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Belief?!?!

Basically I've always believed that almost anyone is capable of anything. But more specifically I've always believed that almost anyone is capable of getting a grade A in any and every subject. Now I don't mean that they can do no revision and just get an A. I mean if someone puts the effort in and get the guidance/help they need where needed, they can get an A.

However today I was talking about how i could most likely get an A in maths core 1 at AS-level (its a re-sit in january) because we were doing practice exam papers today and I only got a few questions wrong. And my mate was like "Theres no way in ****ing hell you'll get an A in core 1" which I was pretty shocked at as when we were talking about how practically anyone could get an A in any subject he had the same view as me. Which lead me to believe that he would think I and anyone else he knew taking maths could get an A.After that I decided to take a bet with him for £5 that I would get an A in core 1 maths.

After seeing his reaction I decided to see a few of my other mates views, and they didn't think I could get an A in it either. So I ended up taking two more bets, one for £5 and one for £10 that I would get an A in core 1 maths.

Im not sure if they think like this because of the poor results I got last year D, D, E and E. But the thing with those results is that I did about an hour revision before all of my exams because I was trying to save a long distance relationship which was basically doomed. Now I know it was the most ridiculous thing putting a relationship before education but it was my first ever real relationship and I was in that place where you think you'll be together forever blah blah blah. I'd never do such a thing again as it was a totally idiotic thing to do and is going to make this year a lot harder for me.

Basically my plan is to try and get an A in all three A-levels (i'm doing the neccessary re-sits to accomplish this) and would be happy even if I got all B's. The main reason is to show my mates that its not impossible for me to get an A even when they have absolutely no faith in me.

Basically I have three questions:

1. A few other of my mates that I don't really hang around with actually believed in me and thought it was quite possible for me to get an A. Now after seeing this I've been thinking that maybe I should hang around more with the people who actually believe in me as it seems like my other mates have no respect/faith in me. What do you think? Would it be a wise idea to hang around with people who have belief in you or just stay with the people who don't seem to have any belief in you?

2. I was wondering what your guys opinions are on the whole subject of believing that almost anyone can get an A? Do you think practically anyone can get an A (with the required effort)? Or do you think that it impossible for practically anyone to have the ability to get an A?

3. Why do people have such little belief in themselves? One of my mates was incredibly adamant that not everyone can get an A, only the select few can achieve such a grade (maybe chosen by god? lmao). He was like "Absolutely NO-ONE on this table will get an A at A-level", and its not as if the other people on the table got bad grades at AS-level, one had already gotten an at AS-level.

Sorry for the long post. But I've never seen people have so much doubt in their own abilities and others that it really shocked me.

P.S. Hope its in the right forum, wasn't sure which one to post it in :smile:

Reply 1

manderlay in flames

12

1) who gives a **** what your friends think, they're entitled to their views
2) no, some people just don't think very well. With good learning/revision/exam beating techniques most people can push their grades way up, but not beyond a certain point
3) putting everyone through an exam system which some will inevitably fail will reduce the confidence of some people, naturally. Gogo 11+

Reply 2

ph9

10

well in year 12 i went from a 60/100 in core 1 to a 100/100, deffo possible

as for the everyone can get an A thing, i'm not sure. i see what you're saying and it's nice and maybe i agree but i do know people who've worked so so hard for an exam and then not achieved an A. perhaps they didn't do their best, i don't know, but you know... perhaps it's not achievable for everyone

anyway, as long as you believe in yourself, who cares what anyone else says? if it's made you upset/uncomfortable then just tell your friends it's pissed you off or just get them back in your own subtle way (it does work). i personally wouldn't change friends because of this but that's me and you're not me :p:

Reply 3

Zoecb

11

Don't dislike your friends for underestimating you - just keep collecting their money and get your A!!! The joke will very much be on them.

