In today’s society there is so much pressure put on students to achieve in school. Parents stress the importance of good grades with the belief that students need to maintain straight A’s in order to move forward and achieve success both as a student now and as an adult later in life. But as time goes on and students’ shoulders ache with the weight of expectations riding so heavily on them, psychologists are advocating for a change. Maybe the quest for that 4.0 GPA is wrong. Clinical psychologist Dr. Barbara Greenberg is strongly opposed to the pursuit of a perfect report card. Here’s why:

1. Each quiz, test, or assignment becomes a potential experience for failure.

2. Students learn that there is a black-and-white dichotomy between success and failure; there is no gray area. Receiving an A represents success, but receiving anything less is a disappointment.

3. In the hierarchy of life, academics get placed above almost anything else. Full nights of restful sleep, healthy habits like nutritious diets and regular exercise, and even social interaction and relaxation get thrown to the wayside to make time for studying, studying, and more studying.