Standardized test scores are sometimes used as a determining factor in what schools you get into and even what career you eventually pursue. Colin Treworgy interviewed high school and college students in the St. Louis area to learn how spirituality helps them cope with standardized tests and planning their future careers. Individual interviews were conducted with Aaron, class of '01 Buckeye Valley High School, Delaware, Ohio, and now a freshman at Calvin College in Grand Rapids Michigan; Drew, a sophomore and Sarah, a junior, at The Principia High School; and Ann, Alyson, Bobby, and Matt, all high school seniors, at Westminster Christian Academy.

spirituality.com: Studying and preparing for tests is important, but is there more that you can do? Have you ever relied on spiritual resources to help you in test situations? Did it help?

Aaron: Yes, I think my faith has helped me with test taking. Many times before I begin a test, I say a short prayer, and that usually helps calm me and gets me mentally ready for the test. Sometimes I get nervous, and prayer helps with that as well.

Drew: When I have to take a test I study. Then I don't get stressed about it. I think of myself as expressing God's intelligence. I was home schooled from first through eighth grade so I had to take an aptitude test to get into high school. I was worried about the English part of the test. I trusted God going into the test and I was pretty confident, but there was this one part that was hard. I wasn't getting it, so I just stopped for a couple of minutes. I prayed. I knew it was the right thing for me to get into school, so I just decided to keep on going and make the best guess I could on answers. I must have done all right because I passed.

Sarah: I used to think I had to keep all my knowledge in a big ball in my head. At school they give us an inspirational thought before we take a test. I've been trying to let go of everything and just open my thought to that good idea and a sense of peace before I take the test.

Ann: I know God has a plan and whatever His plan is is what's best. So when I took the ACT, I knew that if I didn't do well, that was okay, that was what He needed from me at the moment. Even though I was uptight, it could have been much worse.

I think it helped that I knew that God was there and that He was going to lead me through it no matter what. So in the morning I just sat down and said a quick prayer and began knowing that He's the only one that could really help me through it. On my own I couldn't have done it. If I was stuck on some question I would just take a quick breath and just ask God to show me that I could do it. He got me through it okay. I left knowing I did the best that I could. I think it helped a lot.

Bobby: I never pray that I will do well or get a good grade. I always pray that I will be rewarded for whatever preparation I've done, that I would remember what I studied and be able to write clearly, that I'd be able to be calm and not have a blank mind. To me God isn't someone you can just call upon and say "I'm poor so give me five hundred bucks." It doesn't work like that. The other benefit of prayer or faith is when taking tests, particularly tests like the SAT, I can walk into it knowing that no matter what happens I have [an] absolute[ly] secure [feeling] that what ever does happen is for my benefit. It may not be in the short term, but in the long term it will be.

For me personally faith is always there. I don't know why it's there. I'm thankful it's there. It gives me a lot of security.

Matt: I had peace about the ACT tests because I have faith in God. It's only a test, my life does not depend on this. Sure it's important, but there's more to life than academics and tests. So going into the ACT test I just prayed, "Lord help me to do my best." I wasn't expecting any grade and I didn't [worry] that if I didn't make it to this level I'm worthless. God made me a unique individual. I knew that whatever grade I got, whether it was good or bad, that God can take that and work with it. I can go on into life and God can use that to sculpt His plans for my life. I know that the ACT is just one evaluation of me and that there are things that are much more important than how I do on this test. So with that peace, I went in and did my best and [did] surprisingly [well]. Praise the Lord. I would feel the same way if I got a [low score] instead. God still has plans.

spirituality.com: What controls your future?

Sarah: With the SAT, I've been worried about the idea that one test could seem to have such a big impact on your future. I've been thinking about the idea of success and that if God loves all His children so much that He wouldn't make anyone capable of not being successful. With that I've also been thinking about how God makes you successful according to God's plan for you so I have to take [my plans] out of it—like where I want to go to college. Also, instead of worrying about it or worrying about the future or anything just trying to be grateful for now.

Ann: Right now I am so glad that God has a plan. There are so many things I could do with my life, so many opportunities out there. I want to go into college and go into nursing, but if that's not what God wants I know that He will reveal that to me. I feel confident that God is with me through it. I still need to think it through, but I think that God will lead me to where He wants me to be, so I don't have to be discouraged or if I don't really know right now what I want to do in the world or what college to pick.

Bobby: You should always keep it in perspective. Even with the SAT, which supposedly controls people's lives, it doesn't. It is not what controls my life, teachers don't control my life, school doesn't control my life, God controls my life. There is a lot of security in that. And though I'm not always remembering that at the time of the tests or during the tests or even afterwards, later on I'll remember it.

Alyson: I know that God is going to take me where He wants me. I still have to do my part—it doesn't give me an excuse to just sit back and not do anything. If I don't get into a certain college, yes, I'll be disappointed, but I also realize that's just not the direction I'm supposed to go. So I just take it a step at a time.

Aaron: I consider the future to be very open, and I am excited for what the future may hold. I have a general plan of what I wish to study and a general career that I would like to have (biologist), but I am not sure where God is leading me or where God will lead me in the future. I don't believe that God necessarily controls the future, but I do believe that He "suggests" a path that He wants me to take. It is my choice whether or not I listen to this, however. The circumstances and the contacts and experiences I have influence my future, as well.

spirituality.com: Are there any spiritual resources that you've found helpful?

Ann: Jeremiah 29:11—"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." That one I've just had on my mind throughout this whole college time. I know that that's helped me through. Joshua 1:9—"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." That's just so encouraging because just knowing that He's going to be there with you and not leave you alone to be lost in this world. There are other places in the Bible where God says He that forms you and He knows you. So these have guided me through these years and encouraged me.

Drew: During sports camp last summer I read the chapter "Prayer" in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. I thought that was really cool. It showed me that it was simple to pray. [It says] "Desire is prayer…"

Sarah: I don't usually tend to look up specific things. I draw on things I've already read about in Science and Health or talked about in Sunday school. I tend to use ideas more than specific passages. The idea that the source of your intelligence is God and not yourself is really good for test taking.

Alyson: I have two things that I always repeat to myself whenever I'm doing something difficult: Phil. 4:13—"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," and Micah 6:8—"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Those are two that right now speak to me the most.

Aaron: Lately, I have been praying the prayer of Jabez ("Lord Bless me, expand my territory, keep me from evil") for a general daily prayer. [Like Alyson,] often I think of Phil. 4:13—I can do all things through Him who strengthens me, to help me believe in myself for things that may not seem achievable.

spirituality.com: What would you say to a friend who didn't do well on an important test?

Sarah: True success isn't necessarily reflected in grades or scores. You should be focused on expressing God and whether or not you've done that.

Aaron: I would try to encourage my friend and say that many people have good test days and bad test days. I would also try to get the point across that tests are merely a human invention and that God offers the official judgment—that is not for humans to do. I would say that if God wants him/her somewhere (that is determined by a test), He will provide the means to get there.

Matt: I would tell that friend that tests are not the most important thing and they can still find great fulfillment. Life goes way beyond how you do on the ACT test and that test does not define you. What defines you is how you live your life and your morals and how you really are deep down inside.

spirituality.com: Any last thoughts to share?

Sarah: God is supplying you with all the right ideas and your intelligence comes from God.

Alyson: I hope it's encouraging to others—the promise of God's faithfulness and that trusting in Him takes a big load off. It's a heart issue. A lot of it is realizing your need for it and then asking God—"I can't do this, I need your strength, and I need help and need you to be there and change my heart and help me to do it." I don't know what I would do if I couldn't ask God for strength.