Not a Number

by Addy Faas '25

“Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live” (Margaret Fuller).

“Get good grades, study hard, get into a good college.” These seem to be the only thing that matters. I am stretched across all surfaces trying to keep my poise, Working towards the ultimate goal: A good college. My grades reflect my worth, causing me to decrease in value. Hopelessly working towards the end goal of a stable career, I contribute all my time to material things and material goals. I overlook the goodness in my life, blind to all of my blessings. I dedicate countless hours of my life trying to perfect my GPA.

My grades are my worth. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 10 months a year, For 13 years,

all for a piece of paper telling me I did it. Constant pressure to perform, Always expected to be at my best.

How am I supposed to know what I want to do with my life,

If I don’t even know who I am? What is the purpose of life? We have to live in the moment, And not take it for granted. Our worth is more than the grades we make, It is more than the job we chose.

We cannot forget to live, just because we need to make a living.