Wacked Out

Today I had the joy of taking the standardized test that everyone knows and loves. The ACT. It was a beautiful experience. Some people cried, others called out to the answer booklet as the teacher tore it from their grip. It was poetic almost. Heartwarming even.... if you were to look at it in a optimistic lens. The crying was more brought on by the stress of studying last minute and the lack of sleep. The calling out due to the countless victims who didn't manage to fill in every bubble before the separation was official. I'm also pretty sure that many felt a deep connection to the ACT when we finally stepped out of that room. Mostly it was pure hatred for the ACT and it's fellow standardized test brothers. Honestly, I'm gonna spread a kernel of truth into the field that is my minuscule audience... the science section of these tests are a joke. Not that I have anything against it. I understand the system. You have to be fair to the students that go into specialized science fields, but 35 minutes for interpreting at least 20 different graphs and analyzing and answering 45 questions? Now that is just downright ridiculous. Rubber ducky ridiculous. To explain that a little more, it is comparable to filling up and nice and warm bath tub, putting in the wonderfully scented bubble bath soap that caresses the skin with just the right amount of smooth and bubbly (specifically the monstrous white towers of bubbles), slipping under the frosty pearl blanket and then leaving the rubber ducky on the counter. You do not, under any circumstances, leave the rubber ducky on the counter. That is criminal. The bubble bath was made to include the rubber ducky. That kind of bonehead decision is comparable to the decision to make a 35 minutes section with a couple dozen graphs have 45 questions. Downright insane. So basically I spent that entire section skipping the reading and just going straight to the questions. I don't want to get into it, it brings up intense anger filled emotions that I do not care deal with currently, but it was a certain experience that one can only understand when you have taken the ACT or SAT (or so I've heard in regards to the SAT). So as a result of participating in that test for 5, 55 minutes class periods my mind was like scrambled eggs. Thoroughly fried classic salt and peppered eggs, but eggs none the less. And, contrary to popular belief of all the teachers around the world, it is in reality extremely difficult to talk much less conduct yourself in a deep analytical discussion after partaking in that experience. Needless to point out, but I will point it out anyway, after school today my machine of a brain had a screw not only loose, but completely gone from it. At track practice, which thank the world, was a long slow run. In conclusion, my run consisted of singing various old country songs from Joe Diffie/Alan Jackson with my buddies enthusiastically as well as some more recent tracks. And finally, my brain has reconstructed itself to a well oiled machine that runs well enough to form complete thoughts (or so I believe) and actually do so in a quite eloquent matter. I'm just gonna say that I am pretty proud of myself on that fact. So, lesson to be taken away... don't put yourself around impressionable people or people that you don't was to embarrass yourself in front of while participating in a standardized test on the same day. Just give it 24 hours. For the sake of your life on the following day. Just, hold that wacky in until you arrive in a safe and comfy place, preferably with lots of pillows and blankets. Also hot chocolate. Hot chocolate would be nice. Treat yourself right my friends.