The Final Five Days
A Strategic Plan for Success
The tension in the church's academic quarters was palpable as the days until the final exams ticked down. Every nun, regardless of experience or confidence, felt the weight of the approaching challenge.
Maria, however, had a plan.
She knew that while reading and discussing topics was essential, there was no better way to prepare for an exam than to simulate the real thing.
One evening, as the group gathered for their usual study session, Maria took her turn to speak.
Maria: (smiling and holding a folder in her hands) "Alright, everyone, listen up. I've prepared something for all of us."
Curious, the group looked up from their books.
Kate: (raising an eyebrow) "Prepared what exactly?"
Maria: (holding up a thick stack of papers) "Practice tests. Full-length, subject-wise exams covering all the important topics."
A moment of silence followed.
Then, Emily let out a groan.
Emily: "Oh no, Maria! You're giving us extra exams before the actual exams?"
A few others chuckled nervously, but Maria remained firm.
Maria: (nodding) "Exactly. If we can answer these under time constraints, then we'll be fully prepared for the real thing."
---
Catherine's Support
Catherine, who had been in on Maria's plan, stepped in.
Catherine: (grinning at Maria) "She's right, you know. Maria and I did this in previous years, and trust me, it helped us a lot."
Some of the nuns exchanged glances, clearly unsure.
Rachel: (sighing) "I don't know… I feel like I'd rather just revise my notes."
Maria: (encouragingly) "But how will you know if you actually remember the material unless you test yourself?"
Kate crossed her arms.
Kate: "And what if we don't do well on these tests? Won't that just make us more nervous?"
Maria shook her head.
Maria: "That's the point. If we struggle here, we'll know exactly what to focus on before the real thing. Better to make mistakes now than on the actual exam day."
A few of them nodded thoughtfully.
Catherine smiled and added,
Catherine: "Besides, you won't be alone. We'll all be taking these tests together. If someone doesn't understand something, we can review it afterward."
That seemed to ease the tension in the room.
---
The Plan Takes Shape
Maria continued, laying out the details.
Maria: "Tomorrow night, we'll gather in my room. Each of you will receive test papers covering different subjects. You'll have a set amount of time to complete them, just like a real exam."
Emily: (grinning) "And will we get graded too?"
Maria smirked.
Maria: "If you want to! But the main goal is self-assessment."
By now, everyone was on board. The hesitation faded as excitement replaced nervousness.
---
The Test Night Begins
The following night, as the clock struck 8 PM, Maria's room filled with eager yet slightly apprehensive nuns.
Maria had arranged chairs and small tables, creating a mini-exam hall inside her dormitory.
Each desk had a test paper, a pen, and a glass of water.
Maria stood at the front, hands on her hips.
Maria: (grinning) "Alright, everyone. Welcome to the pre-exam trial."
A few groaned playfully, but everyone took their seats.
Catherine handed out the test papers, while Maria gave a brief rundown of the rules.
Maria: "You have one hour. No peeking at notes. If you finish early, stay seated and review your answers."
Kate sighed.
Kate: (muttering as she took her paper) "Why does this feel way too real?"
Maria chuckled.
Maria: "Because it's supposed to."
And with that, she announced,
Maria: "Your time starts now."
---
The Pressure Builds
The room fell silent, except for the occasional sound of pens scratching against paper and the shifting of chairs.
Maria observed her friends as they worked.
Catherine, as expected, remained calm and focused.
Emily tapped her pen against her chin before diving into writing.
Kate, who had originally resisted, looked surprisingly determined.
As the minutes ticked by, some students chewed on their lips, others muttered to themselves, and a few paused to stretch before continuing.
At exactly 9 PM, Maria stood up.
Maria: "Alright, time's up. Pens down."
A collective sigh of relief filled the room.
---
Review and Reflection
After collecting the papers, Maria and Catherine began reviewing the answers with the group.
Maria held up a paper and smiled.
Maria: "Okay, let's go over the hardest questions first."
They discussed mistakes, corrections, and explanations, ensuring that everyone understood the concepts they had struggled with.
Kate, surprisingly, seemed energized.
Kate: (grinning at Maria) "Alright, I admit it. This was actually useful."
Maria laughed.
Maria: "Told you."
Emily stretched her arms.
Emily: "Can we do this again before the last exam?"
Maria nodded.
Maria: "Absolutely."
---
The Final Countdown
As the night wore on, they wrapped up their discussion and relaxed for a bit before heading to bed.
Before leaving, Rachel turned to Maria.
Rachel: "Thank you for doing this, Maria. It really helped."
Maria smiled.
Maria: "That's what friends are for."
With only five days left, the group felt stronger, more prepared, and more confident than ever before.