stop praising academic validation
does half of the pinterest community even understand what the term academic validation means? academic validation is when someone ties their entire self worth to their academic performance. does anyone understand how seriously damaging that is?
i saw this viral video online about how students in china study for gaokao (the hardest exam in the world). i dont know about reposts but under the video i saw comments saying how "i neeeedddd academic validation!!" or "i aint falling for this chinese propaganda." can we not overlook their hardwork? they study like this to survive or else they won't be able to find a job. half of them stay unemployed. however there are still that sector of people who talk about some "academic validation".
why are we romanticising this? are we seeing all those pinterest posts of pink notebooks and a side of matcha captioned "academic validation>>>"? how is this even able to be promoted. people who actually live with academic validation are working themselves to the ground. u guys dont see all the side effects other than your muji pens and washi tape. i bet you there is a student working herself to death. tying her hair up everyday so that her hair doesnt start shedding in class. pinching herself in class to stay awake while her heart is beating 150bpm. waking up in the nurses office wondering why she woke up there. this is the reality of academic validation. lets not promote this.
academic validation isn't something to aspire to. ambition is healthy. discipline is healthy. wanting to achieve great things is healthy. but tying your worth to a grade on a piece of paper isn't. stop commenting "i need academic validation" under study videos. stop treating it like an aesthetic. stop reducing a genuine psychological struggle into pink stationery and productivity montages. if what you really mean is "i wish i were more motivated," then say that. because motivation and academic validation are not the same thing. admire hard work if you want. respect dedication. but don't romanticise the mindset that convinces someone they're only worthy if they succeed. there is nothing beautiful about believing your value begins and ends with a report card.
