It’s finally come…my last semester at UNC. Due to my four-year commtiment to The Daily Tar Heel and my tendency to take classes that I was interested as opposed to classes that were required, I have had to take an extra semester. It was a decision I made last fall after consulting several professors and friends.

I don’t regret the decision. The job market isn’t too hot right now. Many of my friends have set up base at their parents’ houses until they find jobs. I’m using this semester as a sort of transition time.

Last semester, Prof. Abernathy introduced me to a new way of grading students. In The Art of Possibility, I learned about Benjamin Zander, a conductor who gave his orchestra students an assignment at the beginning of each term. He asks them to write a letter to themselves, dated for the end of the term, describing what they did during the semester to deserve an A.

They have to live up to their own expectations. Xander found that when he read the letters at the end of the semester the students actually fulfilled their goals. Grades in education is just a way of comparing one student to another. They don’t help you develop, and they don’t always accurately portray whether you understand the information. I remember when earlier in my college career I took a high-level Spanish class PASS/FAIL. I ended up getting a B+ in the class because I knew during the semester that I didn’t have to just worry about grades, but instead I concentrated on learning.

If I was going to write a letter to myself to read at the end of the semester, here is what I would have to do earn my A:

Nicole: I received an A this semester because I laid the proper foundation for a better career and a better life. I became a better journalist and paid more attention to news event around the world instead of just being trapped in my little bubble. To become more confident in my web skills, I brushed up on my HTML and became more proffecient at another programming language. My AP Style skills are flawless, and my love and appreciation for SEC documents have grown tremendously. I have retrained myself in multimedia production and editing since it has been a minute since I have had to do it by myself. I’m no longer afraid of being alone. I can have fun by myself even when I am not surrounded by my friends. I have cooked a new dish each week. Holy shit, is that a six-pack?! All of my bills have been paid on time, and I have a better sense of how to manage my finances. Last but not least, I have landed a job offer that will help expand my mind and help me on my path of growth. Holla at your girl! Sincerely, Nicole

Let’s see how I make out!