Melbourne High

As the Florida Civic Literacy Exam approached, students in Mr. Gent’s government class focused their attention on preparation and accountability. Senior Abdul Rahman and junior Kobe Maquindang committed themselves to mastering the required benchmarks and reviewing key Supreme Court cases, constitutional principles, and foundational documents. With graduation requirements on the line, both students approached the assessment with discipline and determination. Their preparation reflected the seriousness of the state-mandated government test and the expectations set in class.

Rahman described the preparation process as structured and consistent. “Mr. Gent gave us review guides and practice questions that really helped,” Rahman said. “I studied a little every night instead of cramming.” He explained that reviewing landmark cases and amendments strengthened his confidence. “Going over cases like Marbury v. Madison and understanding judicial review made a big difference,” Rahman said. He also credited class discussions for reinforcing key concepts. “Talking through the material helped me remember it better on test day,” Rahman said.

Maquindang also emphasized the importance of preparation and focus. “I used Quizlet and rewrote my notes to make sure I understood everything,” Maquindang said. He explained that managing time during the exam required strategy. “I answered the questions I knew first and then went back to the harder ones,” Maquindang said. Maquindang acknowledged the pressure but remained confident in his effort. “I felt prepared because I took the review seriously,” Maquindang said. “Mr. Gent made sure we understood why the material mattered, not just what would be on the test.”

Through consistent study habits and active participation in Mr. Gent’s class, Rahman and Maquindang demonstrated responsibility and perseverance. Their experience preparing for the Florida Civic Literacy Exam reflected the broader goal of the course: building informed and engaged citizens.

Caption: FCLE PREP DISCUSSION — Abdul Rahman and Kobe Maquding review material for the FCLE during class at their desks. Rahman listened while Maquding explained concepts they had studied earlier in the period to prepare for the exam. Maquding, a junior, shared strategies he had used before as Rahman, also a junior, considered the information and got ready to apply it. The two had worked together previously and continued helping each other understand the content. “We were just making sure we understood everything before the test,” Maquding said.Photo By Chloe Strong