'It's not a test, its an assesment...'

Primary school's SATs were proudly and all too hollowly pronounced to be 'The rest of my life'. A few summers later, and now GCSEs are 'The rest of my life.' 'really?' I said. 'That sounds remarkably similar to what they said last time.' Then, a few days ago, according to a college interviewer - My life will change depending on my future AS courses.

Right.

my life, apparently, is dependant solely on a handful of qualifications and results... Which really, haven't at all been earned by me, but by the spoon feeding of them, to me, by teachers. The only way I have had an effect on them is the level of enthusiasm I have put into the making of them. which really hasn't been much at all, because I have always doubted the importance of them.

That, I find, is due to the whole sheepish following of orders that we must do to appease our 'superiors'. If we choose not to mindlessly follow their instructions, however, we are faced with consequences. No freedom of choice. No wiggle room.

And really, isn't this all a little hypocritical? We are taught how to walk and talk, Then to sit down and shut up. Our parents are overjoyed when we speak our first words, Then furious later, when answer them back. Granted we should listen to adults, and we should appreciate their input into our lives. But must we follow their word to the letter because 'they told us to?'. Or should we have to appease them, in order not to be punished. really, the only freedom we get is when we are out of sight of our parents and teachers. With people of our own age. Our friends aren't going to judge us for our actions, our peers aren't going to punish us for doing something we shouldn't...

Because we are all equal. And in their eyes, it's our personality that is the judge of our worth. not the qualifications we have or our GCSE equivalents.

This isn't written because I'm being rebellious and contrary. Its because I am able to question the logic behind it all. You don't need to listen, nor do I need you to. Just keep my, and generally, our points of view in mind.