Self-Worth

This is what one of my science teachers told my class today, and I listened, because it's all true. Your self worth does not lie in your academic achievements, it lies in the risks you dare to take.

Your self-worth

Does not lie

In the boundaries

Of your test marks.

Your self-worth

Does not lie either,

In your academic

Achievements.

Instead, your self-worth

Lies in what you choose to learn,

Necessities in life,

And taking risks.

If your self-worth

Is confined in only your

Academics and achievements,

What room is there,

For everything else?

If your self-worth

Instead, lies in between

What you learn and do,

You are more confident.

You take more risks,

You jump out of your shell

Further and further.

You excel.

Children who have parents,

Who have assured them that

Their self-worth does not lie

In the confines of their academics,

Those are the children,

Who excel much further in life,

Than those with parents,

Who need to know every mark and ranking,

Of their child's achievements.

Your self-worth,

Does not lie in achievements, 

It lies in the confines of 

The risks you dare to take.

Author's Note

ANY COMMENTS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED, THANKYOU! We had parent-teacher interviews yesterday, and only one of the people in my class's parents were happy with whatever mark she got. (I go to an all girls school, public).
The picture for this poem is not very related to what I say in the poem, it's your parents that make you feel your self-worth is in your academic achievements, and not elsewhere.

Reviews

[megha vaishnav]

Very well said... It's indeed ironical that every parent overlooks the need to let the child dream, explore and discover. Children are born with an innate love for learning. Sadly. ,most of the children lose the zest for learning when they grow up due to this common tendency to put over-emphasis on academic achievements.

[1Disawsum]

Yes, indeed! Children ALL love to learn, but when learning purely becomes marks and ranks and how well you do compared to others, well...

You don't learn everything from textbooks, and your marks do not define you as a person, or how much worth you are of something tangible or not tangible.

Thankyou very much for your review. It is much appreciated!

[priya]

very well written. it is a fact that you should do what you love and love what you do. :)
keep writing.

[1Disawsum]

thank you, and yes, it's very true! Thanks again! Much appreciated xx

[Glen Yumang Manese]

I had a teacher for a mother...
interest dilemma you put in this verse...
yet its what you retain is the real focus of schooling...
life is the revolving door for which makes you ---
whatever that may be --- is up to you...
and as a teacher/mom ---
she gave me the importance of being me...
for whatever grades --- I got at school...
the learning curve doe not end after an education...
just gives you a guide --- the rest is still being learned...

[1Disawsum]

Um, yes? I have a teacher as a father as well, and he agreed with what th science teacher I mentioned above said. He has helped me in so many ways, built up my confidence and loves me for me. Not once, being with him, did I ever have to worry about failing and getting screamed at. Yes, school is just a guide. Thankyou for reviewing.

[Glen Yumang Manese]

you're welcome...