In most cases, students who failed their final high-school
tests are referred to as 'underachievers' or 'unsuccessful' people. Have you
ever thought why they failed? Ever wondered what their dream was/is? Or why a
class full of individuals, is tested by the same manner?
What if I tell you that the cashier standing over there, was
primarily an outstanding student in Arts class. Of course most people will
disagree, believing that a 'smart' student should be achieving high grades in
all subjects. The reason behind his failure, is because simply his abilities in
understanding math equations were not as superior as that student sitting at
the front of the class.
There was a kid finishing parents meeting with a vital
discussion with his mother. Saying, why should he study subjects that he will
never use in his life, or might not even enjoy. The mother would look back at
her child blanked eyed, think for a second and then lie. Subsequently she would
reply by claiming that, fine jobs require good degrees, and these subject will
help him get a good degree. Afterwards relating how she never had these
opportunities when she was younger. But she is unaware of the fact that
society's needs have changed since she was last sixteen. Gripping her son more firmly and ignores him on the way home. She ignores
him not because what her son implied makes no sense, but because she doesn't
know any better herself. Although over her whole adulthood, she never used Pythagoras's
theorem, and still unaware of the value of x.
How many times did students memorize formulas, equations and
facts that they would no longer remember after submitting their task. How many
times did students memorize something 10 minutes after the teacher said 'stop
writing', then receiving their grades 1 month later, figuring out that they
were one mark short from the top grade. Well, does that mean that memorizing 10
minutes earlier, would make an individual more qualified for a certain job.
Test us with tests but the finals are never final, because
they never really prepare us for the real test which is survival. Have you ever
noticed that one student, who fails his math's tests, but when introduced to a scientific
report, he comes to life as he aims for the top grade.
The intend of this post, is not to produce audience that
will disapprove the ideas of exams. However it is to shake those who judge
students based on their academic abilities, and to conceal the
misunderstandings that 'drop-outs' have to hear, from those who consider
themselves as smart, educated and well-established people. Achieving high
grades is something to be proud of, but failing that one subject that does not
feel your drive is not the end of the world. Let's not let exam results decide
our fate.
