Time to enter the real world
And the bell tolls ... summer!
The end of the year at Gridley High School is always marked with many things, some of which have not yet occurred. For us, the last day of school is June 10, which means we can still squeeze some work and fun into the 2010-2011 school year.
It is nearly impossible to imagine the end of the year without the thought of tests. Finals and AP (advanced placement) tests galore exist at the year's end. AP students took some combination of the challenging English, calculus, biology or history exams, which usually last about four to five hours each.
From personal experience, I can honestly say that the tests are challenging but not impossible due to the lessons and practice given to us.
"The AP tests, after studying for them all year, were not as bad as we thought they would be because of our preparedness," said Amelia Holland, a junior who took both the English and U.S. History AP tests. "These tests have prepared us that much more for college and hopefully have increased our chances of succeeding at the college we want to attend."
For AP students, the AP tests were definitely a trying obstacle at the end of the year, but all their hard work has hopefully paid off.
Another event that always makes a big impact on GHS is "Every 15 Minutes." "Every 15 Minutes" takes place once every two years to warn students of the dangers of drunk driving.
In America, a person is killed every 15 minutes due to a drunk driving accident, whether the person is drunk himself or is killed by someone who is under the influence of alcohol.
"Every 15 Minutes" took place Thursday and Friday at GHS. The school is adorned with farewell letters and melancholy decorations. Specific people are chosen to "die" because of a drunken driving accident; the pre-notified student is pulled out of class for two days and isolated from everything except others who die.
Every 15 minutes, over the school's intercom, there sounds a heart monitor playing a beating heart followed by a flat line noise to signify when another student dies. The juniors and seniors were pulled out of class Thursday to witness the very realistic portrayal of a drunk driving crash, including local police and firemen and some previously chosen students. The crash scene is very descriptive and has a great effect on all who witness it.
The last day of "Every 15 Minutes" is marked with an emotional assembly for the juniors and seniors marked with various speakers on the effects of drunk driving and a video put together of the crash scene on Thursday. "The students put on a dramatic performance that brought tears to my eyes and reminded me of the importance of not drinking and driving," said Sarah Tichy, a junior at GHS.
This year has been marked by some very significant events. As the year comes to a close, we remember everything that has happened and all we have accomplished. We look forward to putting our newly acquired knowledge to the test in the world.
Mariah Holmes is a junior at Gridley High School. This is her final column for Education.
