2. Girl manages thus far via borrowing a school calculator.
3. Girl needs her own calculator for the ACT test.
4. Mother hopes for a long lasting relationship between girl and mathematics; agrees to purchase calculator.
5. Brilliant idea: Buy a used calculator from amazon.com, one in quote “excellent condition” end quote and save $20.
6. Calculator arrives. The screen is cracked. If the crack doesn’t spread, it’s OK. If it does spread, the screen will be unreadable.
7. Do screen cracks spread? And where’s the return paperwork?
8. ACT test is at hand. Girl needs calculator.
9. Cracked screen scientific calculator would probably do for the test, if only Girl hadn’t figured out that it’s actually the incorrect calculator, because it has some kind of functionality is not allowed at the ACT test.
10. This was learned one day before the ACT test.
11. Mother prepares to bite it big and purchase a brand new scientific calculator. Cost: an additional $150. (Total cost at this point: approximately $270.)
12. But girl has cheerleading practice and so cannot join the shopping spree, to ensure the correct calculator is purchased.
13. “Your ACT is more important than cheerleading,” mother exclaims!
14. Girl says she has a plan. Will discuss at 8:30 p.m., approximately 12 hours before the ACT test.
15. Apparently the plan is, “I don’t need a calculator for my ACT test,” according to the Girl, late on the eve of the test.
16. Huh? The universe is confused.
17. Mother doesn’t understand the plan. She only sees dollar signs going in the wrong direction in terms of dashed hopes for awesome ACT score, thus generous scholarships leading to a prosperous life, resulting in fulfilled dreams.
18. Morning of the ACT test: Girl brazenly struts into the massive brick high school building as if she owns it, sans scientific calculator.
19. Parents wish to mind-control their children, but what do they know?
This gives me nightmares. My teen has the #2 pencils and calculator, but cannot keep track of time OR the watch her father buys her before EVERY test. Last ACT: didn't finish the science section, leaving six questions blank. Says one question equals one point off total score. And this teen is the one strong in science. Don't even get me started on the glasses ...
ReplyDeleteLaurel, the result you describe hits close to home. My girl is also strong in science and math, but ran out of time in the end and had to "just write in answers" and "that has usually worked out for her." Oh, to have that level of confidence. Wow, we haven't had to deal with watches or glasses. But we are contemplating ACT #3. Good luck!
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