So here’s the deal. I’ve already gotten into my top choice university and everything’s been moving along pretty well lately. As senior year comes to a close, one of my last tangible goals is to be class valedictorian; right now I’m behind by 0.01-0.02 grade points. The only issue is that I really want to win – mainly brought forth from an unhealthy obsession with success and a feeling of antipathy toward the kid who’s currently #1.
I mean… I’m doing everything in my power to achieve this goal but it’s still partly out of my realm of control. This fixation isn’t causing me to dedicate an absurd amount of time toward schoolwork either; it’s just something I’m sort of losing sleep over. I guess my main question for you guys is as follows: How can I content myself with second place (or, in my mind, losing to someone whom I can’t stand to beat me)?
Thanks friends.
You’ve answered it already – you’ve gotten into your top choice university.
It sounds to me like it’s not enough for you to win, the other guy has to lose. (I’m not faulting you with this, btw, it’s very human, but really, it’s a bad way to live.) Why not see this as the beginning of a new, healthier phase in your life where you set you goals for yourself and not use external measures? In almost every realm of life, there will be someone is who is better than you. In none will anyone be better at being you than you – do it as well as you can and enjoy it.
How much will being valedictorian matter once you start college? The answer is not one bit. No one will give a crap that you graduated top of your class. You’ve already won by being accepted into your top choice college. I am currently valedictorian and was accepted to my top choice college. I could care less about being valedictorian right now because it doesn’t matter anymore. I just needed to be top so I can have a better chance of getting accepted. I actually stopped caring so much that now I’m scarred that I may get rescinded because of my second semester grades.
Like they all said NO ONE cares. Honestly your own class dosent even really care and everyone is just focused on going to college. Yes you could do it for yourself,but once you go to college it dosent matter. Just relax and finish you got into a great school.
val/sal is a pretty ribbon for high school kids to push themselves (along the lines of gold stars in elementary schools). But the real goal is college. Unless val/sal is tied to a scholarship, forget about it. As you recognize yourself, it’s immature, unhealthy, and it doesn’t matter one bit. In a couple months you won’t even be with the other kids from your school; wait for six months and you’ll roll your eyes at high school drama, thinking the val/sal stuff pretty pathetic compared to your new life.
Enjoy the last months of high school. Forget about rank. Focus on college - go visit and do an overnight, buy merch, start making plans for your Fall schedule, get on Facebook with your future classmates…
Its important to learn to accept things you cannot change. Even if they are big issues. Here its not. Congrats on a great high school career and good luck in college.