For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Ethan, and I’m the photo editor ‘round these parts.
As I write this article I’ve come back from class after failing an exam. What exam? Doesn’t matter. What class? Doesn’t matter. I’m sure a lot of people on campus have had the same feeling that I had — a deep pit in your stomach because you know it isn’t good news, but you figured it wouldn’t be that bad.
On my way home all I could think about is how I’m not enough because of this grade; I kept beating myself up over it. I should’ve done something different, studied more and done better.
Though as I think about the week prior to my exam I realize that I had so much to do and so many things going on that maybe I should give myself some grace. I believe that the student body here doesn’t give themselves the grace they very much deserve. The amount of folks dealing with family issues, part-time jobs, relationship problems, heavy class loads and problems with mental health is just unbelievable.
We as students have been conditioned to believe that a number reflects our worth, our value. Well, I’m here to tell you that just isn’t true. An incredible amount of people in our campus family have so much grit and determination. The world may not be able to see it, but you can. Look at everything you’ve done to get to where you are today; it’s incredible when you really consider it isn’t it?
The student-to-faculty ratio at NC State is 15:1, but most of us know some professors have significantly more than that. They can’t get to know us and our situations, so they value us at whatever they feel is fitting for someone in a decent situation.
Now, please don’t take my words the wrong way. Always work on becoming better and strive for improvement, friends, but don’t do it at the sacrifice of your own wellbeing. It just isn’t worth it at the end of the day. I’m sure many of us have learned that the hard way.
My final words to you are that you are enough. Push boundaries, push yourself, push so-called “norms,” but do not push yourself to the brink of breakdown. I promise that you are so much more than a number on a piece of paper or on a stupid Moodle page. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Keep pushing no matter what’s going on in your life. If nobody else has told you yet, I believe in you, you matter and you are loved.