Georgia Tech’s graduate school is consistently rated third nationally only behind MIT and Cal Tech. Earlier this year Kit and I visited the campus in Atlanta on the fiftieth anniversary of my start there. Every graduate student then had finished in the top 5%  at their former universities. Everyone was used to getting A’s. But Georgia Tech had a policy of grading on a bell curve. The completion for the few A’s was brutal. Each class hour required three to five hours of preparation. That was my experience of playing in the major leagues of what I did best. I remain proud that I finished with a 4.0.

Opps!  I just admitted to having pride. Pride has been called one of the “Seven Deadly Sins.” Pride is taboo to many people especially those who are devout. And I think that pride in oneself as being inherently better than others is wrong and dangerous. But I also think pride in an accomplishment or a job well done is positive. Galatians 6:4  in the Bible says, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”

Pride in our own actions can sustain us during difficulties or when affirmation is scarce.  My goal is to act in such a way that I can be proud of my actions thereafter.

Drew Coons