Being a freshman, whether at college or high school, means a lot. The new campus, new classmates, and new teachers can all be too much for students. While we are still trying to know the name of the classmate sitting next to us, tests and papers are already thrown at us. An unexpected bad grade, therefore, can come in and destroy our confidence.

What if the first semester, from September to the beginning of next year, doesn’t count? The pass/fail system, which allows students to receive either a pass or a non-pass on their official transcript to colleges for that first semester, is the perfect solution. Even if you received a C on the first history paper because you aren’t familiar with the material yet, it’s going to be the same with the other students who receive an A. Here’s how you can convince your principal:

Transition Into The School:

Every school has its own “culture,” namely the grading system. For new students, getting used to the new grading system takes time. In the first few months, when students receive a bad grade, that doesn’t mean they deserve it; they just aren’t familiar with what the teacher is looking for. The pass/fail system can give students a chance to find their rhythm and show what they can really do.

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Explore New Interests:

Students with the p/f system have the opportunity to explore their interests. Coming from middle school/high school, the variety of opportunities explodes. New sports teams, electives, and clubs are great places for students to explore potential interests and find their career path.

But if students were to worry about getting an A first, they might be restricted in the classes they are familiar with and the clubs they were in before. Under the p/f system, students can take an elective course they have never heard of, join a club they are kind of interested in, and try out for a sport they have never dared to.

Rebuilding Study Habits:

Entering a higher level of education and facing a more rigorous academic environment might require students to adjust their studying habits. The old way of hanging out with friends after school, then doing homework, might not work now. Students might have to prioritize schoolwork and extracurricular activities, which requires building a new habit.

A study shows that the average number of days required for humans to build a habit isn’t within a week, but rather 106-154 days. A p/f grading system in the first semester is the perfect length for all students to develop new daily schedules and transition into the school.

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Winter Temperature Affects Academic Performance:

When it comes to winter, the thick snow always limits our outdoor activity time. Even traveling between classes and going to the dining hall becomes a burden. Scientists have found a widespread, consistent, seasonal pattern in psychiatric disorders. It reaches its lowest in the summer, rises during the fall, and peaks during the winter in both the US and Sweden. When students don’t go outside as often and touch the grass that is now buried under a foot of snow, anxiety, depression, and feelings of stress sneak in and add on to the already heavy burden the new students are bearing. With these complex conditions, it’s very hard for students to concentrate on the winter term.

Conclusion:

Imagine coming out to the rising temperature feeling fresh and ready for real grades, rather than worrying about them in the new environment and cold winter. This change isn’t “lowering standards,” but rather respecting the reality of student development. The p/f grading system in the first semester for freshmen provides them with warmth during freezing temperatures and gives them more opportunities to explore the wide range of opportunities at new schools.