down time

i am in the middle of one of the most important weeks in my life. or so they say. but then again, it is my future (and everyone else's) that people are looking out for. 

anyway, it is indeed the season of those infamous AP tests. while other students are most likely not studying for their CSTs and enjoying early dismissal, the AP students are stuck at home frantically memorizing FDR's New Deal mandates or figuring out how to program some useful formulas into their TI-89 calculators. lovely, lovely, lovely. i can't say i mind, though. although these tests may cause a few gray hairs and twitching eyes due to lack of sleep, they are in fact a measurement of our ability to cram. that is a challenge in itself. one that drives people to the brink of insanity, sadly. and this is where my philosophy comes in...

i have seen too many people shed tears and words of anger over these assessments. sure, they do help indicate to colleges what type of students we are, but the world does not revolve around the AP system. i think we need to realize that these tests were developed to help us in the long-run. it may not seem like it, but it's true. without them we would have no idea what higher-level thinking is. we would not be challenged in school. we would be unprepared for times where determination and hard work are called for. 

as i was taking a break from studying today, i found something worthy of attention and surely beautiful: down time. as appealing as it may sound, studying for 12 hours straight is completely and utterly stressful. instead of working ourselves into emotional wrecks, just a simple 5 minute break every now and then will suffice. whether this down time comes naturally or needs to be forced, it is definitely important. without these tranquil, relaxing moments, i would be not be able to function. 

take a breath, close your eyes, maybe put on some music, and relax. it's not as bad as you think.