That's right; the AP Test is just one test given on one particular day. It by no means will determine your educational progress or potential, because learning- as in the kind of learning that happens in the real world- is more nebulous than many tests would lead you to believe. What is learning? Learning is a journey filled with many trials and exciting experiences. It's not just something you do during the school year; it's happening to you all the time. Testing might lead one to see that journey through a skewed lens, but when you find your passion and you begin to see the skills around you as supportive of that passion, that's when learning really begins. So whether you're a student who earned a 1 or a student who earned a 5, here are 3 educational goals far more important than a 5 on an AP exam:
Curiosity- The old adage about curiosity killing cats is some of the worst advice I've ever heard. Curiosity is what keeps life exciting! We live in such an enormous, exciting world filled with people of varying backgrounds, languages, tastes, beliefs, styles, and ways of doing things. In addition to the people, there are tons of experiences worth checking out, whether it be trying a new restaurant or going bungee jumping (note, it is also important to exercise caution when indulging your curiosities, lest you go overboard), but you should not let fear prevent you from stepping outside of your comfort zone to try something new that could be potentially life-changing. If you earn a 5 on the AP exam, but then don't care about anything going on the the world around you, what good is that 5 doing you? Even if you don't know what excites you, curiosity is that fire in your belly that says "I should be finding something important in my life," and which drives you to find it. I'd rather each one of my students have that fire that keeps them striving to find what matters to them. Scores are nice, but they're fleeting. Curiosity lasts a lifetime. Keep seeking, always.
Passion- What is something you care really strongly about? Find it. More so than any other goal for my students, my hope is that you will find your passion. Once you find your passion, you are golden. Sure, your passions are subject to change over time, but the important thing is that you keep working toward finding what drives you (curiosity) and then you pursue it as powerfully as you can. Reading articles about your passion, blogging, finding others who share your passion, and then going out in the world and putting your love for (whatever) into action... these are the reasons we learn things, not just to earn a numerical score from the College Board.
Perseverance- Whether your find your passion or not, it is important to persevere at all levels of the process of finding and embracing what you are passionate about. Can't find your passion? Keep looking. Found your passion? Good for you. Hopefully everything you do out of the love of that passion is paying off and you've had no failures or setbacks. If you're normal, however, and your passion is truly one worth pursuing, there will be obstacles, and there will be setbacks. When faced with adversity, keep going. Believe in yourself and keep going.
So while the AP Language and Composition Exam is the culminating experience of the course, and while the course is designed to help all students achieve their maximum potential on the test, the test is very small potatoes in the overall grand scheme of life. Never forget: you can be as smart as you want to be. Don't let a test score tell you otherwise. Seek your passion, find your passion, and stick with your passion.
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