The author argues that the current system of awarding degrees, particularly in the context of students with diagnosed disabilities, is flawed and detrimental to both students and the educational institutions themselves. The author uses a personal anecdote about their own spinal injury and rehabilitation to illustrate the importance of a mindset that challenges fixed limitations and encourages adaptation and growth. They argue that the current educational system, driven by a focus on fairness and accommodation, is failing to prepare students for independence and the challenges of the real world. The author believes that this approach is not only unfair to students like Student B, who may feel their efforts are undervalued, but also to students like Student A, who may be losing out on the development of essential life skills. The author suggests that the current system is a result of good intentions gone awry, where the focus on inclusion and accommodation has led to a culture of low expectations and a lack of tough love, which is crucial for personal growth and success. The author concludes by emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of the educational system to ensure that degrees are awarded based on genuine academic achievement and the development of independence, rather than the current system of accommodations and special considerations.
