I took the final in my pediatric nursing class this morning. This is a class that I disliked the entire way through, and which had a reputation for being very difficult. I got a low B on the first test, freaked out, and then worked really hard the rest of the semester and pulled off low A’s on the next two tests and a perfect score on a group presentation. The way things stood, if I got a 91 on the final this morning, I would get an A in the class.

Well, the grades were just posted, and I got a 90.

Talk about frustrating to a perfectionist like me.

As soon as I found out my grade I went and vented to my roommate, Amanda. One of the things I said to her was, “I worked so hard in this class and made A’s on everything except the first test. But my classmate made C’s on most of her exams, got a B on the final, and ended up with a B in the class also. Our grades are the same. Why did I even try so hard?”

She responded, “But that’s not why you worked hard. You did it so you could learn, and look back and say that you did your best.”

Feeling dejected and guilty, I hung my head and said, “You’re right.”

After a moment’s pause she said, “But that’s not what you want to hear right now. So if you want, we can go toilet paper your professor’s house.”

That’s what friends are for.