<p>“I feel like a jerk for calling this one out, but this statement is just too naive for words. Does anyone over 20 believe this? That’s a serious question, with no offense intended.”</p>
<p>From your above statement, I assume that you’re claiming that hard work and diligence are not the most significant factors in ensuring success. The central topic of this entire debate is based on the resolution for the implementation of an SAT or ACT requirement to the transfer students’ applications. As we have all observed from personal experience as well as empirical evidence, GPA is not a measure of intelligence or capability; rather, it is an indicator of diligence and effort. Since community colleges do not rank and since some CCs are undoubtedly more challenging than others, GPA is not a “fair” operational definition for considering effort and hard work. Then the CLOSEST thing we would have to an equitable factor would be standardized test scores, which also do not measure intelligence: these tests measure APTITUDE. Working from the basis that all human beings are created equally intelligent and that knowledge and scholarly mastery is EARNED through experience, effort and aptitude are all we have to consider in terms of academic prowess. If you are discounting both (since no standardized GPA exists and CCs do not rank), then there really isn’t anything to measure students by academically.</p>
<p>And just because you don’t agree with my statement and the fact that you may be older doesn’t mean I’m naive. It may simply mean that you’ve taken a different approach and outlook to your lifestyle. I don’t know who you are. You could be a CC student looking to redeem yourself in the eyes of who knows who, maybe an Ivy student, or maybe even an admissions officer. I do know this though. My family and I have come a long way from the dregs of society and moved up the ranks through sacrifice, frugal spending, and HARD WORK. You think you know adversity? Try starting public school in rural Indiana without knowing a word of English, clinging to your mom’s back as she takes you to school every morning on bike because your family doesn’t have a car, or being told that your applications at your dream schools are far less competitive solely on the basis of your genetic inheritance. Different outlook, different perspectives. You may attribute occurrences to fatalism or situational factors, but I believe hard work and diligence will always pay off. I turn 18 in 2 days, and at the risk of having to eat my own words, in 733 days, I tell you now that I will be of the same mindset.</p>