Part 5/8:
One participant shares their experience with the SAT, marveling at the significance that such standardized tests hold in American culture. Coming from Canada, where standardized tests are not as prevalent, they recount their first encounter with the SAT, feeling out of place in a sea of younger test-takers. The recounting includes amusing anecdotes about scoring not far below an assistant, defying expectations that placed them at a disadvantage due to age and education.
This experience underlines a broader societal obsession with testing and competition, where the pressure surrounding college admissions creates undue stress on young students. The fixation on prestigious institutions often eclipses the recognition of talent and accomplishment outside the traditional academic narrative.