The academic performance of students varies widely, ranging from high achievers, who perform exceptionally well in school, to low achievers, who struggle with coursework. Many people assume that the differences between high and low achievers are due to factors such as intelligence, self-discipline, and family background. However, these assumptions are inaccurate.
This article challenges common misconceptions about the factors that differentiate high and low achievers. Furthermore, the article digs deep into the root cause of high and low achievers, arguing that the kind of obsession that students have with ideals such as reputation, wealth or power is the real difference-maker between high and low achievers.
Factors that Differentiate High and Low Achievers
Intelligence is often cited as a significant factor that separates high and low achievers. However, this belief is not well-founded. Firstly, the correlation between intelligence and academic success is not as straightforward as it seems. Many high-achieving students may not necessarily have high IQs while many low-achieving students may have equally high IQs but different underlying challenges that curtail their academic success.
Secondly, intelligence alone cannot account for the remarkable disparities in academic performance that we see among students. A student with a high IQ, yet indolent and undisciplined, can hardly qualify as a high achiever. Instead, self-discipline, or the lack thereof, is the critical determinant of academic performance.
Thirdly, family background, while relevant in some contexts, cannot fully explain the differences between high and low achievers. While a supportive home environment can be advantageous, it does not guarantee academic success. Similarly, a disadvantaged family background can discourage academic pursuit, but it cannot constitute an excuse for poor academic performance.
What Truly Separates High and Low Achievers
While factors such as intelligence, self-discipline and family background indeed play a limited role in determining academic success, the obsession that students have with resources such as reputation, wealth, power or even love is the ultimate differentiating factor.
From the time students start schooling, they are under immense pressure to excel in every aspect of their academic and personal lives. They compete for recognition and respect from their peers, teachers, parents and society at large. They strive to be the best performers in their classes, score the highest marks and gain admission to the esteemed universities. Such pursuits are mainly driven by the quest for reputation, which they believe is the key to attaining success and happiness in life.
On the other hand, low achievers tend to be less obsessed with status symbols like reputation and are usually content with their current situations. Their primary motivation for attending school is to secure their basic needs and perform well enough to remain in school. They are not deeply concerned with high grades, top universities, fancy cars or luxurious lifestyles. Although they may be intellectually capable of academic success, the absence of the drive to strive for external validation and symbols of success results in lower academic achievements.
In summary, it’s evident that the difference between high and low-achieving students is not due to factors such as intelligence, self-discipline, or family background. Instead, it’s the kind of obsession that students have with status symbols like reputation, wealth, power and love that dictates the level of their academic achievement. Schools could, therefore, incorporate teachings and mentorship programs that encourage students to focus on their inner potentials rather than external validation. Doing so could help reduce the immense pressure that students face, foster intrinsic motivation and increase the potential for academic success across the board.
Please indicate: Thinking In Educating » The Misconception of the Difference Between High and Low Achievers