One of my favorite quotes from the Chinese sage Chuang Tzu is this one:
When an archer is shooting for nothing, he has all his skill.
If he shoots for a brass buckle, he is already nervous.
If he shoots for a prize of gold, he goes blind or sees two targets —
He is out of his mind!
His skill has not changed. But the prize divides him.
He cares. He thinks more of winning than of shooting–
And the need to win drains him of power.
One could easily substitute a student for the archer:
When a student is studying for nothing, she has all her skill.
If she is working for an “A,” she is already nervous.
If her financial aid depends on her grade, she goes blind or sees two exam papers —
She is out of her mind!
Her skill has not changed. But the grade divides her.
She cares. She thinks more of passing than of learning–
And the need to achieve a certain grade drains her of power.
What do others think? Is it good advice to students to focus on learning rather than on grades?
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