Victory!!

Well Hello readers, sorry for skipping a week, but i'm sure you've made it through the week without the guidance of my blog.  Anyways, the reason/ excuse I came up with is the bane of student life: a midterm.  Oh jesus, I had a midterm and needed to study for that, so lemme reflect on this experience (especially when I read this entry in a few years time, i'll be able to reminisce on this experience).  As many of you know, i'm a science guy.  I love science. science science science. love that jazz.  Throughout my schooling career, i've had plenty of exams.  Finding addition, subtraction, fluid dynamics, hell yeah.  Give me an equation and i'll solve it (or at least look at it really hard).  When there weren't calculations, I had to write reports (such as I'm accustomed to as a grad student).  Well all and dandy, but this was the first midterm that I had in a long time.  To make things worse, this hour-long midterm was answering a couple questions... on paper.  yeah, I had to write things.. on paper... with a pen.  SAY WHA? (what when through my head).  I can't remember the last time I had to have a written midterm with essay questions... maybe high school?  maybe regarding the heroics of Atticus Finch.

credit to  Dave MacDowell.. damn straight I cite my sources

Anyways, if I wasn't nervous enough, the midterm was for my international business class.  I have never taken a business class in my life!  so i'm in a bit of a panic.  entrepreneurs, corporate strategy,... uhhh   and to top it off, all my class mates have some sort of business/financial/marketing (read: money degrees).  Well, I studied like no other.  For days, I pondered the theory of industry markets and innovative trends.. and on exam day.. I was ready.  well, almost.  The one thing I didn't prepare for was the amount of fatigue my hand would have to endure during the exam.

my preferred method of pen holding

 The intensity of the exam just goes to your head, and you're allowed one-hour to vomit as much information on to the 8"x11" booklet.  Holding your precious pen, thoughts flying through at 100 mph (160km/h).. you're on a roll.  And suddenly, you hit the wall.  not a mental block, but the agonizing numbness in your fingertips.  It occurs without notice and suddenly, your words-per-minute rate plummet.  Try to shake out the pain and get the blood flowing back into your hand, but it's only minimally better (also, I probably looked like an idiot).  At this point, the 20 minutes I've allowed for each question needs to be readjusted due to the slowing writing pace and my atrocious handwriting begins to look even more heinous..  it was like my handwriting slowly reversed in time, and soon my handwriting reverted back to the 5th grade.   Oh boy..

10 minutes left:  i'm almost halfway done with the last question.  Good pace, I just gotta push through for a little while longer.

7 minutes left: wish there was more time.. gotta step up the pace a bit.

2 minutes left:  wrapping up the question, just about finished--HAND CRAMP! oh god,... why now.  what do i do?  switch left handed? nah, too risky.  shake it out? nah, too little time left.  last resort...switch grips and write BIG.  my scribbles seem to barely pass for words...watev, good enough

13 seconds left:  i've done it.. finished with the exam.  looking over my answers (and subsequent de-evolution of my hand writing).  answered questions as good as I could and felt satisfied.  I was proud

1 second left:  Think I heard someone fart... (maybe... still suspicious)

Time up: Pencils down and exhale.
Whew, exam done.  It's all behind me now.  Victory.