Test Superstition

Title: Test superstition

General Information about Item:

  • American Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Origin: none
  • Informant: Alec Vaules
  • Date Collected 10/17/18

Informant Data: Alec Vaules is a junior at Dartmouth college studying engineering. He was born in Rochester, New York and was raised in a household that strongly emphasized academic excellence.

Contextual Data:

Social: Alec has always been a great student. Starting in elementary school, Alec was one of the smartest kids in his class. Naturally, many of Alec’s friends emphasized academics as well. He especially enjoys math and science.

Cultural: In high school, Alec was at the top of his class. He was in great shape to go to an elite college, but he still needed to score high on the SAT. He studied for months, and his parents even got him a private tutor to help boost his score. Alec and his friends took this test so serious that they would compete for the highest score. He knew that with his lucky shirt, he would be able to get the highest score.

Subgenre: Good luck superstitions

Item: Wearing a certain shirt will give you good luck on your test.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

Transcript of Associated File:

 Max: Alright Alec, tell me about your superstition for tests.

Alec: So, just kind of ever since high school I’ve been wearing the same shirt for big tests, not just like small things but like SAT ACT, important tests that mean a lot, and I kept it going into college and I also chew gum during every test I take.

Informant’s Comments: Alec explained that wearing this lucky shirt was also a way for him to be confident and relaxed going in to a test.

Collector’s Comments: none

Collector’s Name: Max Hunter

Tags/Keywords:

Good luck superstitions, American, test

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