What good does an A do? How to play the “system”

All throughout my years in school, I’ve followed the same routine in my classes. Learn the information, pass the test and forget the information that I’ve previously memorized in order to make room for new material. This routine has seldom done me wrong and, though I realize it may not be the best way to go about things, it sure does work.

In high school, I’m able to pass most classes with A’s and B’s while putting minimal effort into them. Learning how to pass classes is much easier than learning in order to pass classes. If I can cram a list of vocabulary into my head in first period, only an hour before a vocab quiz in second, why would I spend the days prior studying?

The same goes for tests. If I know how a certain teacher gives tests or quizzes, why study all of the material that I’m presented if I can just learn to pass the tests? Once I become familiar with one teacher’s exams, I can use the familiarity to know what to learn. Learning how to pass quizzes and tests is much easier to me than having to actually learn the information.

When you don’t have to spend as much time on schoolwork, one is able to spend much more time doing things that appeal to them. I’ve been able to get a lot of work experience, as well as spend some time with my friends.

Maybe I’m just lazy, or maybe I don’t care enough, but I’m getting through high school MUCH easier than most of my fellow students. When their days are spent doing hours of homework a night and whole weeks are spent studying, I’m at home sleeping and browsing the Internet. Even if my system ends up failing once or twice in my high school career, the grades end up averaging out anyway.

All in all, I don’t think I’m hurting anyone by going through school this way. I could end up getting hurt in the long run when I can’t recall any of the information I learned in school, but I think I’ll be able to survive without some of those things.

– By Tyler White