SUCCESS AND FAILURE are both tightropes

to survive, one must dare to balance as well as a brace for stumbles.

In school, something similar to a ladder of achievers exists, and I've never liked the idea of the highest or lowest step. They were never thanked for what they had accomplished; instead, they were given a certificate and an inaudible round of applause. However, if we take a closer look, we can see that they are praised more for their grades. They'll be given a label that will subsequently characterize them. The genuine meaning of being an honor student has been obliterated. There's a lot to prove, and the rooms where it's being done have gotten quite complicated.

This isn't meant to romanticize their status. As part of a student's metamorphosis, all pupils go through a succession of inconceivable hardships. Being an honor student, however, entails more responsibilities, obstacles, and pressure.

If we look at it closely, the term honor has progressively lost its meaning as it has become a means of proving one's intelligence in school—and most students are under a great deal of pressure to succeed while attempting to establish that they belong on the class's top list. The classroom had devolved into a battleground of who could obtain the greatest grade, who could talk the most, who could write the best, who could perform effectively, and who could submit the work first. Is there, however, a guarantee that these types of achievements constitute a valid measure of one's award? Is it enough to win accolades to prove one's worth? Students do it anyhow, adhering to this reasoning since their academic success benefits not only them but also their professors and parents.

Then there's a terrible reality: when you're an honor student, there's no room for failure. They were the talk of the town as they slid a little below the ladder. They were frequently interrogated as if they owed everyone an explanation for their failure—as if they had already failed. It's strange that kids are unconsciously attempting to impress everyone, and they should preserve that impression in order to avoid feeling as if they haven't given their all, even if they have.

Students have the good fortune of having their efforts rewarded through this type of grading system. But, as one of them, fighting in this useless conflict where we are evaluated rather than applauded becomes exhausting. Don't get me wrong, but now that I think about it, it would be far better to learn in a classroom where one is motivated by a desire to succeed. All students face several hurdles, but it is important to remember that the fundamental aim of studying is to learn. Having this kind of affirmation may be beneficial, but one must strive harder and have a real love for education because these are the foundations of who one will become in the future.

Success or failure in school should not be used to evaluate one's achievements. It should be instilled in the students' minds that they must strive not only for a round of applause, certificates, and medals but also for their own personal growth. Though we disagree that the honor roll list is a powerful motivator, students should put more effort into the process of viewing education as a source of not only knowledge but also experiences that can broaden one's perspective on the world. This would elevate both success and failure—when one has truly learned.