Marshmallows.

I would have failed the marshmallow test.

Let me explain. The marshmallow test is a different way of testing a young student's ability to succeed scholastically. IQ, or intelligence quotient, tests are commonly used. However, these are more a measurement of the ability to learn facts and logic. EQ, or emotional intelligence, is more of a test of the ability to gauge emotions. I guess it's better to explain it with the test.

The Marshmallow Test.
A group of young children are all in a room, and all given a marshmallow. The adult in charge has to leave, but gives the students instructions. They may eat the marshmallow if they like. However, if they still have not eaten the marshmallow by the time the adult returns, they will be given a second marshmallow. The students that pass typically do better at being motivated in school and keeping their eyes on future goals.

Typically, 1/3 of the children scarf down the marshmallow with no second thoughts or regrets. The next 1/3 of the children try and wait, but little by little, or eventually, the marshmallow is gone. The third group calmly waits for the adult to return, upon which they get a second marshmallow.

Now, I actually might pass the marshmallow test if it were marshmallows, since I'm not so fond of them. They have an odd sort of texture, and unless they have been caught on fire and are currently between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate, I have little enjoyment for them. Additionally, I always want to type "marshmellow." Unfortunately, this word is spelled in a way that is not really at all how it is pronounced. Thus, I would have little use in consuming such a food in the hypothetical testing environment. So let's use something that is more appealing to me. Pizza.

Now, in the pizza test, Little Andrea is not in the first group. She really wants the second piece of pizza. However, she will try to wait. She might try something sneaky, like eating the bottom of the pizza and hoping the adult doesn't notice. She'll start with that, at least, and eventually decide that she'd rather just eat the pizza and pass out on the second piece. Better yet, she'll befriend someone else like her. They will split Little Andrea's pizza, and leave the friend's pizza untouched. The friend will then give Andrea her second piece of pizza, and both will get one and a half pieces of pizza. Adult Andrea would probably try the same thing. Then again, I'm pretty good about my credit card, so maybe I do understand.

Dustin is my brother. He is one day less than a year younger than me (figure that one out.) He would have passed both the marshmallow and the pizza test. This is not only because of his superior EQ, it is because he doesn't like cheese. Rather than eat his pizza, he would probably bribe one of the other children into doing something for him in exchange for his two pieces of pizza. He'd probably have bribed me into doing chores in exchange for his pizza. I really liked pizza then. Still do, though not to the point that I'd let Dustin bribe me into pizza. Crafty little fellow that he is. I'm glad I never went to pre-school with him. Same with marshmallows. He would have had no trouble waiting for a second marshmallow. Then he would proceed to have the same teachers a year after me from second grade to senior year, giving him an obvious advantage at schoolwork.

For real, though, I wonder how I would have done. I don't know if I'd have made it, because sometimes I make decisions that I know I could have thought through more thoroughly (dang, that's like a tongue-twister for the eyes) and done better. On the other hand, I feel like I have the ability to make good decisions. I guess the results of the marshmallow test that I never took won't affect my current life all too much at this point. I mean, no matter how I would have done on that test, I am who I am now. And, its just a kid and a marshmallow. How much will that actually reveal about who a person will become?

Now I want S'mores.

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