If you had to choose between learning something of interest or getting a good grade, what would you choose? The choice will vary according to each person's priorities. Some people value what they learn, and some people value the outcome or grades; however, there is no right or wrong to this priority. Here are two Sookmyungians talking about their preferred classes based on their own experiences and standards.
- Debate Topic –
Take classes that you are interested in and get a B+ vs. Take classes that you are not interested in and get an A+
1. <Take classes that you are interested in and get a B+>
(Kwon Ji-eun, Department of Business Administration '24)
Hello, I am currently in the Department of Business Administration. I will choose to take classes that I'm interested in and get a B+. Of course, it is important to get good grades in college because it shows an individual's sincerity and competence. However, considering the meaningful characteristics of being at university's being able to take classes that they want to take, it can be understood that what is more important than credits is developing career competence. In university, individuals can acquire knowledge to identify and establish their careers. I think that the significance of attending college shines only when using college classes to lay the foundation of knowledge for their careers. Therefore, Students should think about their careers while taking classes they are interested in and draw a long-term life roadmap that fits their chosen direction. In addition, by taking classes they are interested in, they will be able to maintain a high level of both their willingness to learn and their satisfaction with the class. Therefore, the advantage of being able to learn sincerely in a pleasant mood throughout the class is that you can enjoy the process. In order to spend your university life without burnout, I think it is necessary to make an effort to increase one's interest in learning. Nevertheless, there may be times when you are concerned about the gap between an A+ and a B+ or the disadvantages of getting a low grade. However, I believe that the disadvantage of relatively lower grades can be offset by not only attaining credits but also having a list of courses that show an individual's competence and attempts to challenge themself. If I can find and develop my identity while listening to classes I am interested in, I don't think there is much reason not to take them, regardless of whether I receive a B+. This is because I believe that I can use my time in a meaningful way beyond focusing only on quantified grades.
2. <Take classes that you are not interested in and get an A+>
(Lee Noonsong, Department of Family & Resource Management '24)
Hello, I am currently in the Department of Family & Resource Management. I will choose to take classes I am not interested in and get an A+, based on my experience of finishing my first semester of college by doing so. I had always thought of history as a subject of simple memorization and had studied only with a sense of duty for the national college entrance exam, so I never imagined that I would choose a related subject when I came to college. However, when considering my timetable, I was curious if learning history in college would be different, and I chose a class on history and literature. I was least confident about this subject among all the subjects I took, and I started the first semester worrying if I would fall behind my friends who were taking classes they were interested in. When I didn't fully understand the contents of the class well, I felt nervous about losing both my interest and receiving a poor grade due to a bad decision, but my thoughts changed once I completed the assignment myself. In the class, I was tasked with deciding my own topic and writing about it, and I was able to find myself becoming more and more interested as I thought, "Have I ever been so immersed in history?" It was an experience that changed my mind when I started to become interested in studying, and I thought that only then would I get good grades. Previously when I saw something related to history, I would ignore it, but after that class, I have become more interested and pay more attention in history-related things. I also felt proud of myself for taking on the challenge of a subject I was not confident about and gain confidence that I would be able to study another field I was not interested in in the future as I finished the class with good grades. Rather than avoiding something, I recommend university students experience various things they are not interested in at least once during their college life.
