During my freshman year I was in three honors classes. It was toward the end of the first semester and I had projects due in almost every class, plus I had two tests still to study for and take. One test was in my science class and the other was for my history class with Mrs. Hendricks. Mrs. Hendricks test were stumpers half the time and they were usually pretty long with various essays. I had finished all of my homework and I studied for my science test because it was the first class of the Friday schedule. I finished almost everything I had to do, but it was around 10:30 pm and my tired level was way too high to study for my history test. Before I went to bed I made a mental and written note to myself to remind me to study before school, between classes, and any other free time I had before fourth period.
It was already fourth period and my history test was handed out. I took one look at it and immediately I thought my life was over. I began to feel suffocated like I couldn't breathe and I thought I was sweating, but it turns out that I was just imagining it. I knew I was overreacting because I didn't know anything that was on the test but a few questions. I went through and answered the questions I knew first to insure that I had those done. I took a look up at the large clock, with three handles and twelve numbers on it, to see that I had thirty minutes left of class. I was only on the second page out of five. I didn't know what I was going to do. As I took a look around the class I noticed that everyone was working at a fast pace. I was stunned.
I wasn't the best “test taker” to begin with, but thoughts of failing a class my first year of high school made me sick to my stomach. I looked up at the clock once more to see nothing but four minutes left of class. Just then I took a few seconds to look around and see that everyone was done with their test. I couldn't believe it… not a test in sight except on the teachers desk was a pile of them from my class. People were packing their bags and getting ready for lunch. Suddenly I couldn't breath. So, in a panic I circled random answers and wrote T for true and F for false not even reading the questions thoroughly or even at all.
The bell rings, Ding-Ding-Ding, the class is dismissed by the bell and by Mrs. Hendricks few words, “Have a nice weekend,” and then the class ran out to lunch like a pack of wild animals fighting for a single piece of meat. I stayed sitting in my desk with my pencil rolling off my desk and my test in my hands. As I glance at my test I see that I still have three essays left to complete. I sigh in an enormous amount of disappointment to myself, for I am a failure and I feel as if I have let myself and my parents down. My pencil finally hits the ground as I make the decision to turn my unfinished test in. I lift my pencil off the ground and put my head down. I felt disappointed in myself and I felt like the biggest loser.
During lunch people were talking about the test and how hard it was. All I could do was agree and let them go on about how they almost couldn't finish it. I walked around the court seeing the disappointed look on my parents face and the heartbreak and thought of being dumb compared to my class. How was I going to tell my parents that I failed at something? Do I just let them find out on their own? Do I try to hide it from them? Was I going to fail? What should I do? All these questions skipped and bounced through my brain. All I knew was that I was scared. Scared of what my family would say, what would happen to me, and how I could have avoided this situation.
It was a horrible and trembling day. As I scuffed my feet up to the front door I took an oversize, deep breath preparing myself for what was on the other side. I felt as if I was on a game show…”Door number one Tom.” I walked through the door to see my parents sitting in the living room with a piece of paper. I couldn't believe it…It was my test score, but how? My teacher had sent the score in an email to my parents. After a long talk with my parents I had agreed to take time everyday to study for any upcoming test. Ever since then, I have done fairly well on my tests.
