Why Student Rivalries are Good for Your Grades
December 5, 2009 | ama83
We sit in the same kinds of chairs, listen to the same lectures, do the same homework, and have little time to talk to each other. Yet we still find time to find fellow students who we just cannot stand to be in the same classroom with. Depending on the reasons why we dislike a fellow student, rivalry between classmates could actually be a good thing for your grade.
The annoying students who talk over us, answer questions a split second before we do, or make a big show of getting higher grades on a project can actually act as motivation. A little competition can go a long way at times, even in the classroom.
Although we may grit our teeth just at the sight of these rivals, we nonetheless are egged on to do our best to show up those same students who think that they know it all. I had an editing class where one of my classmates would correct me in group projects. When I would try to discuss why our opinions were different stylistically, rather than having incorrect grammar, he would snidely turn to another group member and say, “It’s incorrect usage.”
Students and scenes like this create an ever growing-grudge. From that point on, I relished every opportunity I had of showing up this student. If a teacher asked a question, I racked my brain as quickly as I could to make certain I answered before that other student. And if for some reason he answered before me and he was wrong in his answer, I made sure I would have the correct answer before raising my hand.
Sometimes wanting a good grade isn’t enough to encourage us to study hard. But having some form of competition can actually be beneficial in school. The danger in having a strong dislike for another student is when we try to avoid class because of these students. I have heard friends say that they planned on skipping class because they could not stand the idea of sitting through another lecture with a particular classmate who constantly answered all of the teacher’s questions before anyone else could get a chance.
I suppose whether or not we take these over-achieving students as competition or nuisances depends on our individual outlook on the situation. Personally, I would rather have a classmate who annoys me because he thinks he is the smartest one in the class than have a student annoy me because he is constantly whispering throughout the lecture.
There have been many classes where I have been unfortunate enough to have several chatty students sit directly behind me, causing a distraction throughout the whole class. The teacher couldn’t hear them, but I could… perfectly. Depending on the class, sometimes I could move to a different seat, but other times the class was so packed and everyone seemed to designate seats for themselves, so it was near impossible to get away from the distraction.
Distracting students cannot be helpful in class; they are only a hindrance. Unless someone else has found a way of turning this kind of lemon into lemonade, I would be more than happy to hear it. Otherwise, my only suggestion is in dealing with arrogant classmates by combating intellects to take those smarty pants students down a peg or two. Sure, it sounds harsh, but it won’t hurt the brainiacs any since they will move on to other classes where they can continue being the smartest student in class. If anything, it is actually a great trick to encourage yourself to study harder. Isn’t that what a curved class is encouraging anyway?
I am with you. We need those annoying know-it-alls. Well, in some cases I was that guy.
But because of those know-it-all’s was the reason why I would NEVER raise my hand. ‘Guess I was easy to intimidate.