Embarrassed for Having Good Grades?

Krystin · Mar 1, 2010

I am unapologetic about good grades. I earned them. If they didn't - that's their fault/problem!

OF COURSE I don't go about rubbing it in or being a jerk. I constantly offer study groups and assistance, I give out my email and phone number, facebook, you name it. The other ladies (so far no gents) who study with me get great grades too. We help each other. It's awesome.

Don't apologize or feel embarrassed! You earned that grade! Smile! Be proud of yourself!!!!

mangopeach · Mar 1, 2010

Geez, how old are these folks ragging on you because you get good grades? Never heard of this and this is my 2nd go round in college. Last time someone got teased for being a good student, I was probably in middle school.

Everyone has the potential to excel if they are determined to. So if they don't want to put the extra effort into their studies to do well, then its not your cross to bear so no need to feel embarrassed.

bananimal · Mar 1, 2010

I'm not embarrassed of my good grades-- I am proud of them. I work my butt off! In my pre-nursing classes I never told ANYONE what I got, but I did SO well in A&P, while everyone around me was failing. I am doing SO well in my nursing courses now while we've already had about 20 people fail out. I went into nursing school thinking I wouldn't tell anyone my grades, that I would just say "I passed." But, it didn't really work out that way. People share their grades like it's nothing, and the people I surround myself with are usually doing just as well as I am. We are all proud of each other for the grades we make, and we are supportive of those who don't do as well. I think everyone in the program is very positive.

nocheapones · Mar 1, 2010

That happens to me all the time, and I feel the same way. Just today we got back a quiz in my Genetics class, and I was walking behind two of my classmates on the way to our next class. One didn't get his test back yet, and the other was going on about how bad he did, how hard the class is, etc. Those two do that all the time and are always talking to me about how it's boring and stuff, and I don't really even know what to say because I genuinely find the vast majority of it to be very interesting. Anyway, I did very well on the quiz, and at some point the one turned to me and asked me how I did. I just said "I did well, thankfully" and kinda left it at that. I've had class after class after class with similar scenarios and it does get annoying when you study your butt off, get a good grade, and then have other students act like you must be some kind of genius. It's just hard work, plain and simple.

CuriousMe · Mar 1, 2010

Geez, how old are these folks ragging on you because you get good grades? Never heard of this and this is my 2nd go round in college. Last time someone got teased for being a good student, I was probably in middle school.
Everyone has the potential to excel if they are determined to. So if they don't want to put the extra effort into their studies to do well, then its not your cross to bear so no need to feel embarrassed.

I know what the OP means, it's not ragging on as much as it is minimizing it. For example statements like, "Well of course you got an A, you're a brainiac." or any statement that implies you lucked in to your grade instead of working your tail off.

It makes sense, they're just excusing their grade because if the difference between how we obtained our grades actually boiled down to the fact that I just worked harder and longer at it (ie, I didn't go skiing last weekend, I studied)....that would mean their grade was their fault. Whereas if the reason I got a high grade and they got a low one is just that I'm lucky enough to be a "brainiac" well then the other person can continue to ski every weekend and not feel bad at all.

I agree, I don't let folks make me feel anything but proud of my grades. When they try to tell me that it's just because I'm smart, I'm sure to mention that I worked my tail off.

jo'ee · Mar 1, 2010

Yeah, I also got people giving attitude when they ask my grades. I usually get, "oh yeah your a genius that's why you got an A, or your soooo smart." Genius? Smart? only so far as I am smart enough to know if I want a good grade I study my butt off. In the next breath these people are usually bragging about being out drinking, partying, and such....

I always say, Guess what? I study, that is why I have good grades.

And I also get....yeah you'll get accepted to XYZ school, your smart. Well, I knew i wanted nothing more than to get into that school. So I made it happen by studying and taking my classes seriously. So....for all those who think my grades were handed to me without the work....thats an insult....I EARNED every grade I got and earned my way into my choice school.

So am I embarrassed about my grades? No...I am annoyed by anyone who doesn't realize I worked and sacrificed alot for that GPA.

QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 2, 2010

I'm proud of my grades, and I'm proud to let people know when they ask. In high school, I didn't really apply myself and was therefore ashamed of my grades, especially since I had a really smart best friend. So now it's my turn, and I will never hide an A.

Austrya · Mar 2, 2010

I'm not embarrassed about getting good grades at all. If someone else doesn't like it, that's their problem, not mine.

I'm just super nerdy and I love learning, so I treat school as more of a hobby than a chore. I think that makes a huge difference in what motivates me to do my best. I think the people who like to give me a hard time are the people who view school as a chore and they can't see that there are some people who LIKE to study and who LIKE to go to class. They don't put their all into it like I do.

Anne36, LPN · Mar 2, 2010

I dont announce my grades but if someone asks sometimes I say my grade, other times I just say "I did okay". Everyone at my school is very supportive. I dont like to jinx myself bragging about my grades, but usually people will just say "good for you" and really mean it.

European · Mar 2, 2010

Lol what a familiar feeling. I do get good grades too and what I am going to say might seem strange but comes from

experience. Intelligent people are not liked a lot in the classroom setting, that's why when I get good grades I pretend that it

isn't a big deal and it just happened(even though I have put so much work behind that A). For some reason being smart and

hardworking is viewed like something strange from the majority and it is cooler to get crappy grades. That is how people are

and I guess you and me have to deal with it. I personally congratulate people when they get good grades.

AccelCNL, MSN, RN · Mar 2, 2010

Well this happened to me alot in API last semester. The professor used to hand back the test by leaving them on a table in the front of the lecture hall and everyone had to go down and find their paper.

I always had grades in the 90's ...others were not so lucky.

I formed a study group with some of the girl from the class ( took time off from my job for this too) ...but only one other person from the study group passed. And then one of the others tired to say it was the teacher's fault they failed.

Besides all the good karma did not come back to me . One day I had to leave lab early because my brother was really sick and it was the lab before the last lab exam. The teacher said I could just get the info from my lab partners...who were all the girls in my lab group.

Guess what happened.... No one old me a thing. They all said that what was one the sheet she gave up was on the test. Well guess what...when the test happened there were at least 2 stations that she had decided to put on the exam... and my so called friends never told me on purpose.

Found out that they thought it was not fair I kept getting A's in the class and they wanted to level the playing field a bit.

Well thankfully I knew enough about that particular system to figure the stations out and I did great in the class.

My point is never be embarrassed my your grades. You worked for it ..be proud.

But be careful of hanger--ons...they sometimes wanna pull u down with them.

Michaelxy · Mar 2, 2010

Does anyone out there ever feel kind of sheepish when tests are handed back and you are one of only a handful of A's in the class? I'm not trying to toot my own horn or be egotistical, but I genuinely feel embarrassed when everyone is ragging on me and saying how badly they did on the exam. All I can say to them is "I would be happy to study with you" or that, "oh I killed myself studying for this one". Is there a better way I can handle this? Or should I just get my paper back and hide it immediately while ignoring everyone's questions of "what'd you get?"
Also, I am proud that I am doing well in my classes and very grateful for it. I'm just kind of a shy person and hate being embarrassed! :/

I felt real embarrassed the other day at the grocery store when I had $300.00 worth of groceries and my credit card was declined. I had to crawl out of the store in shame and start making calls. Turned out my ex filed bankruptcy and defaulted on a canceled joint account (which she was supposed to pay according to decree).

Anyways, and bottom line, If getting good grades and having your classmates know about it bothers you, forget about it, this is nothing, you have much bigger fish to fry as you travel this arduous road called life. Seriously, this is small potatoes, and further more, when I get an A, I brag big time and think; eat my dust, oh yeah.

Getting the A is like winning the Gold in the Olympics, it is a competition not only against your classmates but against yourself. Let me ask you, would you be embarrassed to win the 100 meter dash? Heck no, so how is scoring high in a exam different? None that I can think of. You got the gold, so wear it with pride.

My favorite saying when I use to race motocross. "Wanna come in second? follow me"

Cheers and nothing to be embarrassed about :)