Is it just me, or do high schools in the United States really focus on standardized testing? Throughout our education, we are constantly going through testing to see where we stand in comparison to others our age. In my opinion, there is a whole lot wrong with assuming that someone's ability to learn is based on whether or not they can sit through an hour or longer of testing.

I was always the kid that struggled when it came to taking huge tests. Not only did I get test anxiety, but after a while I would feel so drained and frustrated that I would literally circle answers without reading the questions. It was no surprise that when junior year rolled around, the same thing happened while taking the ACT. I was really focused on the first few sections, and then we took a break.... after that it was as if my concentration was thrown out the window. I know this might not be how everyone feels because some are better at concentrating for long periods of time, but I was never like that. The same thing happened when it came to my classes and tests. I always got good grades on my assignments, but when it came to tests, I would average a low C or D which in return, lowered my GPA.

When senior year rolled around I suddenly became so worried that I would not get into the school I wanted. My ACT scores were on the lower end and my GPA wasn't close to getting a scholarship at any university. I was discouraged because all of my friends were being accepted to schools and offered scholarships and I had nothing. I had convinced myself that I could not raise my grades and do better. Perhaps I wasn't as smart as the other kids my age. My next decision, however, was what changed it all.

I decided that instead of wasting my money and going to university on no scholarship, I was going to go to community college and redeem myself. I wasn't very fond of the idea of community college at first, but to be honest, it grew on me fast. For two years at community college, I worked on raising my grades and actually sitting down and studying even though it was really hard for me to do.

If you aren't aware, after you complete a few years of college courses (and after a certain amount of credits earned), the new school you wish to transfer to most likely will only look at your grades in college and not in high school. I ended up transferring to a university in my junior year of college and I received a scholarship for my grades. I couldn't believe it! Later on, I got accepted into my program of study. Although my university classes were much harder than those I had taken at the community college, I still managed to receive an "A" average in all of my courses and was on the Dean's list every semester of my college career. Throughout my time at university I had several opportunities come my way such as being on the board for a student organization and helping a professor with a project in my field.

This December, I am graduating with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with, hopefully, highest honors (I'm literally 0.01 GPA points away from Summa Cum Laude). I am proud of how far I have come and how much dedication I put into raising my grades.

For those discouraged because of your grades, it is never too late to push yourself harder or to get academic help. If you generally try, that is good enough! Some courses are harder than others and it is completely okay if you end up receiving a grade you didn't expect. Your grades, GPA, and test scores do not define you as a person! I'm still convinced that defining someone's testing abilities as intelligence is complete nonsense. So go forth and live your life, strive to be the best you, and do not be afraid to fail.