Personal Connection to Grades

The speaker shares a personal narrative about their unhealthy obsession with grades, recounting a time in high school when achieving A's was the only acceptable outcome. This fixation was fueled by the desire to gain admission to an Ivy League college, particularly Princeton University, which they viewed as a pinnacle of success. They reflect on how grades became a sorting mechanism that dictated academic worth, leading to a competitive environment among peers. This experience highlights how the pursuit of high grades often detracted from genuine learning and turned education into a game where the primary goal was to secure the highest score possible.