Laurel Woerheide

College Essay

    As a high school junior, most students I know become stressed and overwhelmed trying to succeed. The time and commitment needed to achieve good grades, to complete college applications, and to succede on the ACT and SAT can be very stressful. Not only do students have to worry about this, but many are also involved in school clubs and extracurricular activities which consume a great deal of their free time. After watching some of my friends go throught the process this year, it is clear to me that high school seniors become so overwhelmed with all of these assignments and applications that it becomes difficult for one to successfully complete all their goals and tasks.

    It became clear to me this year how this stress is often coped with when I, personally, was dealing with a stressful time and was offered ADHD medication to help me “get through it”. I couldn't believe that one of my best friends could offer me this drug, knowing that he was not even prescribed for the medication. I knew that it was a normal thing to take Adderall for SATs and ACTs, but never did I think I would be put in a position where I would be offered it simply because I had a lot of homework. What I knew of the substance at the time was that if it was taken too often and without actual need that your body would become dependant on it, resulting in an actual, unhealthy, and unnecessary need for it. In front of all of my friends I was forced to say, “Are you crazy? That cannot be how you catch up with your homework..thats pathetic, man.” and I then walked away. I expected to be embarrassed or feel a little guilty, but I felt proud to say no way and hoped that it would make some of my peers who were standing there as well change their habits.

    ADHD medication is not ok to use as a test score booster. Consumption of these prescriptions were engineered to help those diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to concentrate and focus are now being over-prescribed and used as an advantage during standardized test taking. Teenage students who are not prescribed these drugs have easy access to them through friends and family members. Due to such over-prescription of these drugs, it becomes easily accessible to even those who have no need for them, whatsoever.

    The normality of consuming these prescriptions before standardized testing has become the norm among high school students. Not only are they taking a health risk by consuming a drug not prescribed to them, but they are also using an unfair advantage during testing situations.

    Teenagers who are not prescribed the drugs are using the ADHD medicines as a performance enhancement drug for the SATs and ACTs. The effects of consuming these prescriptions seem to be wondrous in achieving improvements in these test scores that are crucial for college acceptance and scholarship qualifications. Students become so worked up about receiving high test scores and become so desperate that they will do anything to achieve this, including taking the effortless route of simply consuming pills that help aid focus and concentration during testing situations.

    This is an unfair advantage to all the other testers who studied and take the test in more natural circumstances. It is not ethically right for one to use something not prescribed to them in any situation as an advantage. Also, the person doling out the prescriptions is making an unethical decision by distributing the drugs without a proper medical license to do so. As a result of observing my peers, I have contemplated doing this for future tests. However, my realization of these actions as being unethical have overpowered my desire to cheat my own testing abilities to increase my scores. If more people help others realize what they are doing is unethical, the distribution of these drugs might decrease, making for a more equal standardized testing environment. Prohibiting this drug use among those who are not prescribed it prior to standardized testing situations would also be more just and beneficial in the equivalence of testing situations. In my future, I will continue to make ethical decisions when I am put into any difficult situation.

   I've had a lot of people help me learn how to balance my schedule packed with school work, athletics, school activities, art, clubs, and work. I have learned to make the right decisions that will not jeopardize my future. I have never been a person to turn down true opportunities, or to give up on anything easily. I always do my best in taking the more challenging route. I will continue to improve upon my personal accomplishments and study habits in order to be a more successful student.