The Twenty-First Century: All A's

Do all students strive to only get A’s these days? As the subjects get harder and programs get harder to obtain a spot, most students are striving to get A’s. With that in mind, they may not just want the grades handed to them; they work for the grade that they get.
In the article, Generation A+, Suzzane Britt stated that grade inflation is producing a generation of illiterates. She mentioned that in the older days, the grading scale was not a 10 point scale; it was a mere seven point scale. With that in mind, these days it is easier to pass classes. Even though the cut off for grades now has a broader range that does not mean a country of illiterates is in the upbringing. Even since the scale has a wider span, it does not mean that students are not putting in effort to the grades that they are receiving.
If a new generation of A+ students is on the rise, what has happened to the “average” students? In this article, she mentioned that all of the C-students are disappearing. From a view point of a college student, who is putting forth the effort to get the grades I receive, I do not agree with her statement about their no longer being C-students. I do not believe she thought about the fact that maybe students are trying harder and that is why she is seeing the C-students disappear. Since I am working on getting into the Nursing College on campus, I have to put forth so much effort so that I have a greater chance to getting in the nursing program. These days, to get into these programs, there is no room for error. If she looked into the statistics for the College of Nursing and Health Professions, I believe that she would notice that there would not be that many C’s on those in the programs transcripts.
Ever since I can remember, I have always strived to be the best that I could be both in and out of the classroom. I have gotten the occasional C, but that does not mean I did not try. As I climbed up the academic totem pole, I knew that I would have to work harder. I have never expected a grade to be curved for me and that I got the grade that I received. My freshman year of high school, I received a curved grade. As a freshman, I was in geometry and my teacher somehow put together that I was my mother’s daughter; even though she is married, he still figured this out. They had class together as adolescents and he knew that she had a pretty sweet ride. I received an A in that class when I really should have received a B. With that said, I do not think that it is right of teachers to hand grades out to students. I am an athlete and we have to maintain a certain GPA to be eligible. I believe with my whole heart that teachers should especially not boost athlete’s grades just so they can be eligible. Students will never strive for anything if it is just given to them.
Some may believe that the professor’s expectations are too high. In 2010, I do not believe that my professor’s expectations are too high. We are in college, yes it will be harder than high school, and we have to learn to take what is dealt to us. Students today do not have a good sense of time management and tend to procrastinate. If that is a problem on our campus, out students are just in luck. Forty-five minute seminars are offered for both time management and anti-procrastination. Students need to learn to balance academic and social life and their lives will be a lot easier. In 2010, it is not difficult to be a student. I am managing to be a student just fine. I do all of my homework when it is assigned so I can have a social life as well.
Moreover, Britt came off with a strong view point and did not let up to why she believed that this generation is becoming, “Generation A+.” I see another viewpoint than what she saw, with to why the C-students are disappearing. Maybe she is looking though rose colored glasses and only wanting to accept the view point that she sees. She never did make the assumption that students are trying harder. This generation may be a “Generation A+,” but not because grades are dealt to use. We may play our cards right, work hard and strive for our goal, and in the end we will see the results. That A+ on our transcript, we will know that we rightfully earned it.