Standards: Achieving Academically

Often when discussing things, specifically education, and I have a different view, the phrase "but you don't count" comes up.  People are quick to say "but you're smart" and I wonder, does that mean they think they're dumb? Not only is that a bad way to view yourself, but its also contradicting if my argument is that you are no smarter or dumber than anyone else and can pass your classes just like everyone else...

Let's step back a second. At Clemson, there's always this thing about Black students having a hard time keeping a good GPA (good being defined as greater than or equal to a 3.0). People have forums and initiatives, programs and everything else to combat this. While I think the programs are good programs, I don't think that "Black students" have a hard time keeping a good GPA at Clemson, I think students from certain schools have a hard time keeping a good GPA. These school might have large Black populations, they may have large White populations; at the end of the day, all schools do not afford the same secondary education (which is a travesty and a topic for another post). Just in my hometown, I know we were taught topics in school that were not taught at other schools in my county. Educational opportunities and money tend to go hand in hand, so I'm more apt to believe there's a correlation between socio-economics and GPA than skin color and GPA. Which means there is no reason for America to be "dumber" than China (or Japan, or England, or anywhere else), and definitely there is no reason (except blatant racism) for Black students to have a harder time getting a 3.0 than White students. I'm not going to say racism doesn't happen (how to handle racism in academia may be a topic for another post as well), but I will say that since none of the people whom I've had these conversations with have ever suggested racism and admit to not knowing/understanding the material: it's safe to assume that isn't the cause.


My point of the day is that perspective has much more to do with academic achievement in America (for both Black and White students). You see, my Asian friends expect to get a A, their parents expect them to get an A, and their friends expect them to get an A. Intelligence is cool for them. For us, it's a death sentence in your social reputation for you to be smart (don't mess around and get the highest grade in a class--we all know how people feel about the person who throws off the curve). It's not cool to be the smart kid in America--it's not valuable either. You can get a full ride plus perks to college because you're an all star athlete but you can't get that kind of money as an honor student.

Perspective. Mentality. They make a difference.

I've heard so many arguments--excuses--for poor academic performance and they drive me up the wall. When discussing the low numbers of membership in NPHC organizations on campus, someone concluded that it was hard for Black students to maintain the set GPA (at the time it was 2.5, now it's 2.7) and we shouldn't have to. My question was, does it inspire anyone to make a higher GPA to allow them to do what they want with a low GPA? What's your motivation to get a 2.7 or a 3.0 or even better if you can join your chosen organization with a 2.0? And everyone looks at me like O_O. I'm the bad guy for saying if you don't have a decent GPA you have no business pledging an organization. People counter with "just because they have a low GPA doesn't make them a bad person, they may have other strong qualities." Well, I'm almost certain they do; I'm not inferring that having a low GPA makes you a bad person. I'm stating that if you have a low GPA you are struggling in your primary purpose for being in school--learning. Adding extracurricular activities to your schedule is not going to help you improve your learning. So someone counters with "well you don't know what they were going through." No, I don't, but I don't think pledging an organization is going to make whatever they were going through disappear. I also think it's going to bring on more problems and responsibilities if anything--so you want to give them more to deal with?

Mentality!

We are so quick to excuse underachievement. We pass it off as being Black or "going through something." These same people will tell me I achieved because "I'm just smart" or "I'm a genius." I'm not a genius; I did the work, I prioritized my education first, I expect to do more than just pass my classes. I didn't cheat, as seems to be a popular method and conversation--really? Who admits to cheating out loud!? Then have the nerve to say it's a Black struggle? No ma'am. No sir.

Before you excuse your lack of performance or say someone else is "smarter", please ask yourself, where is your standard set? Did you go into the class hoping for a C and come out with a D? Then maybe you should have gone in with A mentality, because you might have gotten a B and best case you get an A. Did you settle for a mediocre GPA to join other organizations, go out an party when you knew you had a test coming up? Did you tell your friends their expectations were good, or did you offer to study with them and tell them you know they can do better?

Before you call me judgmental which implies my expectations are too high, tell me are you saying you can't achieve high standards?

Let's reevaluate our mentality on  setting and following through with high standards (not just academically).