It’s not uncommon that we hear students and teachers go about their days mentioning the “model student.” These so-called model students finish their final projects two weeks before the due date. They’re the only students who finish the seven-page packet the next day after it is assigned. They consider any grade below 95% a failure. There’s a strange disconnect between the stereotype of a successful student and what actually builds a successful person, yet somehow we continue to aid this idea and attempt to homogenize the population.
Many of the qualities we praise the model student for—such as work ethic, integrity, and dedication— are qualities I truly admire. Indeed, they make up thoughtful humans who genuinely love what they do regardless of their next grade or paycheck. The trickier end of the “model student” I find problematic and difficult to unpack is how those values are associated with “success.” Most notably at BASIS, many of us spend much of our time walking down the stereotypical academic path: taking all honors or AP classes, working a full week ahead of deadlines, overwhelming ourselves with three or more time-consuming extracurriculars, and so on. It’s a cycle that is repeated over and over again. Yes, conformity to the norm is safe and completely fine. It’s a peaceful way to live life but nowhere near a step toward “making history.” People today are so entangled in perfection that we fail to realize that somewhere in the impossible list of things that make up the model student are contradicting ideas. The model student resembles a simple roadmap: excelling in high school, going into a top university, graduating, continuing to study, and then making discoveries in their desired field. And not to mention, they don’t take breaks. Model students don’t need breaks. I’m not that student, and many of us aren’t. For instance, my peers in English class are fantastic analyzers. They’re considerate of the text and draft a well-thought-out explanation. However, they also work at their own pace. Utilizing more time to think and write doesn’t take away from their own unique ability to succeed.
I’m also concerned about today’s common understanding of creativity. Why must important visions be “outside the box?” Why can’t a good idea stay within established lines? The world was and is continuing to be molded by different people with different cultures. In the past, changes in the world were made by few non-average views. As long as one strives to make an impact in some meaningful way, nonconformity and uniqueness is welcomed in society. Setting high standards for yourself is a good thing. There is, however, a stark difference between healthy self-reflectance and toxic self-deprecation. Perfectionism is having excessively high standards that are unrealistic. It can lead to depression, lower life satisfaction, general anxiety, and lower self-worth. Those who attach irrational importance to the smallest details often also struggle with self-soothing since they’re unable to reach their standards. Luckily, some of our own Yellow Jackets have shared their stories to help us grow within ourselves and avoid unhealthy mindsets.
“I see my friends trying to be perfect and I hear a lot of ‘I’m going to fail, I’m not good enough,’” Esha (11) mentions. Esha suggests we take a step back and remind ourselves that we don’t need to be perfect. Life is a never-ending process and there will always be setbacks, but by enjoying the process, the journey is always better. “I struggled with different subjects but I knew I didn’t have to ace those subjects. I focused more because I put in time and effort.” Olivia (10) talks about how her own experience has changed her perspectives toward her life’s worth. “Last year I was concerned about other peoples’ business but now I’m trying to focus on my own progress.” Many of us are constantly pressured to prove our abilities to others. By recognizing the harm in this issue, we can recover and accept that going at our own pace will only help us achieve greater things.