Standardize Testing

Why do U.S. schools still use standardized tests when they are proven not helpful, and other advanced countries use better methods. Along with that, standardized tests are not accountable and put kids in special education when it is not needed. As well as putting kids in advanced classes because they are being challenged. Better methods to use would be essays and projects that show their true knowledge rather than multiple choice.

Senior Year

I remember when i was younger talking about how great senior year would be, and how great it was going to be to graduate and move onto college. Always saying how leaving Van Meter couldn't come any quicker because of all the drama within the community.

I am still very excited about moving onto the next stage of my life, but as I reflect on everything that has happened throughout my life, Van Meter is all I have ever known. It seems that with senior year already here every year has gone by faster and faster, and me wanting things to go slower and slower. It's crazy to think that this is the year, we choose what we want to do with our lives. I can barely decide what I want for dinner every night(thank goodness for parents).

I always say i'm not going to miss anything, but I think thats just the excitement of wanting to live the college life. Assuming it's going to be better than high school. When in all reality, I'm going to miss everything. My family, all the friends I have made and relationships built with those people, teachers and coaches who helped me along the way, and even all the drama that comes with being in high school. Ok, probably not the drama, but you get what I'm saying. We take for granted how good we have it in high school.

Senior year is something that is meant to be special and as I get ready to move on with my life, I hope that I use the time I have left to live life to the fullest, can look back on this time and have no regret about anything I do and continue to build friendships that will last a lifetime.

temptations

According to Aldous Huxley, to eliminate temptation is the best way to live.

Sure, it would make life easier, but would life still be full of excitement with no temptation?

I believe Huxley's statement is true but also false in the sense that if there was no temptation everyone would be a better person. However, at the same time, without temptations there would be no life lessons learned through failing. Temptation is something that is needed in life. Life to me is a learning process as you mature and learn right from wrong.

There has been a numerous amount of temptation and I haven't always made the right choices but I don't regret anything. Without making the wrong decisions I may not have learned the valuable life lessons I have up to this point in my life.

Life without temptation in my opinion, would be very dull and many life lessons would never be learned. Even though we would never get in trouble, I don't think that would be a very fulfilling life lived. The important lessons I have learned have come from the bad choices made in my life.