As we begin the monotonous grind of another second semester at LT and students get acclimated to new students and new classrooms, it’s hard for me not to harp on those students who feel academically victimized by their teachers. Everybody knows someone who is rather vocal about how it is their teacher’s fault that they aren’t doing well in a particular class.

Throughout my four years at LT, I have heard many students convince themselves and others that they did not earn a certain grade in a class because of their teacher’s wrongdoing. Frankly, I find this argument to be naïve and wildly irresponsible.

My first objection to this line of reasoning is that school is supposed to be challenging. While some classes are more difficult than others, and no two teachers share an identical teaching style; the bottom line is that school is designed to challenge students academically. The difficulty of a class might very well depend on which teacher a student has, but to expect to pass a class without applying yourself is wishful thinking.

Although rather cliché, the simple fact is that life is not easy, and if education aims to prepare students for the real world, it seems logical that school should be challenging. If you want to succeed in life, you have to apply yourself. Likewise, you can’t expect to earn a grade that accurately demonstrates your academic ability if you don’t take a class and its workload seriously.

Now, it would be ignorant if I did not acknowledge the fact that there are subpar teachers in schools everywhere. Teaching is like other occupations in that it’s not for everyone. Just as there are bad lawyers, so too are there bad teachers. And if you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in a class taught by someone who probably should have stayed an actuary, rather than teach children, then it is perfectly reasonable to say that you are at a slight disadvantage. But as unfortunate as that is, if you really want to achieve your potential, you shouldn’t let that circumstance hold you back.

Believe it or not, there are other teachers out there, and thus multiple solutions to the problem. And if there is any place you’ll find other teachers capable of offering meaningful help, it’s here at LT. Our school is a place teachers want to work at, and therefore the administration can select higher caliber employees.

Furthermore, teachers here want to help you. And if you’re so unmotivated that you’re repulsed by the idea of seeking out help, just remember you live in the twenty first century. The Internet is a beautiful thing, and if you can stalk a person on every form of social media known to man, I have every confidence that you’re more than capable of finding educational and instructional resources for any subject you could possibly imagine.

What this entire argument comes down to is self-responsibility. If you know that come May, you’re going to be unhappy with a “C” on your report card, then it’s your responsibility to ensure that that doesn’t happen. Complaining to your parents and having them write “strongly-worded emails” or convincing them to confront your teacher at conferences to give them “a piece of their mind” is juvenile. Some of you can or will soon be able to elect the next president of this country, and if you can’t even take responsibility for your grades, even I might be able to hold office. And trust me, no one wants that.