Fall Break is behind us. Where did this semester go? I could have sworn that just a few weeks ago it was late August and final grades were a distant worry.

But now that worry is not so distant. There are just weeks left in this semester, and the heat is on. I would be willing to bet that I’m not the only one who has been feeling the pressure of the last tests of the term and the stress of looming final projects. I can almost feel the tension all over campus as we prepare for the final stretch. It is that delicate time of year in which grades are hang in the balance, and it’s our last chance to get them where we want them to be.

As college students, grades carry a lot of weight in our lives. Many of us have dreams of medical school or law school, and our GPA is part of our ticket to that destination. Others count on grades that will stand out on a job application.

Whatever the motivation, it is hard to deny that grades are important, and there is immense pressure on college students to excel academically. We are encouraged by parents and coerced by professors to do well. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as we could all probably use a little encouragement, but I for one put a great deal of pressure on myself to do well.

The pressure to do well academically in addition to managing various other responsibilities can be debilitating. According to a study done by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than forty percent of college students have felt more than the average amount of stress in the past year. The study also found that thirty-one percent of students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function, and over fifty percent felt that large amounts of anxiety were hindering their academic performance.

These alarming findings are not an unfortunate coincidence College courses are strenuous for every major. We put so much time and effort into our work, it’s hard not to base some of our self-worth and value in our grades.

But grades are fleeting. Something is bound to go south. No one will make an A on every single test, paper and project. And even if you manage to, you will probably have completely worn yourself down in doing so.

I often have to remind myself to put things into perspective. My GPA does not define what kind of a person I am. Life will go on even if I do not make an A+ on every test and paper. Taking moments to step back, relax and realize those things has been my saving grace in college (that and my planner).

Find solace in the fact that your worth is not defined by a box on DegreeWorks. You are more than a grade.

Anna Wood is a sophomore majoring in advertising. Her column runs biweekly