Odyssey of Excellence

        “One track mind, one track mind. If I fail, I’ll fall apart. Maybe it is all a test, ‘cause I feel like I’m the worst so I always act like I’m the best.” – a line from the song “Oh no!” by Marina and the Diamonds that portrays any student's relentless pursuit of success and fear of failure.

Academic achievement is an integral component of the educational journey and one of every student's most anticipated rewards. A hierarchical system known as the “honor roll” acknowledges students' educational performance and dedication while also serving as an incentive for them to work harder and achieve higher academic success. The hierarchical system identifies and acknowledges top-performing students who have received the required grade to be on the honor list. It indicates their dedication to what they do in school as it reflects their persistence in their educational pursuits as well as the encapsulating qualities that guided them on their academic journey. 

Like the learners of many academic institutions in the Philippines and around the world, the students of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School who have expressed their utmost dedication to achieving academic excellence are awarded if a set of requirements are fulfilled. Candidates for honors in Senior High School must receive a final grade in any subject not lower than 83 for STEM students and 85 for HUMSS and ABM students, and must not have a developing level grade (making progress on the target standard but have not reached the proficiency level) in any subject in all quarters. Those with a general average of 96%-100% will be awarded the highest honor, while those with an average of 93%-95.999% and 90%-92.999% will be recognized as a high honor student and an honor student, respectively. 

Some students believe that having a hierarchical system of academic achievement is fair since it acknowledges the hard work and effort they put into their studies. They believe that ranking is crucial because it fosters fairness by recognizing the efforts of those students who have worked hard to achieve their desired awards. It also pushes pupils to strive harder in class. 

Students benefit from the hierarchy system in many ways, including obtaining scholarships if they are named valedictorian or salutatorian during their graduation, and being prioritized in school applications. When a student receives the highest honor, they are eligible for a scholarship from the schools where they will be attending college; this is something that could be beneficial to them because it will allow them to have a higher education with fewer financial issues. Top-performing pupils will also be prioritized at schools they apply to since they have excelled in their former institutions, which provides them with vast opportunities.

Since achieving the title of one of the “best students” has numerous benefits, some learners are ready to sacrifice their physical, mental, and emotional health to attain the grades they desire. Putting pressure on themselves is one method to motivate themselves to work harder. Some are also willing to give up their social lives to focus on their studies. 

The hierarchical system is a good way of honoring learners who earned high grades since they worked hard to reach this attainment. It not only validates their relentless pursuit of knowledge but also opens doors to life-changing opportunities like scholarships. To be on the honor roll, the “best students” must work harder than most, yet they must remember that while academic achievement is admirable, it should never come at the cost of their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The aspiration of excellence must be balanced with self-care and a fulfilling existence outside of the classroom to ensure that our educational path is not only successful but also profoundly meaningful and enriching.

References:

Radford, A. W. (2019). Top student, top school? How social class shapes where valedictorians go to college. University of Chicago Press. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7208/9780226041148/html. 

Escalera, J. L., Dimaculangan, M. O., & Escalera, E. S. (2019). Treasure and Pressure of Becoming Honor Students. Journal of Communication in Scientific Inquiry, 1(1), 19-24. http://dspace.unimap.edu.my/bitstream/handle/123456789/66517/Treasure%20and%20Pressure%20of%20Becoming%20Honor%20Students.pdf?sequence=1. 

Zamboanga Chong Hua High School. (2023). Student-Parent Handbook S.Y. 2023-2024.