Ever since I was young, I was told to focus solely on my grades in school by my parents. As I got older, I realized that, while high marks and solid standardized test scores do indeed provide some indication of how well a student works, they are merely one of many facets that make an outstanding student. For example, I may not have a perfect 4.0 GPA, but the general increase in my grades over the years does show that I put forth a good effort into trying to succeed in my classes. Furthermore, my academic record doesn’t include how much I’ve contributed to the school or a group in the school, or how much I’ve contributed to the community through volunteering and helping others, or any other extracurricular activities in which I’ve participated.
