Short story: Tests, No Thanks!

In a world where standardized tests were more feared than a monster under the bed, the pressure was felt in every corner of the classroom. Grades dictated not only access to universities, but also the value society placed on each individual. But a group of friends and I decided it was time to do something about it.

It all started in a boring history class, where the professor was telling us about battles that seemed as relevant as an instruction manual for a toaster. At that moment, I raised my hand as if I were in a talent show.

-Professor! -I shouted, “Can we talk about something more interesting than battle dates? Like, I don't know... the injustice of the education system!

Marco, our technological genius and always with a new gadget in his pocket, turned to me with a knowing smile.

-You mean exams are like those video games where you always lose? That's so unfair!

Sofia, the group's activist and expert at making noise (literally), joined our conversation.

-Exactly! It's like they're telling us, “Here's a sheet full of questions. Solve them in 60 minutes or your future goes down the drain.”

I felt inspired and the idea began to take shape in my head.

-What if we do a protest? Something creative. We could do a performance in the park!

Marco raised an eyebrow.

-Performance? Like dancing with signs? Because I don't have two left feet.

-No, no,” I answered. More like... representing the absurdity of the education system. With art!

That's how our first protest was born. The day came and the park was full of curious people. I dressed up as an exam with a giant sheet of paper and a pencil that looked more like a spear. People stopped to watch, some even pulled out their phones to record.

-Look! -I shouted as I pointed to Marco, who was dressed as a stressed-out student. This is how we all feel!

Marco, trying to act stressed, started running in circles.

-Help, I can't answer all these questions, I'm going crazy!

The crowd began to laugh and clap. Sofia climbed onto a box and shouted:

-This is the real test! How many of you have cried over a result? Raise your hand!

Hands went up everywhere and the laughter became a collective roar. The atmosphere was electric; I had never felt so much shared energy.

After the success of the event, we decided to take our message further. We met at Sofia's house to plan our next move. The living room was full of posters, paintings and sketches we had made during the week.

-What about workshops? -I suggested as I painted a poster that said “Learn without crying” in bright colors.

Marco nodded enthusiastically.

-I can teach video game programming. That way students can learn by playing. Without exams!

Sofia looked at him with complicity.

-And I can teach classes on how to protest effectively: “How to shout without losing your voice.

Days later, we came to the school board with our revolutionary proposal: “Less exams, more fun”. The principal looked at us as if we had grown a third head.

-And how do you plan to finance this? -he asked skeptically.

I answered without hesitation:

-With donations... or by selling homemade cookies. Everyone loves cookies!

The board laughed, but in the end they decided to try some of our workshops. As students began to enjoy learning without pressure, our movement grew like a snowball.

Days passed and more and more students joined our activities. Laughter echoed through the hallways as we organized sessions where we taught everything from programming to drama. The student community began to change; stressed faces were replaced by genuine smiles.

Finally, at a ceremony at the end of the school year, I went on stage and said:

-Thank you for coming! Remember: exams are like vegetables; they're not necessarily bad, but no one wants to eat them every day.

The crowd erupted in laughter and applause. Sofia took the microphone:

-And if you ever feel like you're being evaluated by a standardized test? remember that you can always make an artistic protest!

Marco finished:

-Or you can just dance with signs. That always works.

But just when we thought everything was going well, the sky suddenly darkened and a huge flying saucer appeared above us. Lights flashed as a booming voice said:

-Earthbound students! We have come to take the best protesters in the universe to join our intergalactic league against standardized testing.

We looked at each other in disbelief.

-What? -I asked, still in disbelief.

Sofia smiled and said:

-Well, I guess this is what happens when you protest too loudly.

Before we could react, a beam of light engulfed us and we found ourselves floating towards the flying saucer. Once inside, we encountered alien beings dressed in white coats and huge goggles.

One of them approached us and said:

-Welcome aboard. We have been watching your struggle for some time now and we think your approach is brilliant. But we need your help to overthrow the intergalactic education system that is also based on standardized testing.

Marco let out a nervous laugh.

-So there are tests in space too?

The alien nodded solemnly.

-Yes, but here they are much more complicated; they involve cosmic puzzles and quantum mathematics.

Sofia looked at Marco and winked at me.

-Well, it looks like we've found our next project: an intergalactic educational revolution!

And that's how we ended up becoming the ambassadors of educational change not only in our school, but also throughout the galaxy. As we flew off to new educational adventures among distant stars, I realized that I had never imagined that our little protest would end up taking us so far.... literally!







Source of the images.
Image created with Starryai.