← Back to portfolio

Are Grades Important? - Opinion Writing

Published on

     

     Grades are really important, especially when you are planning for college. Middle school grades don’t matter as much, but they can prepare you for the years to come. In my first semester of high school, I had a 4.34 Grade Point Average. I felt really proud. My hard work was paying off, and I built great relationships with my teachers. As I think back to sixth grade, I had a B+ in language arts, and it stressed me out because it was just the beginning of middle school. I knew I could do better. I learned very quickly that my grades mattered, and I was determined to work harder. If you have a grade you are not happy with, it will take extra effort to raise your grade.
     

     Grades are important, because they will prepare you for your future. There are many types of students at school. Some work hard on homework and tests, and they typically get good grades. Others slack off on homework and studying. Those people usually get bad grades, and they are not fulfilling their potential. Many people think grades don’t matter. They do matter! Colleges look at your grades, and your grades reflect the effort they believe you displayed in high school. If you don’t work hard in the classroom, which results in low grades, then most colleges will not accept you. Grades show where you are in your academic level and how much work you put into school. School work always comes before sports, and I have made academics a priority. Participating in activities will, however, help improve your time management skills. You will be more likely to work efficiently while studying when you are in a time crunch.
     

     You must be willing to sacrifice other things for school. That may mean you will need to stay up later than you'd prefer to get your homework done.  Also, you may not have time to spend with your friends outside of class until the weekend. I stay up late every night to make sure I get all of my homework done, so I am prepared for my upcoming tests. If you work hard enough, you can even be recognized by teachers and other students. I won the Jack Wahlig Award for my involvement in activities, success in academics, and leadership in the classroom. It is very humbling to get recognized for the hard work I put in to school. You should make it a goal to improve your grades with hard work.
     

     Grades help determine your future, including potential scholarships you may receive and what college you will attend. You have to be confident that you will get the grade you want. If you have great grades, it could help set you up for being more successful later in life. You must prepare yourself now for the future. I believe we need to raise expectations for ourselves and set goals for high achievement. If people are on the wrong path during high school, they may never change their habits in the future. You can’t have bad grades your whole life and expect to get hired for the best paying job available. I encourage all people to strive for good grades to increase their chances for success later in life. You can never give up. You must raise your confidence level to prove to yourself that you can do anything.