This morning Mandy sent me a text message from school. It seems that she forgot to bring the receipt showing she had paid to take the PSAT test and they would not allow her to take the test without the receipt. I called her to ask if I could bring her the receipt or if it was too late. It was too late. She was beside herself, ready to cry. I actually cried, but I waited until we were done talking. She had paid for this test with her own money, money that she had worked very hard to earn. She is also not such a hot test taker and she has been working very hard at practicing for this test, and she really understands how important taking this test is in regard to her college future. She was just devastated.
At that moment I didn't really think it was necessary for me to get mad at her or tell her all the things she already knew. I thought it was important to tell her: there is nothing more she can do about it, she needs to let it go, she needs to get over it. We will figure out something to do about the test. Buy a book, find something online, maybe there will be another opportunity to take the PSAT. We will find a solution it is not the end of the world. We all make mistakes. I hope I was able to help her to start feeling better, she was pretty upset.
Later I got to thinking about it. I was thinking that this was probably a really good life lesson. I know that is mean and insensitive to her feelings. In a way, I was thinking that all those tests in school are really not all that efficient at preparing us for the rest of our lives. I am a really good test taker, but that doesn't really help me get a job or be successful. Didn't really help me get a job, earn money, or be happy.
I have been noticing lately, that a lot of the people who are my age, my friends and Jeff's co-workers have achieved success in their lives by this point. Jeff for instance is very successful. I have noticed that the people who seem have a lot of career success don't seem to be the same people who did really well in school and did really well on those tests. Seems that they have other skills either instead of in addition to the ability to pick the right answer in a multiple choice environment. Like the ability to fail. Have you ever noticed that some people when they mess up they just crawl under the covers and hide from the world unable to face the world for having made a mistake. And other people, just get over it. I think that the ability to get over it is a real key to success and to happiness. One of the things I really am hoping and working toward preparing my girls for in their lives.
UPDATE: Mandy called me later to tell me that she had taken the test after all. It seems that when she called to tell me that she was not able to take the test, this meant that she had noticed that she had forgotten the receipt and she had concluded they would not allow her to take the test. So, she went to her first period class instead of reporting to the testing area.
The testing people noticed she had paid for the test and was not present so they paged her over the intercom to come to the testing area and take the test. Then, they waited for her to get her butt to the testing area before they started the test.
Posts
11 comments:
Wow, that is the most insane thing I've ever heard about having to provide a receipt showing you've paid for the test. Why don't they make it easier? My DS took the PSAT today too. We paid by check written out to the school for a whopping $13.00. All the actual SAT did for me was make me feel stupid. Isn't High School stressful enough without stuff like this happening too? I'm sorry she had to go through that.
What a stellar parenting moment!
It's so easy to react in these kinds of situations- get angry, get agitated, raise a stink at the school...but I think your daughter learned a much bigger life lesson today and she will be a better person for it!
I'm so glad she got to take it! When you're stressed about something, it's so easy to jump to conclusions and make assumptions and assume the worst. I think that's why bad days "snowball." I hope the rest of her day goes better.
I was so glad to read that update!
Yes, the update was a relief. But I imagines she still learned an invaluable life-lesson in there, too. Kudos to you, by the way. You handled it the way I wish I might have were I not such a knee jerk gut responder. I seem to have learned a bit here today, myself.
I don't ever remember having to pay to take the PSAT.....I suppose this is just another fleecing of American families. To make someone pay to take a Pre-Test how absurd?
Thank goodness there was someone who was on the ball and noted that Mandy had paid for the test. Once it was over, how did she feel about how she did?
Oh good! I'm glad to hear she got to take it...but I agree with what you said too. Why is it that the most important lessons our kids need to learn are also the ones that make my heart turn over for them?
In some ways it would have been a lot easier if they had just stayed babies...
Mandy feels like she did really well on the test. It is funny, when they are babies we cannot wait for them to walk, to talk, to go to to school. Then...we miss those clingy little babies and being able to solve all their problems with some food and love.
I am glad she got to take the test. My daughter did the same thing (forgot her form after she paid) and they let her take the SATs. My husband was horrible in school but ended up being the top in his field. He was a CNC prgrammer/CAD designer.
I'm glad Mandy was able to take the test. Many things like this are all computerised nowadays anyway so there is always proof if you lose the receipt. It was lucky somebody spotted it. Hope Mandy did well in her test.
Post a Comment