Variable wrote:I'm currently enrolled in an SAT prep class, and understand nothing. I am going to be taking the SAT at the course's conclusion, and I will fail. Unless I'm mistaken, that's going to mark the point my chance for a satisfying life ends,
.... or if I've just got an overblown self-defeatist mentality. Any feedback or help on this would be appreciated.
Let’s go with ridiculously overblown and ridiculously misguided. In fact, it is so ridiculous and at such a young age it makes one wonder where and or how it is even possible to be so far off track? How you currently believe the world operates is so far from the truth it is as if you don’t believe in gravity or that you believe the earth is flat.
Well, actually... I understand how it happens. What you are feeling is not uncommon. In some countries, the pressure to do well on a test is so high that teens commit suicide. It is a test so valued, that if the teen doesn’t do well they believe life is over, they have shamed their parents, they are worthless, and so they kill themselves. I’m talking about Japan. How absolutely misguided. It is a sad yet fascinating display of how our species warps reality to such extremes.
The SAT, whatever. But, I understand. When you are in the system, when educators, parents, peers are all focused on the SAT and telling you how important it is, why would you not believe them? If you don’t do well, then X or Y or Z bad things will happen or you won’t be able to ever do A or B. Yawn. Life doesn’t revolve around some insignificant test.
I did ok on the SAT, nothing good or bad. I joined the military at age 17. They don’t care about your SAT scores. They will get you out of the house, they will continue your education and send you all over the world. That is just one option. You can also pursue programs with NGOs or you can pursue a vocational trade. There are options beyond the narrow SAT.
I did go to college and was kicked out for bad grades three times, placed on academic probation after filing an appeal. I graduated with a 2.08, woo hoo. My SAT scores were a thing of the past.
My first real job interview after college I was asked, “How did you manage to fail 13 classes?” Not 13 credit hours, 13 classes. I still got the job. During that job I went back to school and got a masters degree. Then I moved to Las Vegas to pursue a PhD. It took me 7 years and I was and still am not anywhere near the most talented in my field, not even close. But, so friggin what?
I’m currently in South America in a small town in Colombia. After graduating with my PhD, I left Las Vegas and for 6 years have been traveling the world, living out of a carry on bag. I work independently, I do what I want, when I want. It’s a good life.
THE BIGGEST FACTOR...not having a self-deafitist attitude. Regardless of the ups and downs of life, my biggest asset has been persistence.
The SAT, the time you are at right now in your life is a little insignificant blip on the radar. It is a point in time that looking back will in no way shape or form define your life, your level of success, or your happiness. What will define it is your belief in yourself and how you approach the inevitable setbacks. Do you shutdown or move forward? Do you fear failure or do you celebrate failure? Those choices are up to you.