9/365

There is a very weird emotion that surrounds returning to school and it's different for everyone. Some people dread going back to school; some anticipate its return. It all depends on the person. A few nights ago, I listened to a girl tell me how much she hated school. She hated it so much that she took online classes just to avoid it. And in my head, I kinda figured it out -- or at least, I figured it out so that I could understand her reasoning. It wasn't school that she hated, not the learning aspect but the environment in which she was asked to learn.

The environment of school is built on this scale of how well you function around your peers and how well you test. Public school can be very difficult for some people -- some people just don't fit in to the school system. If they learn differently, they are treated differently for it. Kids who learn things too quickly and then sit idle while peers are still learning can be seen as aggravating, know-it-alls. They annoy the other kids. Learning at a slower pace can aggravate fellow students when one asks for a problem to be worked that is simple for some and harder for others. The point is that people are all different and that shows but is not always accommodated for within the point of their lives that is the most educational.

The testing aspect of school is really a pain in the behind. Teachers judge how well students know subjects by tests, but sometimes certain people don't test well simply because they don't. The tests might make them nervous -- the fear of failure is planted at a very young age now -- which results in a low score. And I'm gonna lay something pretty crazy down right now. Are you ready? The ACT is a scam. It doesn't really judge how well you know those subjects, it judges how well you test. People stress over the score simply because they are taught to do so. Students hire people to impersonate them to get better grades. Tell me what is okay about that. Tell me that the testing aspect of school isn't terrifying sometimes.

The point is that our education system isn't built for everyone, but you can make it work for you. Here's how:

1. Go in with a positive mindset. Even though sometimes school really sucks, you are so lucky to be given an education. Remember that some kids in third world countries are literally dying because they want to go to school. Feel blessed to be where you are -- yes, even in algebra, you can feel blessed.

2. Learn how to test better. There's probably a better way to say that. Anyway, approach your teachers and ask how to study for their tests. If you reach out to your teachers, they'll be much more willing to help you. But beware, they won't be so nice if you ask them how to study just before the final exam.

3. Remember that you are really just there to learn. I've mainly stuck on the problems in our education system, but sometimes school sucks because you don't have friends. If the problem with school is a social issue, do what you can. Remember that you really are just there to get your education; friends are just a bonus.

As you return to school, push yourself passed what you know you are able to do. Surprise yourself with how intelligent you are. Now, get to class.

catch you later,
Karleigh

"Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way." // George Evans