Exams

I consider two of my classes to be hard. Like, they make me work and study and think. And that's good, because I'm learning so much about how to handle such classes. (When nursing school hits, maybe only half of my hair will turn white. :)) What's really fun, though, is when both classes end up having exams on the same day.

When my family came down last time, my big brother bought me a M&M candy bar. I set it on my desk when they dropped me off at the dorm. "In a week," I told myself, "I will be in dire need of chocolate. I will save this for then." And I did.

(It was a practice of self-control. I left it out on my desk where I could see it as a reminder to study, and that meant that I had to tell myself many times that I couldn't eat it. Pitiful, right?)

Last night, I went to bed a little earlier than usual. This morning, my great roommate and I went for a short run. I read a little, had my leisurely breakfast, and still made it early to my first exam. That was okay, though, because another classmate was already there. She quizzed me on a couple of terms, which really helped me to get my focus on the topic.

I'm discovering that I am a fast test-taker. It usually scares me when I hand in my test, because everyone else is still working on theirs. It freaks me out! I've had to work on not second-guessing myself as I turn it. I always think that I didn't spend enough time taking the test. But I am thankful that I put myself out of that misery quickly. Today, it also gave me enough time to read Psalm 100 before my next class (thanks for the suggestion, Mom!). After my second class of the day, it was time for my other exam. It also went quickly, but I blame part of that on the fact that I remembered how much coffee I'd had about half-way through it. :)

So yeah. My first two college tests. I'm pretty mentally-exhausted, but my chocolate bar and a dark chocolate frappe--International Coffee Day, folks, so take advantage of it--and God's peace have helped me to recoup enough that I'm having a good afternoon.

Enjoy last couple of days of September!

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
 Worship the Lord with gladness;
 come before him with joyful songs.
 Know that the Lord is God.
 It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
 we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
 and his courts with praise;
 give thanks to him and praise his name.
 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
 his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100 (NIV)