Academic excellence is overrated! Did I just say that? Oh, yes, I said it. Being top of your class does not necessarily guarantee that you will be at the top of life. You could graduate as the best student in finance but it doesn't mean you will make more money than everybody else. The best graduating law student does not necessarily become the best lawyer. The fact is life requires more than the ability to understand a concept, memorise it and reproduce it in an exam. School rewards people for their memory, life rewards people for their imagination. School rewards caution, life rewards daring. School hails those who live by the rules, life exalts those who break the rules and set new ones. So do I mean people shouldn't study hard in school? Oh, no, you should but don't sacrifice every other thing on the alter of first class. Don't limit yourself to the classroom. Do something practical; take a leadership position, start a business and fail. That's a better "Entrepreneurship 101" join or start a club. Contest an election and lose. It will teach you something political science 101 will not teach you. Attend a seminar, read books outside of your course. Go on MISSIONS and win a soul for ETERNAL REWARDS... Do something you believe in! Think less of becoming an excellent student; think of more of becoming an excellent person. Make the world your classroom!

Stale topic. Still controversial so you'd get comments, most defending academic excellence from outdated minds.

Good write up!

I'll be back with a robust reply