Grades

Last semester was one of my worst semesters academically since I've been back in graduate school. Instead of A's, B's and C's, my university gives 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, etc for grades. I've never received lower than a 3.0, well, I received my first and only 3.0 that first semester back - last semester. Whether I'd deserved what felt like a low grade for my work in the class was neither here nor there, it was on my transcript and I was not about to fight the grade. So this semester, with all the drama, the emotional issues, and my health setbacks, plus let us not forget I was in statistics... I was curious about what my grades may be. I wasn't concerned about any 3.0 grades. I knew I was doing okay. Seeing my 4.0s in my classes for this semester, though, truly gave me a smile.

I am not a straight 4.0 student. I never was and I've never strived to be one. I am not and also will never claim to be all that intelligent. I am capable and intelligent enough. I work hard, though.  I was never that student where everything came easy, and it's even harder now because my memory is worse than ever. I will study for days for a test and in multiple ways. My longer term memory is much better than my short term memory.

As a kid, I was in the middle of being an accelerated kid and not. They would promote me to the accelerated classroom because I'd be ahead of the regular classroom, but I'd fall behind the accelerated kids. I never studied hard as a kid. I was not well motivated then.

I have never scored very high on standardized tests. I do alright - high enough to get in to decent schools, but I've never tried to get into the most competitive schools and my scores would have been barriers. Yet, I can tutor people to get great scores, and they do. Always a better coach, than a player!

My average GPA at my undergrad was alright, not great. I had too much "life" going on to fully concentrate on school at times. My law school didn't give grades, but evaluations, I did fine.

Applying to grad schools I've always been very successful, even at very selective schools. That, I believe, has a bit to do with my academics and scores (they open doors), but much more with my essays, resume, and my story of who I am and what I hope to accomplish.

So, what is this blog entry really about? It's about the fact that ultimately grades do not matter. If I am learning or doing my best, I can ask nothing more of myself. I've been given many opportunities in life without a perfect ACT score or GRE score or LSAT score. I've had a less than perfect GPA and still have been accepted to top five programs in the country. This is not to toot my horn, it is to tell you, or your kids, that IT IS OKAY to get a B once in a while or in my case a 3.0 in a class. Your success is based on who you ARE as a PERSON and not on what some numbers say about you. Never give up on yourself or think yourself less intelligent because you don't have perfect grades.

If you always were to get perfect grades, why go to school? School is for learning, not already knowing everything! It's about improving.

Yes. I was happy to see I did well in my classes this semester. They were tough courses - especially stats. Not every semester's grades have been so successful and that's okay too.

An Emotional Year of School

It's my week between classes. The official academic year ended Friday and summer session starts next week. I have a lot of catching you up on. Some you know, some not so much...

I think this last academic semester would have to be one of my most challenging academically and emotionally. I'm sure some of my law school quarters were just as academically challenging, but that was a long time ago, so I don't remember. I can say, that I enjoyed the academic challenge of it, though, and I think I did alright in the end. I should know tomorrow.

I've learned a lot this year inside and outside the classroom. My need for my GA program is stronger than ever. Last week I attended an out of state conference and experienced some amazing fellowship. I had the privilege and humbling opportunity to be both a workshop presenter and a closing speaker. Telling part of my story to a room of GA and GAM-ANON peers gave me so much energy, although I think there wasn't a dry eye in the room when I was done. I'll have to work on that! I need to end in a joke or something! Ha!! I love public speaking...

A year ago this month, I was on a fence wondering if I was going to go home on my home confinement date or not. Every day, I was at my case worker's office for updates. Would I be approved for halfway house? Did they ever get my papers? Right now, I lay in my nice comfy bed and reflect on a tough year of growth, and I am grateful for the experiences. They may not have all been pleasant, but I made my way through them. I did not do anything I am ashamed of along the way. I am doing the best I can at the life being a human. I'm proud to have made it through another year of graduate school.