We all heard the saying "Cs get degrees." This is true, but society makes it seem like that is the only thing Cs get. Many people achieve above average grades throughout earlier years of schooling, but once college hits, they experience the shock factor of not always getting As and Bs. This is because in college, expectations change, and who you are as a person is not solely defined on your GPA.

We grew up thinking that getting straight As means you're the most successful, it means that you're at the top, and everyone knows you for GPA achievements. But once the real world hits, employers are looking for who you are as a person, and in 10 years, your grades will mean nothing. I'm not saying that you should strive to earn the minimum passing grades in order to graduate, I'm saying that it's not the end of the world when you receive a grade less than what you expected.

If you focus on just attaining straight As in college, not only will it mentally exhaust you, it will also limit your entire college experience. There is more to college than just cramming for hours to take an hour exam. You must be a forward thinker, and set yourself apart from other students. Anyone can get a 4.0 GPA if you really tried, but you miss out on everything else: building connections, gaining experience, and self discovery.

If you drain all of you precious energy in order to achieve a perfect transcript, you might miss the chance to socialize and meet new people. This is crucial in college because it leads to networking, and networking leads to opportunities. Also, not having to worry about grades 24/7 allows for more time for you to try new things and enjoy different experiences. Weather it is working a job or joining a club, this is important in the real world as employers look for people who are involved and are adaptable when it comes to new environments. Finally, if you constantly center your college experience around grades, you become an obsessive robot whose only goal is to maintain good grades. College is a time for personal growth, and you should set not only academic goals, but also overall goals to improve yourself as a whole.

There is something that many students, no matter what number is inscribed on their transcript, share. We are hard workers, we put much time and effort into college. But that does not mean we have to put all of our time and effort into the academic portion of it. While it is important to graduate, it is also important to enjoy the ride to the finish line.

Cs may not get insane scholarships or the chance to speak at their high school commencement, but they do get jobs, opportunities, and personal growth. Yes, Cs get degrees, but they also get more than that.