“The honest truth, delivered unfiltered”

Since we were little, we’ve all been told that marks are super important. Every class, every exam — it’s always about “how much did you score?” It’s like our whole future depends on that one number. But now, as I think about it more, I wonder — is that really fair?

Our school system in India is actually really old. It was made during the British rule. Back then, they wanted to train people who would just follow instructions and do office work. That’s why they made this type of learning — read, memorise, write, repeat. Even after they left, we kept using the same system.

Great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore didn’t agree with it. They believed in learning with freedom and curiosity. Tagore even made his own school where students learned through nature, music, and real-life experiences. They both felt that true education should help us grow as full humans, not just become machines for marks.

Our parents also went through this same system. They were taught that marks decide everything. So naturally, they pass that belief to us — not because they want to pressure us, but because that’s what they were taught. I feel it’s time to gently change that thinking.

Honestly, it’s not just about marks vs. no marks. It’s about what education should really be about. Shouldn’t it help us learn, think, question, create? Things like confidence, kindness, problem-solving — they don’t show up on a mark sheet, but they matter so much in life.

Every student is different. Some love drawing, some like building things, some are amazing speakers, and some are great at sports. But when we focus only on marks, we forget that all these talents also deserve value and support.

I’m not saying marks don’t matter at all — of course, they do in many places. But they are just one part of our learning, not the whole thing. It’s okay to try hard, and it’s also okay to not be perfect every time. What we learn from the journey matters more than the final score.

In the end, I just feel that marks shouldn’t decide our worth. Let’s start talking about this more — not to blame anyone, but to make learning better for everyone. Because at the end of the day, we are not our marks. We are so much more.