Standardized Tests

Since some of us are taking the AP English exam pretty soon, I figured we should discuss standardized testing. We have all taken standardized tests since from a very young age. I remember that the only good thing about the ISATs was that they gave us free gum. Did any of the tests that we took really measure our intelligence? I do not think that these tests accurately measure a persons intelligence since every person does not learn and process information the same way. This is like the quote by Albert Einstein, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Is this the same with the AP English exam or did it find a better way to judge intelligence? Do you think that these tests should have such a large impact on your future?

Sorry for the late posting everyone! Thanks to Colton I just found out it was my turn to blog.  Hopefully you can all get it done. I decided to stray away from poetry and what we have been learning and turn this week's discussion into one on families. We are all getting excited to graduate and leave. In most cases, we will all be going out and leaving our families. Right now we are all really looking forward to making our own decisions (I am anyway), but after a few months at college will we look back and miss our families? Will we appreciate everything they've done for us a little bit more? I've been thinking about this a lot since I will be leaving halfway across the world in a few months, and I want to know what you all think. Are we the kind of people today because of our parents? Do we think the same way? Where do our ethics come from? What roles do mothers and fathers play in their children's lives? How is a child impacted when one of these figures is missing in their life? Can someone act as a mother/father/bother/sister figure in someone's life?

Do We Really Seize the Day?

Everybody knows the common saying to go out and seize the day. We often go around saying carpe diem because it sounds both intelligent and optimistic. The saying is the definition of optimism. It is a positive message to send to others and to show a great way of life. Has it become too common though? Has it lost its meaning and definition? Does it serve as nothing more than a cliche to sound sophisticated or does it still hold meaning of optimism? When it is given out as advice, there is a definite chance that it flows over someone's head because it has become so main stream. Can you agree with this based off of your own experience? What does seizing the day actually mean to you? What does it look like?