Is It Useless?



‘When am I going to use this again in life?’

This is probably the most asked question amongst students, and in at least high school, you are often told to just remember the material for the test. In AP classes, this test is usually the AP test. But what if I’m not even taking the AP test? Then what am I supposed to do with what I learn?

Some of my friends from 11 AP dropped to regular English in 12th grade because they didn’t need more English credit and wanted an easier class. Makes sense. However, I stayed but didn’t even plan on taking the 12 AP test. When my friends asked why I stayed since I wasn’t taking the AP test, I had absolutely no answer. In any other year, I would say “GPA,” but I’ve already submitted my transcript to a lot of colleges. And even if I later have to send my senior year first semester grades, I can’t just assume I’ll end up with an A in English. I can’t grind English like I would in other classes as it is literally the most ungrindable subject.

But as we spent more class time in 12 AP actually discussing what we read through multiple lenses, sometimes “philosophically,” it became more of a class where I got to analyze anything written in English rather than simply learn English. Why just learn for a test, when I could possibly apply outside ideas to better my own experience? Sure, I wasn't going to directly use the types of essays ever again, but that isn't the point... at least I don't think it is. Maybe part of the goal of the class is to INTERTEXTUALIZE all that we know. Maybe the goal of all English classes isn't just to prepare for a test: that explains why I learned more English conventions and grammar rules through SAT prep books than my 12 years of English classes. 

Now that I think about it, this doesn’t just apply to English. Have I been looking at classes all wrong this entire time? 

Possibly, but I know for certain I'm never going to use the fact that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell ever again in my entire life. 


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