No Acknowledgement. No point?

Have you ever poured hours upon hours of blood, sweat and tears into an assignment? Have you ever stayed up until two in the morning because you were desperate to finish a project – not because of the impending due date, but because you wanted to get it finished and do a good job of it? Have you ever been the only one to hand an assignment in on time, only to receive the same grade as people who did not even put half of the effort or thought into their piece of work? How about talking to someone who lazily says the day before the due date, “Oh, I haven’t started yet,” as you sit there boiling with rage, your eyes adorned with shadows from fitful sleep and blisters on your fingertips from typing so much? Then they hand it in two weeks later and receive the same mark as you, even though it was late and the most eloquent thing on the paper was their name?

This is an issue seen too often in classrooms and too often in society today. Hard work is no longer rewarded, nor are those who do not work made an example of. We seem to have an overdeveloped sense of apathy, as well as indolence. The indifference of some people when regarding this issue is appalling, and quite honestly, sickening. The way that we reward idle individuals the same as we would industrious individuals illustrates a severe lack of justice, fairness and deserved recognition.

Hard work and effort are marginalized in today’s society, in favour of favouritism, apathy and utter blindness, as well as laziness on our part. For are we not just as idle as those who haven’t lifted a finger, when we choose to “lump everyone in the same boat?” Isn’t it easier just to mark everyone the same without taking into consideration the students who worked on their own as opposed to in a group, the students who handed in their work early, when no one else in the class could even hand theirs in on the due date or the students whose eyes you couldn’t even tell the colour of because they always have their heads in their books working. It is far too easy to look over these types of people we should actually value highly and hold in great esteem.
However, one comforting thought is that there will usually be that one person who will see quite how outstanding your dedication is and either acknowledge, encourage or admire you. Even if this doesn’t happen, know that you working hard for yourself and your future! Don’t give up hope as there is always a point to our ventures and at the end of the day, you will be the one reaping those rewards you so deserve.