As i  pour my every waking hour into college applications i cant help but begin to question the system. Every college I've applied to has an overall acceptance rate of 25%. To get accepted into these school's BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) programs is an average of 15-12% acceptance rate, with my top school The University of Southern California being at 6%. I'm aiming high because i want the best education i can get my hands on. As i filled out each application i researched statistics and strategies to into the top universities. As i researched i became inclined to realize exactly what each college was looking for. Money. Yes, it may seem that these Ivy league schools are after the most intelligent students in the nation, but is it a coincidence that the students who get accepted are also students whom can somehow afford the 60,0000-80,000 a year tuition cost?
 What most colleges base their acceptance on? SATS. Standardized Academic Testing. The SATs  were formulated to create an level playing field for students providing college boards a format to evaluate student's academic level.  Our education system has become consumed with this 3 hour test. A test that is supposed to tell a school every ounce of your mental understanding. When I researched how to get my SAT score up to scale with the rest of the IVY league hopefuls i found that required ALOT of money. Classes to learn how to ace the SAT range from $100-$200, study guides for the SAT are $60-$80, and although you can take the SAT however many times you wish the SAT itself costs $50. Yes, you can get a high score on the SAT but that would require 2 things; either invest hundreds of dollars,or have the same mind as the people whom wrote the test. These are corrupted ideologies.

Because of the competition surrounding the SAT the students getting into Ivy League schools are more often than not students with money behind the pencil. I don't think I am far off in assuming that this is a scheme. Ivy League schools need the "pretty penny" tuition to back their name. Who can afford this tuition? The high class. Who often has the highest SAT score because of their financial  access to SAT? The high class.

The second corrupt ideology is the basement of a student on a single test. Anyone I repeat,  ANYONE can ace the SAT with time and effort. To score high on the SAT does not require effort on the brain creatively. Throughout my high school education I have been taught how to write an essay that agrees with the author, how to answer a test based off of your best guess, and overall how to conform with historic authors, scholars and scientists. I receive an A on my English papers in which I don't state my TRUE opinion but rather agree with the piece of literature.  If I dare state my opinion or create a piece of work never done before; I receive a poor score, and am told "the readers of your essay in the SAT will maybe give you a 3/10." William Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Lin Manuel Miranda, did not reach their fame by conforming to the level of education set before them but rather created a NEW form of education.

The SAT tests students on Math and English. I believe if we are to be tested on our mental compasity of knowledge additional testing needs to be included. Students should be tested on economics, business, government, the arts, politics, anatomy and the history of our nation. A corruptness will/ and has consumed our nation. Most reaching an Ivy league education only posses the known knowledge of Math and English. Ivy league education often leads to successful/higher ranking jobs, often including; political figures, lawyers, doctors and business men. Ivy league school's educating the next generation should select student's based off of more than Math and English if we are to have strong leaders.

Yes, i believe the SAT needs to be obliterated. It is a filter weaning out the middle class, and creative thinking individuals. Many of my high school classes have been spent preparing for the SAT rather preparing me for making a difference in society. A generation who gets a high score on the SAT but does not know who the Vice President is. A generation knowing how to ace a test but oblivious to the political affairs of our nation.


I have a passion to learn and grow and get the best education out there, sadly i don't know if i can get my hands on that because of the acceptance process of Ivy league schools. True education must be hard to get. However, stumping the creative thinking of the mind in pursuit for higher logical thinking will only create a nation of robots. Without an advancement of a testing system, the rich will continue to earn the highest education leaving the middle class without of reach.

It's easy to take a radical, morally corrupt, Trump appointment and explain the consequences their position may have on our nation. Im not searching for easy I want to challenge the beliefs we have on the people we support, because how will we know we support them if we don't challenge it? Therefore I'm challenging the appointment of a man whom I share many moral values and even a Faith with.

Mike Pence. The liberals hate him, the Baptists bow to him. The 2016 election has swept the world with a Republican supremacy. The up and coming conservative Vice President Mike Pence may only be known for his "dispute" with the cast of Hamilton, however as he takes his place as the Presidents right hand man it is vital that the people become educated on the background of who could potentially be our next president.

Pence was born into a Democratic family therefore growing up democratic (giving him an advantage to refute democratic views). He admits to voting for the democratic party in his early years. Pence's views were changed when he became a Christian. Pence's faith can be described as nothing short of strong and unbreakable. At the vice president debates (not that anyone watched them) Pence stated, “My Christian faith is at the very heart of who I am". Although Pence has been in office since 2000 he is most commonly known for his role in the religious freedom restoration act. Through this act Pence made it legal in the state of Indiana to decline business to customers to whom you wish not to provide service to.

This presidency more than any other the Vice President will play a crucial role in our nation. For the first time we have a President with no political background. Trump will rely on Pence's political knowledge to guide him through his presidency. One could assume that Pence will be the neck to Trump's operation. Pence also provides a safety net for Trump. One could assume that it is highly likely a radical democrat will attempt an assignation of Trump. However with Pence as Vice President no Democrat in their right mind would assassinate Trump for fear of Pence taking the presidency.

