Grades and Tests aren’t THAT Smart

My educational experience was so-so growing up.  Let’s just say that I grew into learning and was very good at it when I wanted to be.  Scholastic excellence was not stressed in my home.  I don’t remember ever being asked if I had done my homework.  In fact, chores were much more important in our household than school.  Many times, I missed school because I was needed at home.

      I loved school and learning was like a wonderland to me.  I learned to read from the Dick and Jane series.   My favorite word when learning to read was “little.”  It looked so funny to me with all the straight lines.  My parents made me give up my library card because of an overdue book, and I never read for pleasure again, until after I had graduated from college and Steve and I were married.

Steve read for pleasure every night.  I was annoyed and a little bored while he read, and must have said something to his parents.  His mom suggested that I try the James Herriott series, “All Creatures, Great and Small.”  I gave it a try and was hooked on reading for the rest of my life.

My Senior year in high school I remember needing to study for a Government test, but was sent to the garden to pick beans instead.  I was not very happy!  My Government teacher, Mr. Richard Brough was a very difficult man.  He had never given a 100% on a test in his life…until me and my study-buddy!  That was why I needed to study.  I was determined to best him.  I even fasted that day.  My friend and I received the first 100%’s he had ever given.  I don’t remember much of that material, but I do remember that prayer and fasting worked.  I learned that I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to it.

I hated the Iowa Basic Skills Tests and they hated me.  I despised them.  It seemed like they would come at the worst times.  I would be having a perfectly horrible morning at home, get to school and hear over the intercom, “Report to room 201 for the “Iowa Basic Skills Testing.”  I wished I could have kept on walking right out of the school.  I remember not even caring about the stupid test.  I would just color in the stupid little dots with my stupid little pencil—o.k. that’s an exaggeration.  I really kind of tried, but I didn’t get it.  The worst kicker was when I was called into the school counselor’s office to receive the results.  She was thin, had a pointy mean face, and red hair.  She told me that I shouldn’t plan on going to college, because that was “not for me,” because I probably couldn’t handle it.  I had done horrible on everything except mechanical drawing, which I scored a 96% in, the only reason being that I thought it was fun figuring out which way the cogs would turn in relation to each other.  I remember looking at her thinking, “You don’t know me or what I’m capable of!” I walked out of her office knowing that I would merry-well go to college if I wanted to!

I graduated from Rigby High School with honors, placing 21st out of 187.  Not stellar, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I decided that I would go to Ricks College. I liked that idea, because they would take ANYBODY.  I would still have to take the stupid A.C.T. test, but the scores didn’t matter.  My previous experience with these standardized tests was horrific as you know by now.

(The program from my high school graduation)

I arrived bright and early on the day of the exam and began to fill out the information on my test form.  The heavens opened and the angels sang because there shining in front of me was a glorious little box stating that I could request to have my test scores sent directly to the college of my choice, waiving my rights to ever see the results.  I joyfully checked that little box.  I didn’t need another test telling me I couldn’t do it. (Years later when my children were taking the same exam, I tried to get a hold of my test results.  They informed me that I was not authorized to receive that information.  I had truly signed away my rights to know!)

(My BYU diploma)

I enjoyed every minute of college.  I had jobs and put myself through.  I absolutely blossomed.  I took advantage of everything I could and graduated with an Associate Degree from Ricks College with a GPA of 3.5 (it was only a two-year school at the time); went on to BYU and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child Development and Family Relations with a minor in Music, (vocal performance), 3.46 GPA.  I even took two years of Russian from Utah State University.

So much for the lady that told me that I couldn’t do it.
Grades and tests aren’t THAT smart.