Sharpening Your Pencil

January 28, 2024

Two No. 2 pencils, the quintessential, must have for test taking used by thousands of kids in the 1980’s. Do you remember using one? What about going to the classroom pencil sharpener and sharpening several pencils, just so you could master a standardized test? You would sharpen that pencil until the point was just right, or the teacher told you it was sharp enough so go sit down.

Back in the 80’s, for some reason you could only take a test with a yellow No.2 pencil, and you always had to have at least two to do so. Now, there were those that didn’t get the memo and would show up in class with some kind of multi-colored, fancy pencil that was surely not a No. 2. And heaven forbid, it was one of those automatic pencils. I’m still not sure how they made it through.

For those of us that grew up convinced that this was the only “approved” pencil, we knew if you tried to take a test with any other, your chances of success were slim to none. For those that have never experienced the joy of sharpening a full pack of No. 2’s, let me take you back to 1984.

It was 1984 and I was in Ms. Bingham’s 4th grade class. Back then you were required to take national standardized tests in different grades. These tests consisted of a series of tests covering reading comprehension, mathematics, writing, science and more. To do well on these tests, you had to have a supply of No. 2 pencils, sharpened and ready to go on test day.

Using your No.2 pencil, you marked most of your answers on a special answer card, called a scantron, by completely darkening in the circle of your answer. Upon completion, you had this cool looking answer card containing a series of black dots. There was always a sense of accomplishment after completing a test, but your No.2 pencil was now dull and would require a trip or two to the pencil sharpener.

Going to the pencil sharpener was like freedom. You could only get out of your seat for a few valid reasons, like an emergency restroom trip, you were having a medical emergency, or you needed to sharpen your pencil. And of course, if you got to get up to sharpen your pencil, you made the most of the trip by proudly parading through the classroom with at least 3 to 4 pencils (you know, just in case).

While at the pencil sharpener you took your time by perfectly sharpening each pencil to the correct point. Once you returned to your seat, you were ready to face the world with a supply of sharpened pencils. What a feeling, it was like you had a Star Wars Lightsaber and the “force was with you, always”.

Fast forward to today and No. 2 pencils are no longer the go to pencil in school. They have been replaced by Ticonderoga pencils (whatever the heck those are), but I bet students probably still like to go to the pencil sharpener, that is if they still even use pencils in elementary school.

As a kid, I always liked having a sharp pencil for a test or a writing assignment.  There was something about the feel of that pencil when you answered questions or wrote with it. To this day, there is still something about a sharp pencil for me. I keep a few No. 2’s at my desk.

Wouldn’t it be nice if wherever you are in life currently you only needed a sharpened No.2 pencil? I know that sounds very simple, but I think there is a takeaway here that can apply in all aspects of our life. At least there is for me.

Is Your Pencil Sharp?

I’ll admit, there are days I’m not sure where my pencil is even at. Then there are those days when I just used the same pencil over and over because it was easy. Then there are those moments that I took time to find my pencil and sharpen it properly.

Are you like me and spend much of your time focusing on the immediate task but, at times, forgetting to look up from the test and see what’s ahead? Maybe you, like me, need to simply take a moment and sharpen your pencil.

Taking time to invest in ourselves is a lot like taking a good stroll to the pencil sharpener, you come back well prepared.

Maybe you don’t need a No. 2 pencil today or maybe you could use a little encouragement or a smile.

May I encourage you today to find your pencil and sharpen it. Whatever it is, sharpen it. Take the time to invest in yourself, your life, your skill, and your wellbeing. You will thank yourself after a trip to the pencil sharpener.

You might even re-discover a rekindled passion for something you didn’t even know was still there, all because you sharpened your pencil.

So, remember to encourage and maybe motivate someone in a positive way today, go buy some new pencils (even if they are not No. 2), sharpen the entire pack and you might be surprised just by what comes next.

Do you have a similar story? Please share in the comments, I would love to hear from you. 

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