I believe this world would be a better place if we all strived to work together. For this reason, I agree with easing grading standards.

College is where individuals find their passion and dig deep to follow their dreams. We, especially as Korean students, were raised in a competitive environment. Unlike our parents’ generation, graduating from college has become somewhat of a necessity. Although some may not like the idea of going to college, we are pressured to do so socially. Many of us do not know the reason for or even have the passion to go to college. So I believe all of us must try to create a philosophical atmosphere.

Although competition is essential for innovation, we are too accustomed to it. I feel that college should be the time for young adults to stop listening to what society tells them; it should be the time to take the initiative to discover what one’s true passion is.

Knowledge is knowledge. We all have different learning styles and speeds. Some may find it easy to take notes, follow a curriculum, etc. On the other hand, there are students, including me, who find it incredibly hard and mundane. Is it really fair to evaluate every individual’s academic effort against those who find it easier? I do not think so. We can humorously bring up the story of the elephant. A blind man would touch the leg of the elephant and think it was a tree trunk, its ears fans, its trunk a hose, its tusks spears, and its tail a rope. We are all blind to knowledge as students. I believe it is the university’s responsibility to really let us open our eyes to seek the truth. We should not set the standard as to what the visible person can see if we are all blind. Instead, we should be encouraged to keep touching, sensing, and experiencing the elephant (knowledge). I understand that relative evaluation may be easier to grade, set standards, and motivate students to put more effort into their studies. However, schools still hold the responsibility of educating their students, to foster loving citizens of this world.

Finally, CNU is made up of Korean and international students. As mentioned before, every individual has different learning methods and styles. So, as a school with international students, is it ethical to make diverse students compete with each other? Although I am Korean, I spent my childhood overseas and struggled to learn Korean. For me to really understand a concept, I have to translate Korean to English and then translate it back to Korean to submit assignments to let professors know I understand the concepts that they taught. Even then, I lack the time and friends to submit assignments to my satisfaction. If following a curriculum was and remains challenging for me, imagine how hard foreigners and disabled students might find it. Others may argue that as this is a Korean university and you live in Korea, it is your responsibility to follow the rules. Indeed, this argument is true. But is it not also the university’s responsibility to help every student be successful? This is the question I want to ask. Relative evaluation just seems to me like an easy way out for universities to shirk their responsibilities and narrow the opportunity to do better.