Every now and then, I understand why school is supposed to be interesting, but the excitement never seems to last. Right after learning something interesting, my mind immediately jumps to the question, “Is this testable?” or “Will this part be on the midterm?” I can’t even count how many times these questions have been asked by other students in my lectures. It feels like everything we learn must lead to something measurable like a quiz, an assignment or a grade. Even the topics that should be exciting lose their spark. There’s no time to appreciate how amazing something is when you’re too focused on how it will be assessed. 

This pressure to perform is draining, and it’s not just something we imagine — studies show that students today face record-high levels of anxiety, burnout and depression. Some research even suggests that grades are at the heart of the mental health crisis among students. It’s heartbreaking. Education should be one of the most meaningful parts of life. School is supposed to help us engage with ideas that shape how the real world works, from exploring scientific discoveries to unpacking historical patterns that still affect us today. But because we’re learning in a system that promotes chasing marks, we rarely take the time to appreciate what we’re learning.  

Now, don’t get me wrong, I do understand the importance of assessments. Tests do serve as helpful feedback for both professors and students. They allow educators to see how well their students understand the material and highlight areas for students to go back and revise. I know that it’s necessary to have a standard to gauge whether students are keeping up with the material. I think grades should guide learning, but I don’t think they should define it. 

I think many students now operate on autopilot within the academic space. We do the bare minimum to get the grade and we shut down our natural curiosity. We are losing the ability to care. We have stopped engaging with the world in the way that learning is supposed to encourage us to, and most of us are just waiting for university to be over.

I wish I had a solution, but the academic system is too deeply rooted in evaluation to change overnight. I think it is important to talk about the kind of quiet undoing this pressure causes and how it is eating away at our will to learn and assign meaning to the information we are getting. 

I am also trying to remind myself to care. I know it is easier said than done, especially now, in the midst of midterm season, but I am trying to engage meaningfully with the things I’m learning. I know the assignments are important, but so is my sense of wonder and curiosity. So, any time I read something even slightly interesting in my notes, I do a quick Google search to learn a bit more about it. Not because it will appear on a test, but because it interests me. This is a small change, but it helps me feel like I’m learning for myself and not just for a grade. 

And if I can do that, even just a little, maybe I can fall in love with learning again.