Monday, February 28, 2011

Progress is Measured by More than Grades

One of Carlow's Core Values is Student Progress.  As defined on Carlow Univerity's website, Student Progress is to "educate, challenge, and expect all students to uncover, expand, and realize their potential."  I feel that Student Progress is one of Carlow's most important Core Values, so I chose to practice this value for a week.  I chose to pick this value because discovering myself, my potential, and what I want to do with my life is something I have been struggling with lately.
I came to Carlow knowing I wanted to be a doctor.  That passion is beginning to fade- not because I do not think I can do it, but because I fell in love with so many other things I think I want to peruse.

While practicing Student Progress I made an extra effort to really learn in my courses.  Instead of doing the bare minimum to get by, I challenged myself to really learn the information being taught to me.  For example, instead of just studying my notes, I tried to make connections between what I was learning in one course with what I was learning in another. Not that I do not think school is a priority, but I waste so much time worrying about getting good grades that sometimes I lose sight of actually learning, enjoying myself, and my life.

In addition to working a little harder when it came to school work, I tried to fully commit myself to other things I was passionate about.  For example, I love running.  I used to run at least three miles a day and I tried to run at least two 5Ks a month.  Since I have been so busy with school, I have not been able to run the way I used to.  While practicing Student Progress I thought it was important to realize that although school is a priority, it is equally important be passionate about other things.  This is why I tried to make sure I ran and studied every day.  It took a little bit of getting used to but once I managed my time a little better, I realized it was not impossible.  I think this really helped me grow and learn my potential as both a person and student. 

What does this have to do with dignity?  I think realizing one’s potential is extremely important to self dignity.  We live in such a competitive word that people are so consumed with “doing everything right” and “trying to make it” that they lose sight of themselves and the things that they enjoy.  Student Progress is an important Core Value because progressing as a student is not just important academically, but Student Progress is also about realizing one’s self potential in life. 

3 comments:

  1. I love how you tied everything together in the last paragraph. It's like exactly what I was thinking in my entry, only shorter and better.

    I also focused student progress, more in relation to relationships with people, but I like how you took a different perspective in that students are not only products of their grades and work. It's so easy to get caught up in that these days though

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  2. After all that we've talked about in class about self-dignity, I think your post clearly explains the relationship between dignity and knowing yourself, your potenial, and pursuing the things you love. I think those are all key things when it comes to having self-dignity and respect.

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  3. I really like the clarity of this post. I agree with you: human dignity does start with self-dignity.
    I think another important idea to ponder is that of progress. Progress doesn't really ever have an end point, right? It's continual. There is always something for us to learn, there is always room for us to grow.

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