grade.

There is always going to be another test to study your butt off for. There is always going to be another assignment you need to do perfectly so your boss potentially promotes you.

Once we achieve one thing, we are immediately looking for the next obstacle. We never feel whole from this self-fulfillment.

After feeling convicted by my motives behind schoolwork, I tried to have a change of mindset. I studied not to glorify myself, but to use the gifts God gave me (a working brain) and the opportunity to be at school. I study now with the intention of making a difference telling stories about the world around me. And to get there, I know I need to go to college.

With this mindset, studying is not about me anymore. Instead, I study to make the world a better place.

And we can always take comfort that no matter how many hours you study, you are going to end up just where you are supposed to be in life.

One test (or even a couple more) is not going to dictate the path laid out for you.

And honestly, I think employers more so care about you as a person and what you have done with your experience in college than your GPA. Sure, your grades play a factor, but mostly they care about your leadership positions and personality traits.

Isn’t this a testament to our worth?

You are not valuable because of your latest good grades, but because of who you are as a person. You are what makes you special, no matter what your transcript says.

Finals Self-Worth Advice - Faith, Stress, Peace, Self-LoveSo for the next week or two, cut yourself some slack. Make sure you study and use your brain. But also, eat some ice cream, get some good sleep, hang out with your friends, laugh with your study buddies, even eat some M&M’s. Life is short.

You never know when your last day could be. Do you want your last day to be spent in selfish isolation? Or would you rather try your best but also make time to enjoy your life while your at it?

Studying doesn’t have to be so miserable. It can be God glorifying.

Before you freak out and have a panic attack, just think: Will this test matter in ten years? 

Chances are, it won’t. You probably won’t even remember it, and instead you will be focusing on other tasks you need to get done for the moment.

Do your best, and do not kick yourself if you don’t do as well as you thought you would. No matter what your grades are, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

So happy studying, friends. Never forget you are so much more than your GPA.

Xoxo,

Ash

April 24, 2017

College, Faith, Lifestyle

  1. Becca

    April 24th, 2017 at 2:44 PM

    I love this post. Just because your grades aren’t amazing doesn’t mean you can’t make something of your life. There’s so many other avenues to go down!

    Becca

    http://www.QueenBeeBecca.com

  2. [email protected]

    April 26th, 2017 at 10:57 PM

    Thanks for stopping by, Becca! Exactly, your grades certainly do not run the course of your life. It is so cool you realize that. Hugs and love xo

  3. Kim

    April 24th, 2017 at 3:31 PM

    Thanks for sharing this, Ash! I can totally relate with your post. I guess it’s because GPA’s such a big thing when it comes to applying for Uni / work. So you can’t help but feel like nothing when you fail a test. But everything you said is true, GPA isn’t what makes you you. We shouldn’t see it as a way to validate ourselves as a person.

  4. [email protected]

    April 26th, 2017 at 10:55 PM

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, Kim! I am really glad you could relate with this. Thanks for the support. Hugs and love xox

  5. JasTravs

    April 24th, 2017 at 3:31 PM

    Good advice. As someone that graduated college what seems like ages ago I can tell you that no one has ever asked my grade on a final exam except other college students. Overall it’s important to do your best and put in the work but not worth it to stress over a single grade.

  6. [email protected]

    April 26th, 2017 at 10:54 PM

    Thanks for sharing your past experience with this! I hope you have a wonderful week!

  7. Candace

    April 24th, 2017 at 7:17 PM

    I recently graduated from uni and my dream has been to go to dental school and become a dentist. For me it’s hard as hell not to feel like my entire identity and self worth is in my marks lol. I’ve applied to dental school two years now and I still haven’t got it in…because of my marks/gpa. I feel like a failure, like my life means nothing unless I get into dental school since it’s all I worked for. I’m hanging in there though, following your advice, I am not my grades or my job but it’s hard

  8. [email protected]

    April 26th, 2017 at 10:52 PM

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts here, Candance! I can’t even imagine the pressure you are feeling in this time of your life. However, I want to assure you that despite your feelings, you are NOT a failure. Your feelings are feeding you lies. Your life is valuable and has deep purpose, whether you become a dentist or not. If you did become a dentist, you wouldn’t be special because you’re a dentist but because of how wonderful you are just being yourself. With that being said, I think it’s awesome you are pursuing this dream, but you could still keep your eyes open for another career opportunity you could make a serious difference in. If it is meant for you to be a dentist, it will be, and that is something you can cling to. You can also cling to how much purpose you have in this world just by being you.I wish you the best of luck Candace, and thanks for stopping by! big hugs xo

  9. Cheryl

    April 24th, 2017 at 10:35 PM

    I keep trying to tell that to my son who’s worried about not getting into college.

  10. [email protected]

    April 26th, 2017 at 10:37 PM

    Hi Cheryl! That’s so exciting for your son in his venture to get into college. It’s awesome you are feeding him encouragement, telling him where his identity is truly found in. I wish him the best of luck with college!

  11. Molly

    April 25th, 2017 at 7:20 AM

    I can assure you that test won’t even matter in one year! Being out of college for one year now makes me realize how much I stressed about stuff that literally no one else cares about. As long as you show you’re driven and motivated, you will be a-okay!

    http://www.mollyonthemoveblog.com

  12. [email protected]

    April 26th, 2017 at 10:36 PM

    Thank you for your honest words, Molly! I find that I stress myself out but I need to remind myself that GPA really won’t matter in 10 years. Hugs and love xoxo

  13. Melissa

    April 27th, 2017 at 10:55 AM

    Being a student can be so stressful… But it’s true. If you didn’t do well in an exam or final it’s not the end of the world. At the end the important thing is, if you learned something, be proud of that! I used to get so nervous during exams and I would get things wrong when actually I did know it! It can be frustrating.

    xx, Melissa
    https://elephantontheroad.com

  14. [email protected]

    April 30th, 2017 at 11:17 PM

    Hi Melissa! I totally agree with you. I think we get so focused on the grades part of college and never sit to think how grateful we should be to actually be learning material for the future. Learning is the entire point of going to school, anyways! Thanks for your great input! Hugs and love xox

  15. Katie

    June 8th, 2017 at 10:28 AM

    This is SO true! I recently went to a resume workshop and after 1-2 years after college, they said it doesn’t even matter what your GPA is and to not place it on your resume. To employers it’s more about experience and passion. I am so glad my employers have not measured me by my grades. A work ethic goes a long way compared to other things. When I was in college I used to freak out about my grades and looking back it really doesn’t even matter. As long as you put in the effort and try your best, you will succeed in whatever career path you choose. Adore your blog by the way! Love when you stop by mine. Means the world! =)

    Katie | http://www.katieskronicles.org

  16. [email protected]

    June 8th, 2017 at 7:05 PM

    Katie, you’re so sweet! I positively love your blog, and I hope the room decoration/transition has been going smoothly 🙂 This is so reassuring to hear that employers really didn’t care about your GPA. The fact we stress about it at a unhealthy level is so unnecessary. Thanks for sharing your story! hugs and love xox

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