By Sayuri Vargas-Hernandez, Staff Writer
For many college students, finals week is more than just a series of exams; it feels like a test of identity. As deadlines pile up and GPAs are overlooked, in finals week, everything on campus centers on grades and exams.
“When one has years of being praised for ‘being smart’ or getting As, it’s easy to internalize that as value. College is different from high school as students face more choices, greater freedoms, and the challenges of figuring out who they want to be as adults,” said Harmony Curry, a sophomore majoring in clinical psychology.
Campus life can seem to only focus on performance. Success is often measured in numbers, which can make low grades feel like personal failures for many students.
Once the rush fades and the quiet of post-finals set in, students are left with a deeper question: “Who am I when the grades are no longer in front of me?”
Grades clearly serve a purpose. They reflect effort, comprehension, and discipline. They can open doors to scholarships, internships, and career opportunities for students. However, grades cannot capture the full picture of a student’s value.
Grades cannot measure kindness, resilience, or creativity. They don’t account for the late-night conversations that build friendships, the courage to try something new, or the persistence to keep going when life feels overwhelming.
Professors and academic advisors often remind students that identity should not be tied only to academic achievement. Grades may measure effort, but don’t define the worth of anybody.
“College is a major time for exploring identity. If the rest of your identity, like hobbies, relationships, or passions, hasn’t been developed outside of school, it’s especially hard to separate your sense of self-worth from your GPA,” said Curry.
Instead of asking “What did I achieve?” try asking, “What did I learn about myself?” Finals week may test knowledge, but it also builds character.
Students become stronger in the face of the impossible as they discover new ways to manage stress and balance responsibilities.
“The best predictor of future behavior is what has happened in the past, and if students have had successes in other classes previously, then they will most certainly find such successes again in the future. Thus, realistically attributing final examination performance and overall class performance in a given class during a given term to either internal versus external factors can help us maintain our self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-worth and lead to a healthy perspective on ourselves and our grades,” said Dr. Kevin Kieffer, professor of psychology and the psychology internship coordinator.
Outside of the classroom, identity grows through passions, discipline, and connections. Whether it’s art, athletics, volunteering, or spending time with loved ones, these experiences will remind students that they are not alone because all of these experiences come from growth, authenticity, and community.
Finals week will always carry pressure. But when exams end, and the quiet returns, students have an opportunity to reflect, to breathe, and to remember that worth is not earned through grades alone. It is found in the continuing journey of becoming who you are.
