In an effort to practice my writing at the encouragement of my aunt, I wrote this story. Hope you enjoy. Warning: this story has nothing to do with Burkina except a tiny blurb at the end.
Once upon a time, in a place greatly different than our own, an organization was formed to standardize the university application process. Based in the backwards land of New Jersey, this tax-exempt organization held a gathering of highly elite members of society to find a way to cash in on its citizens by offering a useless, but labeled as imperative, program for innocent people wishing to go to school. What they developed was so horrible, so scary, that mid-twenty somethings dare speak its name for fear of exile from friends. The Elite Totalitarians of Society (ETS) unleashed this beast from the depths of New Jersey upon all the world Gaia; it was called the Grim Reaper of Education (GRE). The GRE has forced thousands of poor civilians to pay a grandiose sum of 200 dollars to take an archaic exam so that he or she may receive an education. Where does this money go? Only the GRE knows. Members of ETS have been allowed to operate under a discrete cover of tax-exemption for years.
Of course, institutions of higher learning, desperate to strip people of their individual qualifications to simplify the application process were easily seduced by the will of the GRE. This beast of New Jersey consumed others through money and greed. Making profit off of innocent students is a practice as old time, the GRE is simply a reincarnation of another horrid creature, the Savage Android Terminator (SAT) released upon millions of idealistic and innocent high school minds to win yet even more cash.
Even though citizens view the GRE with a disdaining eye, only until recently has there been a change of principals by universities to return to its roots of accepting based upon their individual qualifications, not upon the vicious GRE. Can we fully blame the university? Perhaps, but failure to accept the dreaded GRE may have lead to other beasts being released upon the land, including the dark creatures of the consumer driven ideals of “Jersey Shore” and the money and sleaze pit known as Atlantic City.
Where are the Robin Hoods, the John Connors, the Luke Skywalkers, destined to fight the ongoing invasion of the GRE? Educational centers, paying little attention to the needs of its young minds, have allowed the GRE to continue gauging the land of precious green. Combined with the eye-popping costs of graduate university, the poor student is left with debt and interests rates that take years to pay off.
Slowly, but surely, the stain of the GRE is being removed from society. Many institutions no longer value the beasts pointless antonyms, synonyms, and 7th grade math choosing instead to regard the personal qualities of its applicants. Some have even abandoned the beast altogether. The GRE is morphing to adhere to the stringent demands of a 2011, but it may be too late. The rise of quality international education is rendering monopolizing beasts like the GRE useless.
Therein, we have found our hero: the evolving demands of a 21st century. Unfortunately even with the arrival of our hero, the GRE has consumed yet another victim. I will be succumbing, resentfully, to its will this Saturday in the far away land of Burkina Faso.
Wish me luck!
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