America: land of the free, home of the brave. A place where all hopes and dreams come true. A place like no other. Which other continent harbors a country in which you can buy anything your little heart desires? Armani dresses, Mercedes-Benz's and, of course, every edible item known to mankind can be found at a retailer near you. What other country has a gas station where you can refill your tank at any given time in the day, or a salon on every single corner where you can get a hair cut for 15 bucks? And, my favorite, a registrar's office that will change that horrible C you received in Poli Sci 101 to an A, helping you get into the law school of your dreams? Yes we Americans sure do aim to please.
Wait a second, rewind…what did I just write? A registrar's office that will change your grades for money? Wow, wait a minute this wasn't mentioned to me during freshman orientation.
According to The Associated Press, numerous students in Miami did just that. About 70 students had their grades altered by two employees at Florida Memorial College. These employees, who worked at the registrar's office, changed the student's grades in the school's computer system. Some grades where switched from a C to an A, while others where switched from an F to a C.
Why wasn't I offered this deal? I could have slacked off and partied every night. Foolish me thinking I had to actually study and earn my grades. Wait a minute…that's right, having an employee change my grade is illegal. For all you who did pay for your grades and did not pay attention in class, that means it is bad.
What happened to the good ol' days, where you studied hard because you wanted to succeed? Don't we realize that it is because Americans shun briberies that this country is so successful?
Take a look at various third-world countries around the world. What is the first thing that comes to mind? I am almost positive none of you said that they are the country "where all your hopes and dreams come true." Why is that? Could it be that these countries tend to accept briberies and put money before success? For some reason, this generation worries more about the final product than the actual process it takes to achieve those results.
What is the actual purpose of a grade? Is it so teachers can show the world how much they love or hate a student? While this may seem like the case in some classes, deep down inside you know it is just not true.
We have been taught at a young age that a grade represents your performance in a class and whether you have mastered a set amount of material laid before you. If you do not master the material, then you cannot move ahead in that subject.
I don't know about you, but that makes perfect sense to me. But most students in this day and age tend to care less about the material being taught and more about the grade they receive.
Universities around the world have pressured students to do exceptionally well. If students fail to do well, they can pretty much kiss their futures good bye. Maybe this kind of pressure is good. Who really wants a doctor who failed biology, or an architect who can't add? This is why America is so great. These hated restrictions make this country all that it is.
At a young age, we have been taught that if we put our minds to it, we can accomplish anything. As we grow older, we look for an easier way out. Sure, we want to achieve our goals and dreams, but we just do not want to work for it. We would much rather spend our evenings at some party throwing up because we had a little too much to drink, than at home in our dorm rooms studying and getting the grade we deserve. This mentality is sad, yet true, and in the end it all lies in our hands. Will you succeed and achieve your hopes and dreams? Or will you end up in prison, trying to take the easy way out? I really hope you pick the first.
Jennifer Javia is a journalism sophomore. Reach her at jeniferjavia@hotmail.com.
