The Idea of an Essay, Volume 4

Narrative & Memoir 69 of two directions, towards college or towards some job like burger flipping. “I can’t believe we are required to take this stupid test to go to college” the girl next to me said. “Yea” everyone but me mumbled back. It felt like I was the only one in the roomwhose future depended on this test. Everybody else was only taking the ACT to get it out of the way as a requirement. The instructor walked in, looking board out of his brains, and told us we would have 60 minutes to answer 60 math questions, 45 minutes to answer 120 English related questions, 35 minutes for 40 science questions, and 35 minutes for 40 reading questions. “Last chance” I thought to myself. “Good luck” the instructor said. He started the timer. “Pencils up!” A few weeks later as I was finishing my last semester of high school, I got a letter in the mail from the American College Testing program. I opened it slowly for fear of what might be inside. I saw my score; I had gotten a 31. Pencils down.