Lately, I’ve been receiving a flood of requests from students:
“Please increase my mark.”“I deserve more.”“I want the highest grade.”And it makes me wonder: do we still understand what marks
actually mean?
Let me be honest. A mark is just a number. It is
not your soul, your future, your intelligence — it is only a reflection of how well you have demonstrated your understanding
in that specific context, at that specific moment.
A mark is not your worth.But when you come to me — asking, even demanding a higher mark — without truly mastering the material, without showing the essence of knowledge, without even asking yourself,
“Do I honestly know this?” — you disrespect not only me as your evaluator, but yourself as a learner.
You want the highest mark?
Ask yourself first:
Did I really dive deep into the subject?
Can I explain it to someone else clearly, confidently, passionately?
Would I proudly defend my knowledge in front of an expert?
A few days ago, I spoke about this in a podcast:
Marks are an illusion.They are just tiny signals, not grand verdicts of your life or future.
If your mark is lower than you hoped, it does not mean you are stupid. It does not mean you have no potential.
It simply means:
there is more to learn, and that is a beautiful, dignified thing.But what
is shameful is demanding a crown you have not earned.
It’s like asking for applause when you haven’t performed yet.
Real respect comes from real work.
Before you ever ask for a higher mark, ask yourself:
“Would I be proud to own this knowledge — not just today, but years from now?”“Did I really give my best?”If you can answer YES, then let’s talk.
But if deep inside you know the answer is NO — then don’t insult yourself by chasing numbers.
Chase the truth.
Chase knowledge.
Chase your own better self.
The world doesn’t need more people with perfect marks.
The world needs people with integrity, depth, and courage to learn.
Please choose wisely ☺️.
@bintunozim