Reply 4

Celifein

7

Innuendo_anonymous

1. A few other of my mates that I don't really hang around with actually believed in me and thought it was quite possible for me to get an A. Now after seeing this I've been thinking that maybe I should hang around more with the people who actually believe in me as it seems like my other mates have no respect/faith in me. What do you think? Would it be a wise idea to hang around with people who have belief in you or just stay with the people who don't seem to have any belief in you?

If someone told me they didn't think I'd do well in something, I wouldn't really care, to be honest. I don't hang around with people because I need their approval. I have enough self-belief to keep my ego inflated.

Innuendo_anonymous

2. I was wondering what your guys opinions are on the whole subject of believing that almost anyone can get an A? Do you think practically anyone can get an A (with the required effort)? Or do you think that it impossible for practically anyone to have the ability to get an A?

No, not everyone can get an A, otherwise there would be no point in grading them. It's supposed to be a measure of your capabilities (and some people are only capable of an E).

Innuendo_anonymous

3. Why do people have such little belief in themselves? One of my mates was incredibly adamant that not everyone can get an A, only the select few can achieve such a grade (maybe chosen by god? lmao). He was like "Absolutely NO-ONE on this table will get an A at A-level", and its not as if the other people on the table got bad grades at AS-level, one had already gotten an at AS-level.

People tend to say this when they know THEY can't get an A. Thinking that it's only possible for demi-gods makes them feel better.

Innuendo_anonymous

Sorry for the long post. But I've never seen people have so much doubt in their own abilities and others that it really shocked me.

Also bear in mind that it's normal for people to get together and whinge about how they're going to fail, so they can gloat later when they do well. As in, "I totally thought I was going to fail, but I got an A!"

Reply 5

cpj1987

15

Interesting question there, I believe that anyone could get an A at A-Level, provided they had the motivation, the resources, and the support, required (because basically, all A-Levels involve is remembering things that've been provided for you, and regurgitating them) - but at the same time, I don't see it as something that should make you, OP, annoyed, or bothered, if your friends think otherwise. Yes, if you genuinely want to work that hard to get an A, then go for it, and enjoy making the money out of it too; but don't judge friendships on 'Do they believe I can get an A or not?' - you seem to be putting more pressure on yourself than you need to be; is that a motivational thing, or are you just trying to prove a point? If it's the latter, it seems a bit silly to do that, to me.

Reply 6

ph9

10

Celifein

People tend to say this when they know THEY can't get an A. Thinking that it's only possible for demi-gods makes them feel better.

x2

Reply 7

simple.

9

1) its up to you really, personally i would 'hang' around with peers who believe in me, mainly because their belief in me would increase my confidence also if i want to enter into a good uni then sorry but i would put my educatation before freindship, but thats my view. :biggrin:

2) i totally understand where your coming form, indeed anyone can get an A, they have just got to put their mind into it, also i should be easier to focus seeing as you have chosen the subjects you want to learn at A-level. i hope to prove many people wrong who doubt my potential. just got to stay focused and confident in what i do :biggrin:

3) people have their views, i would just ignore them. As i said before education before freindship, so sod 'um just think about your education, if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. The lack of confidence is the reason why many people do not believe in themselves. :smile:

sorry for the long post, its something i feel strongly about, seeing as i have never really achieved my potential and by my GCSE results have led my parents to loose hope in me. :frown:

hopefully my A-levels will be more of an illustration of what i can really do!

Reply 8

Innuendo_anonymous

OP

Thanks for the replies guys they've all been pretty helpful. When I said the things about hanging around with the other people more I didn't mean I'd just stop seeing my other mates, I just mean't spend a bit less time with them and become better mates with the other people who believe in me.

Reply 9

Sanity Panda

I don't think it's a case of your old friends not being supportive. I'm sure they'd encourage you to try your best.

We start forming opinions and ideas of someone - They're just using past knowledge about you, perhaps motivation to study and such...

Once you've achieved it. They'll just update their perceptions or cling to it like a fool >.>'

Reply 10

Meliae

Innuendo_anonymous

And my mate was like "Theres no way in ****ing hell you'll get an A in core 1" which I was pretty shocked at as when we were talking about how practically anyone could get an A in any subject he had the same view as me. Which lead me to believe that he would think I and anyone else he knew taking maths could get an A.

