The A's Attraction

Law students are not up to par. With a string of ‘A’s, we are nothing in the eyes of the employers. We are just robots which only know how to study and score in examination but totally failed in communication and socialization.

As one of the production under the robotic generation, I have to admit that that is the truth although there are exceptions. Undeniably, we should reflect on our attitudes in learning, but we should not be the only party to be condemned. By saying this, I am not pointing fingers to the educational system. We all know that the system is defective and the urge for changes has never stopped. However, with all due respect, I submit that the whole society which also consists of you and me, is responsible for this phenomenon.

‘A’ is just an alphabet which is of no different from its 23 counterparts. It is us, the whole society, who give it a whole new interpretation. Students with ‘A’ stamped on the result slips are often labeled as bright students in school, a pride of family, more successful person among friends and also more employable candidates in the eyes of the employers. Our society gives recognition to the ‘A’ earners and even to the extent to idolize them. Hence formed the public perception that, the more ‘A’ you gain, the smarter you are.

The education institutions are often described as a place to prepare the students for the future. More often than not, this is where we equip ourselves with sufficient skills and knowledge to fit the needs of the society. In other words, the institutions are like factories, to produce what is demanded by the society. Therefore, when the society values ‘A’ earners highly, the education institutions can do nothing but to go all out to produce more ‘A’ graduates. When the schools encourage the students to strive for more ‘A’, we will do all we can to win ourselves more ‘A’.

This is when the attraction of ‘A’ overrides everything. Students no longer choosing the courses which they are truly interested in or passionate with, instead they choose the courses which are easier for them to score; they dare not leave their study table for community services as the latter do not reward their efforts by giving them an ‘A’; they are afraid to explore into new areas of study as this might cause them to lose an ‘A’.

Yes, all these are the weaknesses of students that you criticize but also a production of your emphasize in the importance of ‘A’.