One of the easiest traps to fall into during school is comparing yourself to other students. Whether it’s marks, rankings, study hours, or even how confident someone seems in class, it’s something almost every student does at some point. The problem is that comparison rarely helps and often makes things worse.

Every student is on a different journey. Some students naturally pick up certain subjects faster, while others need more time and practice. Some have been getting tutoring for years, while others are learning everything for the first time. When you compare your progress to someone else’s, you’re usually comparing two completely different situations.

A lot of students also compare themselves to the top performers in their grade. They see someone getting high marks and immediately assume they’re not working hard enough or aren’t smart enough. What they don’t see are the hours of study, practice and effort that often happen behind the scenes.

The truth is that the most important competition is with yourself. Instead of asking whether you’re doing better than someone else, ask whether you’re doing better than you were last term, last month or even last week. Small improvements add up over time and often lead to much bigger results than constantly worrying about what everyone else is doing.

This is especially important in the lead up to exams. Time spent stressing about other students is time that could be spent improving your own understanding and building your confidence. The students who perform best are usually the ones who stay focused on their own goals and their own progress.

At the end of the day, school isn’t about being better than everyone else. It’s about becoming the best version of yourself. Focus on your own growth, trust the process and remember that progress is what really matters.

Eireyna Papinyan