As a realist, I know the advice of a CW farewell column means little, but writing this means a great deal to me. To 99 percent of you, this column will seem ridiculous. To some it will be common sense, and others won’t care. You are not the intended audience. I’m writing for the 1 percent, who like me, have an “academic addiction” and consider their 4.0 more precious than gold.
If I may slip in a nerdy analogy, a perfect GPA is like the One Ring, and we are Sméagol. The GPA calls to us, and we will do most anything to get and keep it. It seems an object of great power, opening doors for the one who possesses it. But putting it above everything else can destroy you. Smeagol began as a hobbit and slowly devolved into Gollum. When your grades for their own sake become the thing that matter most to you, you lose sight of everything else that matters – your friends, your passions, sleep, social interaction, even your religion. You only say “yes” to schoolwork and “no” to everything else – you become Gollum.
Speaking from experience, it isn’t worth it.
I am a hypocrite to be saying this, of course. It’s a struggle every day for me to remember that a 4.0 for 4.0’s sake is meaningless. I’ll freely admit that I fail; that red cap is still my golden calf. But the most important thing is to try. Try to realize that, while the classroom can give you one form of education, your experiences and your activities outside of it will also teach and mold you. It is far better to seek to learn, to grow in one’s knowledge, passions and experiences, for the benefit of yourself and those around you, than for grades alone. If you manage to realize this and your GPA still remains high, congrats, you’re doing it right. Hopefully you figured this out quicker than I did.
College years should not be defined by grades, but by knowledge gained and the lasting memories, impact and friendships made. When you are lying on your death bed, or walking across that stage in Coleman, will you cherish that night you stayed in studying for a test that is in 3 days, or memories of late night escapades and midnight sushi? Do perfect grades matter more than impacting the lives of others and following your passions?
After high school, I swore in college I would avoid repeating these mistakes – I didn’t at first. It took wonderful friends and mentors, as well as heartache, regrets and time, for it to finally click. So thanks to the friends who put up with me at my worst and pushed me to my best. To AJ, Ryan, Ben, Jordan, Mary, Christine, Raulie, CBHers, SWEsters, ME brethren and everyone else who has changed who I am over these past four years, thank you. Without your support, persistence, brilliance and divine graciousness, I would not be myself. I will treasure your friendships more than anything I’ve gained in college. The same goes to my advisors and mentors, especially Drs. Todd, Ashford and Sharpe, who gave of their time and wisdom repeatedly throughout my years here at Bama. I only hope I can pass on what you have given to me.
Obviously, the choice is up to you. There are times when saying no to going out is appropriate, and then there are times when you are passing up chances to make lifelong memories. All I can tell you is that balance is wonderful, and if you can find a way to balance your schooling, passions and social life (and sleep), you will have achieved a greater maturity than most people reach in their lifetimes. I’ll certainly be jealous of you.
So cherish your time here in Tuscaloosa. Go to class and go to football games. Learn from your friends and from your mistakes. Remember that “yes” and “no” are two little words that can have a very powerful impact on your life – learn when to use each.
I’ll close with two more little words that I will say till I die – Roll Tide.
Sarah Johnson is the recipient of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship and Catherine Johnson Randall Award.
