When it comes to standardized testing, there seems to be a great divide. Some love it, some hate it. There are usually pros or cons, but never both in one person's eyes. Standardized tests measure what students learn in school. However, all of these tests are the given at the same level amongst students in the same grade. There is no differentiation in these tests, leveled specifically for each student. The tests measure if a student has mastered what they should by a certain grade point. However, the problem with this is, not all students are the same. Not all students learn the same, or test the same.

Speaking from a student who has been through the grueling weeks of state testing all through my school career, I know the feeling of stress and aggravation sitting in the school cafeteria for a good portion of my day, taking a test where half the questions do not make sense. I remember the teachers being on edge those weeks, and the students being on edge just as much. There is so much pressure put onto students to pass these tests.

However, if they do not pass, IT IS THE END OF THE WORLD. To be honest, I don't think anyone really cares if there are other factors as to why a student did not pass, the results speak for themselves, the student is not on grade level. I know from experience this is not true.

Imagine being a junior in high school, just waiting for the year to be over so you can be a senior and graduate and get out of high school. Then, you get a letter in the mail explaining you might not graduate after all because you missed one point of a math standardized test and that automatically means you might not be eligible to graduate. Talk about putting a damper on your plans, and self-esteem.

Now, some of you may think, "Well obviously you don't know you math if you failed the test in the first place, maybe you shouldn't graduate." Well, you are wrong, in high school, I was actually in several honors math classes, and I will admit, math was never my best subject. However, it seems a little ridiculous that one test score could have ruined my high school career.

I am not a good test taker, I never have been. Even taking an everyday, run of the mill, test for any class, I get very nervous and basically forget everything I have ever learned. I also know I am not the only person who gets like this. I also know that for someone who is not good at taking tests to begin with, while also taking a test with tensions running high, I was bound to fail.

Now I am going into my last year of college and still experiencing the stress of standardized tests. So, on top of all the classes I am required to take and the community service I have to do, and gain experience in my field, I have to take a set standardized test. I also know that education is not the only field that is required to do this. So, once again, we are stuck with standardized test determining our futures.

It is kind of funny how that works, our whole lives, we are told we can do whatever we want, we are in control of our futures, but really, we aren't. Our futures are determined by how well we do on a series of tests.