I reckon he agreed with you whilst you were saying it but didn't really think about it too much or apply it to everyday life. People say things they don't really mean all the time.

Basically my plan is to try and get an A in all three A-levels (i'm doing the neccessary re-sits to accomplish this) and would be happy even if I got all B's. The main reason is to show my mates that its not impossible for me to get an A even when they have absolutely no faith in me.

Good luck

1. A few other of my mates that I don't really hang around with actually believed in me and thought it was quite possible for me to get an A. Now after seeing this I've been thinking that maybe I should hang around more with the people who actually believe in me as it seems like my other mates have no respect/faith in me. What do you think? Would it be a wise idea to hang around with people who have belief in you or just stay with the people who don't seem to have any belief in you?

Then again, maybe it's that your real mates know you well enough to say what they really think rather than just agreeing with you for the sake of it. If you got Ds and Es before, I can see why they'd not think you could get an A.

2. I was wondering what your guys opinions are on the whole subject of believing that almost anyone can get an A? Do you think practically anyone can get an A (with the required effort)? Or do you think that it impossible for practically anyone to have the ability to get an A?

Practically anyone? No way. Especially not with subjects like maths. Some people just literally can't get their heads around the concepts. Of course revision can vastly improve grades but not everyone is capable of the top grades. One of my friends does ridiculous amounts of revision but still often struggles with exams.

Reply 11

cheapaschips1000

If someone tells me I can't do something, it makes me try twice as hard. I often think I can't do something, but I do have a determination to be the best. If I never get there then fine. But at least I'll try and that for me is all anyone can do.

Reply 12

Innuendo_anonymous

OP

Validate

They wouldn't set the boundaries if not everyone was capable of reaching them. I am surprised that you are doing Higher Ed maths.....I looked up at all the possibilities for me to do engineering and I chose to do a BTEC Nat.Dip because I with doing Applied Science at GCSE and JUST getting a C in Maths I couldn't take higher Physics or Higher Maths (which are the main subjects for engineering ironically enough) They said they were looking for minimum B in maths... so that was the school not having faith in me and putting me aside with the people that 'just get by'. I wanted to do engineering so much that I was willing to spend a lot of time getting my maths up to scratch but I ended up with a BTEC and that's a lot better.

Not sure what you meant at the beginning lol. The D, D, E and E were at AS-level not gcse. At gcse I got a B in maths on the intermediate paper. Was supposed to be doing higher but the teacher messed up and put us in with the rest of our class :frown:

.

Thanks for everyone's replies :smile:

I'm just going to aim for those A's to prove them all wrong, and win lots of money :biggrin:

Reply 13

randomgirl

14

Yep, I think anyone can get an A if they study hard enough or whatever.

Reply 14

Glutamic Acid

17

Raise the stakes, it's C1, you could make a decent amount of money.

Reply 15

Innuendo_anonymous

OP

Glutamic Acid

Raise the stakes, it's C1, you could make a decent amount of money.

Lol. I tried but the highest aanyone was willing to bet was £10 :frown:

Reply 16

Wangers

16

Innuendo_anonymous

Lol. I tried but the highest aanyone was willing to bet was £10 :frown:

Engage your your brain cell for short term pain and you're effectively getting paid to revise you lucky ****. I would have jumped at the oppotunity. You lose nothing and get grades, money an perphaps satisfaction.

Reply 17

h82think

14

Innuendo_anonymous

But more specifically I've always believed that almost anyone is capable of getting a grade A in any and every subject.

This is untrue!

Reply 18

Spudder

2

I don't believe in hitting academic peaks either, though our teachers constantly remind us of their theory of them.

Go for the As, and collect the cash. If you get lazy, just remind yourself of the money involved. THINK OF THE MONEY!!

Reply 19

Innuendo_anonymous

OP

h82think

This is untrue!

Just curious. But why do you think this?

Belief?!?!

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