The idea having a extremely conservative political figure governing our nation has huge benefits for christians. Abortion laws will be tightened therefore resulting in the lives of thousands of babies being saved. However, besides abortion i think we must be wary of Pence's extreme conservative beliefs. Pence believes that medical care for HIV/AIDS should not be federally funded. I disagree with this because while some of the victims may have been unresponsible in their actions, many contracted the virus without sexual transmission. These people should not have to suffer or lack the care they so need.

Pence believes strongly in the importance of a "old-fashioned" family. This consists of one father and one mother. His views could strengthen homes within our nation, however my greatest fear with the Republican party being the majority is that an arrogance and judgment is seen within political figures possessing Christian values. Yes, it is an exciting time for our nation, many may see things as rising up and getting better. Yes, i am an optimist, however i think this is a test God is putting on our nation. Will the republicans and conservatives accept this position of power with grace and humility or will it turn into a power surge, demeaning oppositions?

The "civic duty" to vote

The election has passed, and so has the viral encouragement to go out and vote. Celebrities and high figures throughout society are expected every four years to post via social media, and look into the camera and encourage citizens everywhere that it is their moral obligation to go out and vote. My blog today ties in with a more recent blog where i discussed that we do NOT have rights. As citizens we have choices. Adam and Eve did not have the right to eat the apple but rather they had the freedom of choice. For the same reason we have the same freedom of choice to vote.

Mike Rowe, a previous opera singer and the spokesman/central figure for Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs has become a huge advocate for reintroducing work ethic to the youth and gives a conservative outlook to many political topics. He is the perfect example of a man who went into the entertainment industry and rather than conforming, stands strong in his beliefs and uses his public image for the better. A perfect example of this is when Jeremy Schneider wrote "Hey Mike, I have nothing but respect for you. Your no-nonsense outlook and incredible eloquence have really had a profound impact in my life. Can you please encourage your huge following to go out and vote this election? I would never impose on you by asking you to advocate one politician over another, but I do feel this election could really use your help. I know that there are many people out there who feel like there is nothing they can do. Please try to use your gifts to make them see that they can do something - that their vote counts."

Rather than encouraging his fans to vote on his Facebook status, Mike Rowe writes that he will encourage no one to vote. He states, " Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it. I also share your concern for our country, and agree wholeheartedly that every vote counts. However, I’m afraid I can’t encourage millions of people whom I’ve never met to just run out and cast a ballot, simply because they have the right to vote. That would be like encouraging everyone to buy an AR-15, simply because they have the right to bear arms. I would need to know a few things about them before offering that kind of encouragement. For instance, do they know how to care for a weapon? Can they afford the cost of the weapon? Do they have a history of violence? Are they mentally stable? In short, are they responsible citizens?"

Rowe questioned what i thought was a healthy and good thing in society; the encouragement to vote. However, i must agree with him in the fact that Americans have become so consumed with the idea of voting that they forget to focus on the importance of the results. Those who feel the natural desire to vote i believe should vote, however those who need the pushing of a celebrity to get off the couch and vote for whichever candidate will make them pay less taxes should not be encouraged to vote. 

I remember the six hour class I had to sit in as a 8 year old to receive my hunting license. Why is it that i had to sit in a class to learn the safety of killing animals but anyone can go out and vote without any form of training or education on our government. I think a class should be offered explaining the basics and essence of our country. It should be a free class with a test at the end testing the knowledge of the individual about the foundation of our nation. How many would pass? This class could be offered in high school the same way a drivers ed class is received or at a local community college, or even the same way one becomes CPR certified. 

Yes, many would neglect to take the class and get certified. Yes, we would receive far less ballots each year, but the ballots we received could be trusted to be from a truly educated vote. 

Why is it that the very celebrities who encouraged everyone to vote are now the ones protesting the results? Mike Rowe states, "Regardless of their political agenda, my celebrity pals are fundamentally mistaken about our “civic duty” to vote. There is simply no such thing. Voting is a right, not a duty, and not a moral obligation. Like all rights, the right to vote comes with some responsibilities, but lets face it - the bar is not set very high. If you believe aliens from another planet walk among us, you are welcome at the polls. If you believe the world is flat, and the moon landing was completely staged, you are invited to cast a ballot. Astrologists, racists, ghost-hunters, sexists, and people who rely upon a Magic 8 Ball to determine their daily wardrobe are all allowed to participate. In fact, and to your point, they’re encouraged."

Our nation needs citizens who long to participate in the election. I believe our founding fathers would agree. They did not wish for uneducated Americans to vote. They wanted a nation with educated individuals who read, studied and contributed to society in a healthy way. Many might say that voting is patriotic however Mike Rowe states, "Remember - there’s nothing virtuous or patriotic about voting just for the sake of voting, and the next time someone tells you otherwise, do me a favor - ask them who they’re voting for. Then tell them you’re voting for their opponent. Then, see if they’ll give you a ride to the polls." We need to use this years election as a lesson to learn from and continue to further the education of our people.