Academics can be some students’ main source of validation and oftentimes what they identify with. While some may say this is the doing of the student, it is far more than that. The education system uses grades as a way to reward students for their achievements instead of recognizing their progress. We students are so much more than our statistics, which is one of the reasons why I believe that valedictorian recognition can be illegitimate. 

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a valedictorian, and as such, I think I’m in the position to criticize the title. 

We all have different struggles, circumstances and experiences that make us who we are, and while I don’t intend to discredit the title of valedictorian, there are important points that should be made when talking about it. 

For one, I don’t believe that it measures a student’s success in high school. To individual students, a C in one class may be just as meaningful to them as an A in another. Oftentimes, the hard work of each student can go unrecognized because we are so focused on pushing ourselves to extreme limits for academic “success.” Why is it that we praise all As, but sometimes aren’t able to recognize the importance of progress? Academic validation doesn’t often come from the student, but rather from the pressure they receive to obtain certain grade points. It’s so often that we compare ourselves to others instead of recognizing our own development.

While it is great to recognize students for their academic achievements, it should be done in a way that highlights progress and perseverance. Each student has had their ups and downs that have made them into who they are. Everyone’s accomplishments may be different, but should be recognized all the same. Our failures make us the people we are, not perfection.