Junior Zack Schwartz said that when it was time to take the December ACT, being left-handed proved to be a disadvantage.
According to Schwartz, when he arrived at his assigned testing room, the test proctor told him there was a new policy in which lefties are required to take the test in desks that can support the left arm.
Although Schwartz originally thought the different desks would assist him, he said the hassles of the new seating procedure proved him wrong.
“We lefties have adapted to righty desks at school,” said Schwartz. “Therefore, this was not even helpful to us.”
According to Schwartz, the test proctors were confused about the process and as a result, the lefties had to wait an extra 45 minutes before someone told them where to go.
“This extra time and stress made us more nervous,” said Schwartz. “It certainly didn’t help.”
According to the ACT Administration Manual, in order to provide maximum comfort for left-handed examinees, testing facilities are now required to provide students with standard left-handed desks or writing surfaces that are large enough to ensure comfort.
Some test proctors enforced students to use these desks, however, the ACT Administration Manual only requires that accommodated desks be available to left-handed examinees. Although Schwartz said he experienced some trouble with this process, the rule was put in place in order to assist lefties in overcoming the advantages that right-handed desks provide to right-handed examinees.
Besides the ACT incident, Schwartz said he is able to overcome most other disadvantages by adapting to the obstacles he faces.
“I have learned to use a mouse righty, from when I was very young,” said Schwartz. “I also shoot righty in hockey because my friends were doing so.”
Senior Shaina Hakimian said she also developed adaptions as a lefty. Throughout elementary school, Hakimian said she could never find a pair of left-handed scissors.
“I gradually taught myself how to use the right-handed ones,” said Hakimian. “To this day, I only cut things with my right hand.”
In addition to scissors, pens and right-handed desks, Schwartz said he constantly struggles with spiral notebooks. When he tries to write in one, he said his hand scrapes against the metal binding.
“There is no real way around this except just dealing with it, or not using a spiral notebook in the first place,” said Schwartz. “I now expect that something might not be completely ideal for me.”
Despite the obstacles Hakimian is faced with, she said she still appreciates being left-handed, as it distinguishes her from others.
“I know that only about 10 percent of the world’s population is left-handed, which makes me a small, little minority,” Hakimian said.
According to Schwartz, even though his friends say, “Zack is a lefty, he’s the spawn of the Satan,” he recognizes it is a joke and enjoys being different.
“[Being a lefty is] something that separates me from most of the world,” said Schwartz. “Even though lefties have been historically scorned, I’m proud of it simply because it’s a distinguishing characteristic.”