The Role Of Assessments In The Life Of People
Today is the day. The day almost all students dread. The HSC. The atar results will be out soon, and students wait anxiously, believing that this one mark has the potential to make, or break their future. However, one thing that we really need to ask ourselves is how much do these marks actually matter? Does it guarantee happiness and contentment in life?
Truth is, the perfect mark doesn’t exist because there is always someone who’ll score better in one subject or the other. Therefore, students experience unprecedented levels of stress that can even result in mental health issues. Evidently in 2016, ABC news reported that almost a third of students were dealing with psychological illnesses due to exam stress. Due to the fear that their atar mark will not meet the standards required for their future career.
However, it is utterly unbelievable that citizens living in the 21st century believe that our atar is the only option that can safeguard our future that we envision for ourselves. That this one number either opens a new chapter, or puts a full stop to our desired goals. Though in reality, many millionaires didn’t finish high school. Take Richard Branson as an example. He’s an entrepreneur and businessman, who founded the Virgin group of more than 400 companies and has a net worth of 4 billion dollars! Though the main question is, did he receive an atar? No. But did he succeed in life? Yes! And in fact, studies show that 1 in 4 australian students dropout of high school, yet their success rates are high. But don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not telling you all to drop out of highschool, but the key idea is that these individuals are not identified by numbers, but instead by their names.
Names are a symbol of one’s identity and are of deep significance to the bearer. We identify ourselves by names: family names, nicknames, pseudonyms, and many more. In this heterogeneous society, the one defining characteristic we all share, the one unique and profound element of each and everyone of us is the name we are given. From the reason to why we were given such a name to the significance of what it has come to represent, names shape our identity. According to a recent article based on name and identity, it has been stated that names characterize the nationality we come from. It represents the language and dialect we speak. It effectively describes us in a manner more than we truly understand or choose to realize. Therefore our name is utterly more powerful and significant than simply the characters that represent it.
Hence we need to remember that these narrow definitions of success, these marks, these numbers, don’t describe who we are, but instead our true identity forms on the basis of your names – the key aspect that uniquely differentiates every individual from others in this diverse and multicultural society. Keep in mind that your ability to succeed is determined by your motivation, your drive and your ambitions. Remember that your ATAR is just a stepping stone to greater things and, if you don’t have that stepping stone, all you need to do is jump. Regardless of what your ATAR is, you have options. And above everything, don’t let your life be dictated by that number. Because it is names, not numbers that matter. Thank you
