Academic Validation

Warning: some sensitive subjects may be discussed

Disclaimer - As always this is my personal opinion. Please do not treat it as professional medical advice. This information is for general purposes only. If you have any particular concerns, please speak to an adult.

POV: you crave academic validation.

These are the reels I get in my feed all the time and all the posts which say academic validation>>

Have we really come to a stage in our life where we romanticize academic validation?

Don’t let this mislead you into thinking that I haven’t romanticized it a little bit but that is why I am writing this blog, to bring light to the fact that it is a very unhealthy lifestyle.

So, I am at that stage in my life where academics are one of the most important factors in my life. Of course, academics are always important and you should always strive hard to excel in it but towards the end of your school life they become really important for many reasons- the main one being college! – but sometimes we let that kind of get the best of us. Sometimes we thrive on academic validation and let it dictate us as people. We use it to define how smart we are, and how capable we are and let it determine our potential but in fact, it has nothing to do with us. I want to touch a little on the dangers of academic validation and how it affects us.

So, what is academic validation? Well, it is the gratification or that feeling of being fulfilled that we get when we excel at our academics, goals, and accomplishments. Like getting the highest grade on a test and someone congratulating you for it, you simply feel good about yourself because someone gave you validation. That is not a healthy way of thinking. You know you have heard your friend saying, “All I have are my grades,” instead of laughing it off you should tell them that they are so much more than that. A number should not define how you perceive yourself. You sort of turn that into your identity. It pushes you to do good but at the cost of yourself. It pushes you to be a perfectionist and get every single thing right.

This is a topic maybe, a little bit hits home? So here are some signs that I think you might crave academic validation a little more than average- you overstudy for tests you are well prepared for, you ditch social outings to finish that work, and you constantly wait for your teachers and authority figures to praise you, you constantly compare yourself and your grades to others hoping to one-up them. These are just some of the things I feel you should sit back and think about.

This can be really toxic and have negative effects on you- you can get burnt out really easily which makes it exhausting to keep going, your mental health practically becomes non-existent, and it does nothing but fuels your anxiety- sure getting great marks on a test will fuel your need to succeed but imagine not getting the grade you wanted. You experience the highest highs and lowest lows. You can develop this unhealthy mindset of competition which only ends up hurting you.

So now that we established how it can be dangerous and an obstacle, here are some ways you can overcome it. I just want to preface that this is so much easier said than done but here are some ways-

Recognizing that you need to slow down- I know that you have studied enough for that test and it is okay if you don’t get the marks that you wanted. It is all part of life

Try to find some other pastimes you enjoy. Maybe read a book or start working out? Use art as a way to express yourself? The list of hobbies you can have is endless

Recognize the signs of you burning out before it gets too bad. It will make your academic validation much worse.

Stop comparing yourself to others, the only person you need to check on is yourself

Remember, you are not defined by a piece of paper or a grade that you get, there is so much more to you than what you learn. Let’s stop using academic validation as a coping mechanism. What happens when you finish school? It really will greatly affect your mental health

Here are some quotes on academic validation:

I already mentioned this in a previous blog but the song lyric from Vienna by Billy Joel- “Slow down you're doing fine. You can't be everything you want to be before your time.”

“Don’t seek validation. Seek your intuition”- Sonya Matejko

“If outside validation is your only source of nourishment, you will hunger for the rest of your life.”

“I was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere,”- This is me Trying, Taylor Swift

Here are some songs which I think fit the vibes of this whole topic:

1. This is me trying- Taylor Swift

2. Mirrorball- Taylor Swift

3. Vienna- Billy Joel

4. Chaotic- Tate McRae

5. Cough Syrup- Young the Giant

6. Issues- Julia Michaels

7. The Archer– Taylor swift

8. Wrong side of myself- Ashe

9. Long story short- Taylor Swift

10. Labyrinth- Taylor Swift

(Can you tell I love Taylor Swift????)

So, I know we all want to be Rory Gilmore (Season 1 and 2 ONLY!) but we need to take a step back and take it all in. all this life we were given and the amazing things that this world has to offer. Never let a number define who you are. You are so much more, so stop seeking validation from others and take a moment to accept yourself and who you are and as you are. Remember: LET’S STOP ROMANTINCIZING ACADEMIC VALIDATION👏

Thanks for reading,

Xx Mahika

(Ps: follow my Instagram: @blogbanterandbigwords where I share polls and put teasers for my upcoming blogs, you might also find some nice quotes in there)