Typically used to describe those with unfathomably high academic performance and dedication, “academic weapons” is a term widespread and heard on any high school campus. Though commonly interpreted as a compliment to a highly achieving individual, I personally think academic weapons can sometimes be a pain in the behind.
Sometimes, not all the time.
Of course, they deserve compliments and praise for their school achievements which always require vast amounts of effort and time. However, sometimes these students are not all sunshine and rainbows.
Let me give you a scenario that you have probably faced from your experiences in classrooms. You just got the dreaded results of a test that you know you didn’t perform well on. Soon, the classroom begins to murmur as each student asks one another how they did and what questions they got wrong. In this scenario, let us say you hypothetically received the average score of 75%, a C, a grade everyone averaged around. “Not too bad, I scored the same as everyone else,” you proudly think to yourself. But then one of your smart classmates intervenes and asks how everyone did. “Oh, 75%! That’s a good score,” cheerfully compliments the classmate. Subsequently, everyone then proceeds to ask what the smart classmate received on the test. Suddenly, tears and shame roll over the student’s face as the results of their tests seem to get stuck in their throat. You begin to feel bad, bracing for the classmate to perhaps say 65%, a below-average score, or even perhaps an F, a failing grade. “I got such a bad score! I got a 96%,” groans the student.
Sure I might have exaggerated a point or two (or maybe three…or four), but the central point is still there. Academic weapons can sometimes be a little bit hypocritical when it comes to test scores. I’m sure this behavior isn’t on purpose most of the time, but it can feel a little backhanded sometimes.
All in all, academic weapons are still some of the most amazing and smartest people you’ll ever meet. Whenever I compliment someone’s incredible academic achievement, I’ll still call them academic weapons. But sometimes the hypocritical, granted not always on purpose, response from academic weapons can really be a pain.
A special message to all my fellow high school seniors out there, don’t let the performance of other students downplay your efforts. Sure there might be that one student who has Harvard University as their target and your dream school as their safety college. Although it can be frustrating, take a step back and look at what you’ve accomplished and all the happy memories during your 4 years of high school. Don’t compare yourself to others and be proud of your results. Perhaps you’re an academic weapon in someone else’s eyes.