7 May, 2007
Madison girl gets perfect scores on ACT, SAT
Huijia Wu has done a rare thing. The Bob Jones High School student has managed to ace the SAT and the ACT college admission tests. That's a 2,400 on the SAT and a 36 on the ACT.
She's only a junior.
Such a feat makes even the folks at the SAT and ACT offices say, "Wow."
Both organizations track scores by testing years. Out of the 1.5 million SAT tests given in 2006, 226 students scored a 2,400. In Alabama, three made a 2,400 out of the 3,879 tests taken. Of the 2.2 million ACT tests taken in the 2005-06 test period, 256 students scored a 36. In Alabama, 11 out of 76,000 test-takers earned a top score.
Neither organization can say how many students manage a top score on both tests, but it has to be rare, said Kristin Crouse, a spokeswoman for ACT.
Huijia, who goes by Emily, took both tests twice. She made a 35 the first time on the ACT but doesn't like to say how she did on the first SAT. Suffice to say, the score did not live up to her high standards.
"I thought I could get a 2,400 if I just kept trying, and it worked," she said.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story blog.al.com, 5/4/07
Achieving perfection
Philippians 3:9-14 (NLT)
9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
Pressing toward the Goal
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about being perfect?
Paul says that we will never be perfect until we are in Heaven. The amazing truth about God's grace is that when we receive Christ's forgiveness, God views us as perfect!
Paul's goal was to know Christ more and more. He was driven to be like Jesus and to become all that Christ wanted him to be. His eyes were on the prize - perfect like Christ - in the presence of God forever.
Is this your goal? Are you focused on becoming like Christ?
The girl who got perfect scores on the SAT and ACT tests has a mind that blows most of our minds! But while it's possible for some to achieve perfection in an earthly test, it is impossible to pass God's test for perfection.
No matter how little wrong or how much right we do in this test of earthly living, we can't meet God's test requirement to get into Heaven.
Thankfully, Jesus already aced it for us by dying for our sins and rising from the dead so that we will experience perfection some day!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God that He sees you through the blood given by His Son on the cross for you. Ask His Spirit to help you understand His perfecting work in your life. Claim His power to focus on the privilege you have of abiding in Christ every day.
- Memorize Philippians 3:12 or post it where you will see it every day.
- Take a few minutes to identify anything in your life that is harmful or distracting to your spiritual growth. Keep these issues on your prayer list every day until you experience the changes needed in the goal of becoming more like Jesus.
- Look for 3 examples of perfection this week. This will remind you to be grateful for Christ's perfecting work in your life.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Pray every day for the reality of Jesus in your life to be evident to others.
- Especially with the school year coming to an end and tests becoming the norm, use today's story about the perfect ACT and SAT scores as a conversation starter to learn the stories of others as you share how Jesus is changing your story.
- Be very quick and genuine to admit your lack of perfection to others. Remember, followers of Jesus are far from perfect - but completely forgiven!
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