Nobel Prize winner’s bad report card shows we should never give up!

I was never very good at math or science in school, which is why I decided my career could not be in either of those fields. But 79-year-old Sir Jon Gurdon, who was the worst student in his science class in high school, recently won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Yes, the student with the bad report card grade earned one of the greatest awards a person can receive!

What makes this story even better is the fact that his science teacher at the time put him down and told him he would never amount to be a scientist. Gurdon was recently awarded with the prize for his work in cloning and stem cell research and for revolutionizing cells and organism development. Remember the first animal that was cloned? That was all because of him.

If you have kids in school, you know that the grades they bring home aren't always going to be satisfactory and that's okay as long as they're trying. Very often students stress themselves out if they aren't earning straight A's and Gurdon's story shows that although it's important to do well in school, grades don't always determine future success.  

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The science teacher who ridiculed him when he was 15 years old was Mr. Gaddum, who wrote in his report card:

"if he can't learn simple biological facts he would have no chance of doing the work of a specialist, and it would be a sheer waste of time, both on his part, and of those who have to teach him."

Harsh, ouch!! Although Gurdon was hurt by his teacher's commentary, it encouraged him to strive harder in life and in his studies and what he learned from him was: get your facts right, apply yourself, learn to be humble in respect of facts, work hard.

Gurdon sends a good message to kids because he is saying that it is important to do well in school since the habits you attain prepare you for the real world. You may not always be that straight A student, but what matter is that you put your all into it. Funny enough, he even keeps the shamed report card above his desk in his office as a friendly reminder to continue working hard.

Image via Nobelprize.org