November 2021 Scholar Blog
My name is Kwabena (although most people call me A.J.) and I am a proud member of the Wake Forest College LAUNCH for Leadership Program. It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to work with selfless educators, whose goal is to help me succeed in l
ife. It is always refreshing to see an email from Dr. Meleah Ellison (College LAUNCH Program Manager) or her colleagues because there is always a genuine sense of interest, help, and kindness. As I embark on my next academic journey to college, I look forward to opportunities that will challenge me, enhance my intellectual capabilities, and allow me to help others along the way. College LAUNCH for Leadership is an excellent opportunity; it is filled with rich and diverse opportunities for high school students like me. The November Saturday Summit was no exception to this.
When I first saw that the November Saturday Summit was an ACT test prep session, I was not looking forward to it at all because I thought it would be dry and boring. “What could be fun with ACT test prep”, I thought to myself. Still, I knew I needed the test prep if I wanted to achieve my goal of becoming a pediatric surgeon. I know I have to perform my best on standardized tests in order to be able to attend Wake Forest or any similar college. Although SAT/ACT is not the only requirement for college admissions, they have been very important in the admission process. Additionally, there are many standardized tests other than the SAT and ACT, so I know that test-taking skills are essential. With this in mind, I had to toughen up for the session. Little did I know, I was going to thoroughly enjoy this event!
During our November Saturday Summit, we had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Kari Case, an experienced SAT/ACT test prep expert. Mrs. Case taught us test-taking tricks and strategies. I definitely learned a lot! We started off with test information and strategies. Mrs. Case provided a wealth of information on what to do before, during, and after a test. We then got information for each and every section on the test, as well as information on the experimental section of the ACT. She taught us how to practice for standardized tests online. She was very helpful in providing clarification on what we should expect from the test and how to perform our best. This information was very helpful to those who have yet to take the SAT or ACT, as well as those who plan to retake it. She shared a ton of neat ways to effectively test that apply to more than just the college admissions exams. They are strategies that we can use on all of our tests! She also provided a lot of great resources to us.
After the meeting, we were given daily reading and writing tasks to help us get ready for the next ACT or SAT test. We left this event with an ACT Packet to help us practice for all of the test areas, which is a great tool! The November Saturday Summit was very helpful and informative, thanks to our host (Dr. Ellison) and guest speaker (Mrs. Case). I learned a lot of tips and strategies that will serve me well on all of the standardized tests that I will take. I anticipated a dry ACT prep class, but I was wrong – this event was a blast! Now, just stay tuned for news of my perfect score!