My name is Ana Sophia Pages and I am a current High School Senior at BioTECH @ Richmond Heights 9-12 High School in Miami, Florida, Class of 2021. The COVID-19 virus has taken a toll on all of our communities, schools, and our personal well fair. As a member of the Class of 2021 I can say for all of us, this is not the senior year we expected. Our way of life has changed and so should the way we apply for college. I am starting this petition to make universities and colleges throughout Florida test optional for SAT/ACT. Giving the Class of 2021 a chance to get into a good college or university in their home state without having to worry about whether or not they have taken the SAT or ACT would begin to bring some normalcy to a world that is all but normal. COVID-19 has cancelled and changed many things throughout our society which should call for a change in college applications. Many students throughout the state have not been able to take the SAT or ACT due to the shutdowns, quantities, and lack of safety. This is not our fault and we should not be penalized for not being able to take these tests.

Making colleges and universities test optional would open the doors for so many students in our state. Institutions will no longer have to rely on scores to determine the quality of a student. These scores do not portray the intelligence, creativity, or perseverance that a student can offer to the institution but they do give a number to a name. That number should not determine the fate of that student's higher education. Much less not having that number eliminate the student from getting into a college or university. If colleges and universities were to be test optional so many Florida High School Seniors would have the chance to gain what all people should have the right to gain, an education. Students should not have to jump through hurdles or have to sacrifice their safety and the safety of their families to take the SAT or ACT.

By making these institutions test optional you are giving our future Florida doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists, politicians, ect., the stepping stones they need to become the future in our home state. By signing this petition you can ease the fear of thousands of Seniors throughout the state by giving us the opportunity to do and be something great.