The CHSPE

Dun da duuuun.

Well, I'll tell you straight out, I haven't a prayer of passing the Math section. Somehow, I'd gotten the strange idea that it would've been easier. I mean, what are the odds that out of seventy kids and eight different tests, I'd get one of the hardest?? And Jimmy... JIMMY!, Mathematical Genius summa cum laude, gets one of the easiest tests. *groans* Life is not at all fair.

Oh, it started out beautifully, I grant you. I created a simply smashing essay. Five exquisitely cohesive paragraphs, including a thesis that brought tears to my eyes because of its sheer perfection. I had written my entire outline in ten minutes, thinking I was set. But, by the time it was finished, one hour and ten minutes had elapsed. Jimmy was giving me dirty looks the entire time...I knew he wanted to tell me to hurry up, but I could hardly just botch up my last two paragraphs when the rest of the essay was so inspiring. (Talking risked disqualification. ) It was a persuasive essay that we were to "send to the City Council" suggesting one improvement or change that would better the community. I thought up this brilliant idea of having a once-a-week Family Activity Day, hosted by any one of the city's parks. Families participate in various recreational activities, grow in harmony, and meet new people, drawing the community closer together. Naturally, I concluded with the rousing "A stronger family results in a stronger community, which contributes to a more united America--bla bla bla. " Really, it was quite good.

Rachel had told me previously that she and Andrew had to write about the same topic. Jimmy followed Drew's example and wrote about planting trees. He figured that if he was going to play the part of a rabid Californian environmentalist, he'd go all out. So, he devoted an entire paragraph to explaining the global benefit of a community's efforts to reduce their "carbon footprint" on the earth, going green, and other such rubbish. The EPA would've hired him on the spot, had he used his essay as a resume.

Ah well, back to me. I glanced at the clock. First mistake. Then, I turned to the Mathematics Sub-test. Second mistake. It took me at least an hour to work through forty or so problems, until I realized that my essay would be worthless if I didn't pass the rest of the Language Sub-test. The sad thing was, given enough time, I could have finished. I just didn't have enough practice doing quadratic equations, and figuring out distance between coordinates. I should have studied harder, so really it was my fault. There were also some probability/geometry problems in there that really had me stumped. I finally felt understood what those poor little ants feel when I go outside and drown them in a flood of Raid. I gave up and moved on to Language.

That was pretty easy, but its no fun working against the clock. Reading was actually a difficult section for me, and one of the most stressful. I took my time doing Language, but that left barely an hour to answer around fifty questions for the Reading Sub-test. Oh joy. I mean, I consider myself a pretty fast reader, but there was no way I could read all the poems, stories, and articles and answer everything. But the Lord was gracious, and I finished everything. Towards the end, though, I was bubbling in what seemed to be the most logical answer, and barely skimming the article.

(Ex.)In the paragraph above, who is the author attempting to portray the character as?

a) A hero

b) A dimwit

c) A well-intentioned old man

d) An elephant

c) The Villian

Ehh, well, d) appears to be the most logical answer to my jellied brain. Yep, gotta be d).

By the way, do yourself a favor, and don't try to figure out the system by looking back on your previous answers and trying to find a pattern. It doesn't work. There is no pattern. Drop it. I win this argument, hands down. In fact, I will mop the floor with you.

Thankfully I finished with time to spare, 30 seconds to be exact; leaving just enough time for me to bubble in the rest of my math answers as C. Who knows, maybe I got lucky and beat the system. ;)

In all seriousness, the Lord knows, and if He wants me to pass...I'll pass. I'm glad it's over, and, even if I don't pass...I can take it again in October. Summer Vacation, here I come!!!

"Casting ALL your care upon Him, for He cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7