[font="times new roman"]The life of an AP* student is heartbreaking to behold. He awakes at 5:30 to hurriedly prepare for school (cramming study time in place of food). He then rushes to school, guzzling coffee on the way to an early morning club meeting. As the bell signals the start of class, he stows away the homework he simply did not have time to complete during the night (the homework that he is condemned to slave over during every free moment before that fast-approaching class). Finally, after seven and a half hours spent warring sleep and desperately attempting to understand concepts that are virtually ungraspable with such a weary brain, the bell relieves the student from school, but it does not relieve the student; it is time for athletics. With the academic extra-curricular activity out of the way (at 6:30 that morning), a body-straining practice is the only worry directly after school. At 5:30 p.m., however, it is time at last to go to music lessons. From six to seven in the evening, he endures individualized criticism about his instrumental ability; he is implored to find more time to practice – a simple task, to be sure. Relief ought to be waiting at home; instead, the student distractedly eats as he despairingly begins the daunting task that is homework. A paper, a test, multiple quizzes, reading, and the inevitable busy work: each requires attention, and it seems that each is also inescapably assigned on every given night. At midnight, the only true relief comes: the marked beginning of what is sure to be a hearty five and a half hours of sleep, before beginning the routine again. His teachers can often be found proudly stating that their class functions faithfully as a college course. His councilor applauds his attempts to be the perfect college student. His coaches and instructors urge more practice. All the while, the student himself worries about finding time to enjoy his high school years. AP and college expectations are absolutely unreal. Surely there is a solution to this glaring problem that encompasses such deplorable symptoms as these. Luckily, one such fail-proof solution exists that has yet to be put in to practice at Generic High School: students planning to attend college should simply be sent there following their freshman year of high school.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"] Among the allure of taking an AP course is the fact that students may receive college credit for their work. If in college itself, this desire becomes obsolete, since the student would gain college credit from every class by default (assuming, of course, that he passes). The expectations will be at the same level as previously experienced in high school, but now it would be understandable, as the student is truly in college. The worry of getting into college is taken away and is perhaps moved to an earlier, middle school age. In fact, middle school students would instead have to worry about gaining college credit and participating in extensive extra-curricular activities, to such a degree that maybe in the future, college will replace middle school, then perhaps elementary school, until students simply start their education at a university. For now, however, since high school students are the ones preparing for college by taking college-equivalent courses and doing appealing-to-college activities, let them be the ones allowed the college life they so strive to obtain.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"] An advantage that is perhaps as appealing as the understandable college-level workload is the college life that comes with it. During high school today, it is often hard for students to find time to take part in activities for fun, or even to spend time outside of school with friends. College life would more than help solve this problem. Students would meet new friends at their respective universities. Since high school students rarely see their friends outside of school, it would be incredibly beneficial to make new friends at college; the students are at college for months at a time, day and night. Seeing friends only in school therefore means college students would see friends significantly more than if they attended high school. Life in general would change, and a virtually infinite number of extra curricular activities would become available. Students would prepare for their adult lives and careers all the sooner. Most importantly, students would not have to worry about enjoying high school life, being thrust into college life instead.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"] While this solution may indeed secretly appeal to those forever seeking to improve the college preparation of students, it would be a terrible action to take against the students themselves. High school kids are just that—kids—regardless of what administrators, teachers, colleges, or the students themselves believe. While it is important to focus on the future, prepare for college, and instill a good work ethic in oneself, it is equally important to preserve a degree of health and enjoyment which are not currently being maintained. High expectations are essential, but college-level expectations must be reserved for college-level students—literal college student. The “bar” must be lowered if kids are expected to succeed. Utter perfection is neither possible nor should it be desired; it is an unattainable and therefore unhealthy goal. Students should be pushed, but only to a point that does not completely consume their lives. Enjoyment should be a thing not only allowed, but also encouraged. While schoolwork is of indescribable importance, ample time should be allotted for students to take part in activities that are completely unrelated to school; though it may be realized lesser every day, there is as much to learn outside of school as there is to learn within.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]*AP: Advanced Placement - College Class at High School - necessarily painful for the Ivy-League-bound student[/font]