Standardized Testing Absurd

There are approximately 20 widely known SAT/ACT prep schools within 150 miles of Troy. All extremely competitive to get it into, some more than others. For example, a few schools are booked with students a year in advance. Now, these tests may determine a big part of a student’s future, however does this mean we inevitably have to face the fact that our sanity must be sabotaged in order for success? We all want this satisfaction of being told that we are smart and are capable of being accepted into our dream school, but at what price does all this studying and stress cost? The idea of “free time” we as students have is becoming a little distorted. So many of us are happy to sit in bed and do nothing, and this may be just as fun as a night out with friends because it is a break for our brains. This stress comes from all the books, essays, and studying we must do if we want to achieve great things; or at least that is what society tells us. It was my sophomore year and in the school library I overheard one of my fellow classmates saying he has no time for any activities because he is so busy with school and his SAT class is stressing him out. I sat there in silence with a million questions running through my head like, Am I late for preparing? How am I going to get into college? Something that keeps us going is that tacky graduation music we hope to hear that sends us off to the next, hopefully interesting chapter in our lives. Given all that stress and pressure to succeed, what surprises me most about my classmates, in a good way, is that even though these tests create lots of stress, we continue to work hard and push ourselves to achieve higher.