Figuring out what to do after high school is a daunting task. You are asked to plan for your whole future given the experiences you had in the last four years. For me, I spent the last four years studying for the next exam and catching up on bottomless reading assignments. It wasn’t until after high school that I thought about the kind of person I wanted to be—how I wanted to be remembered. I decided that no matter what, I wanted to inspire other people to unlock their potential. I started my first STEM extracurricular in my first year of college. I chose to become a math tutor to help students overcome their fear and distaste of mathematics. I dedicated so much time to tutoring that my academic life was withering. I had to balance and ultimately choose what was more important to me.
In the classroom, you can follow a certain formula that will grant you straight A’s. However, is it the letter grade that we should aim for, or the knowledge and values? We ultimately will carry the bigger picture with us down the road and not specific formulae—in mathematics class, we learn how to approach and break down problems using math as a medium. This means practicing math builds the foundations for everyday problem-solving. So if what we want is this bigger picture, does a high GPA achieve better worldly skills? While a high GPA proves capability for higher education, it doesn’t necessarily demonstrate passion, and a burning passion will defeat less passionate talent. Grades are still a measure of success and shouldn’t be taken lightly. We know that we need to strike a balance, but how should we focus our efforts?
I see personal development as a greater strength than grade points. After graduating and entering the workforce, our personal experiences will be the defining mold that shaped(and continues to shape) us into who we are. Careers, especially in STEM, depend on a wide range of skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership. Viewing these skills as equal to classes in school yields well-rounded individuals who will solve real-world problems. This holistic approach emphasizes a diversity of experiences. Exposure to different projects and cultures builds the emotional intelligence of an individual, letting them earn resilience, adaptability, and empathy. While tutoring, I learned more about how people work than I ever have in the classroom. I met students from various backgrounds and sharpened my interpersonal skills. One of my most memorable students was a shy girl studying Integrated II math.
I sat across from her and set her up with a polynomial equation worksheet. When I checked in to see how she was doing, she told me that she was doing fine. It wasn’t until half an hour went by that I took a good look at her work and realized she had no clue what she was doing. My strategy now was to reach out to her and break the problem down into manageable parts; she flew through the rest. These instances happen on a larger scale: managers to their employees and those of that sort. All of these lessons that I learned while teaching came down to nuance. It is nuance that is only taught in the world outside of school. Nuance is the receptacle and determining factor of powerful communication, interpersonal skills, and critical thinking.
Balance is necessary to live a well-rounded life, but it is most important to gain experience in diverse situations. Extracurriculars are the key to becoming a stronger and more creative person.