Alright, alright, settle down, folks. Another press release hits my inbox. Central High School patting itself on the back because some kids scored high on a standardized test. Yawn.
The Cult of Achievement
Adrian Posivenko, future Mechatronics overlord at Georgia Tech. Sandra Rivera, Max Kubik, Addison Smith... Commended National Merit Scholars. Sounds impressive, right? Cue the swelling music and slow-motion montage of kids studying.
But let's be real. This whole National Merit thing? It's just another cog in the machine. A machine designed to churn out obedient little worker bees who can ace a test. College Board, that "not-for-profit" behemoth, reaching 7 million students a year. Sounds less like education and more like a global data-mining operation, if you ask me. And they pioneered the SAT and AP programs? Color me shocked.
Posivenko wants to study Mechatronics. Good for him. I'm sure there's a huge demand for robots that can flip burgers and take our jobs. Are these kids actually passionate about what they're studying, or are they just chasing the next shiny achievement badge? Are they going to change the world, or just optimize ad clicks?
And "commended"? What does that even mean? Sounds like a consolation prize for the almost-rans. "Hey, you didn't quite make the cut, but here's a certificate to hang on your fridge. Maybe it'll impress your grandma."
The Illusion of Merit
The press release says these kids took the Preliminary SAT/NMSQT. A "preliminary" SAT? So, we're prepping kids for standardized tests before they've even hit puberty? Give me a break. This is academic hazing. We're turning childhood into a relentless pressure cooker, all for the sake of...what? A slightly better chance of getting into a "good" college?
The whole system is rigged anyway. Kids from wealthy families can afford tutors, test prep courses, and private schools. They've got a built-in advantage that kids from disadvantaged backgrounds can only dream of. So, when we celebrate these "merit" scholars, are we really celebrating achievement, or are we just celebrating privilege?
I mean, I'm not saying these kids aren't smart, offcourse. They probably are. But let's not pretend that this National Merit thing is some kind of pure, objective measure of intelligence. It's just another way for the elite to perpetuate their dominance.
And what about the kids who don't score high on these tests? Are they failures? Are they doomed to a life of mediocrity? Of course not. But that's the message we're sending them, isn't it? That if you can't ace a standardized test, you're not worth a damn.
I wonder what kind of pressure these kids are under. I bet they're stressed out, sleep-deprived, and terrified of failure. Is that really the kind of environment we want to create for our future leaders? A pressure cooker of anxiety and competition?
The Unending Exam
It's November 6, 2025, according to the press release. College Board recognizes several Central High School students - The City Menus The world's probably on fire, AI is writing better articles than I am (probably), and we're still obsessing over standardized test scores.
Is this really what we want to be celebrating? The ability to regurgitate information on demand? Or should we be focusing on creativity, critical thinking, and empathy? You know, the things that actually make us human?
Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if this whole education system is just designed to keep us compliant and unthinking. To churn out cogs for the machine. To make sure that nobody rocks the boat.
Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here. Maybe I'm just a bitter old cynic who's jealous of these kids' success. Maybe...nah, I'm pretty sure I'm right.
Just Another Cog in the Machine
So, what's the takeaway here? These kids are bright, no doubt. But the system that celebrates them is deeply flawed. It rewards conformity, perpetuates inequality, and crushes the spirits of countless others. Let's stop pretending that standardized test scores are the be-all and end-all of education. Let's start valuing creativity, critical thinking, and empathy. And let's give these kids a break, for God's sake.
