That Day before the Exam

I was scanning through the pointers of my comprehensive exam when one topic, Stress Management, somehow gave me some points to ponder. It came to my mind if blogging my day’s experience would be relieve me from stress or would just make this whole stressful thing (of reviewing for the comprehensive exam for my master’s degree) get worse. On the contrary, blogging just simply takes the stress away. If I will be asked what could relieve me from stress, I’d say “blogging” (sheepish grin).

The day was hot. Cebu hit at 29 degrees centigrade at weather forecast. I cannot stay at home to do my final review for the “much-awaited” comprehensive exam for my master’s degree. Other than the scorching heat, my bed at the apartment was tempting me to laze down and sleep. I had to get over this “hit-the-snooze” syndrome when hearing the alarm clock. No, no. Procrastination should not get in the way. I had to be somewhere else.

I opted not to go to school because I was sure none of my classmates will be there. Obviously, they are also                            S-T-U-D-Y-I-N-G. I couldn’t also get myself to some study center because I knew I will just doze off. I had to be in some cozy place. The day before the tough Comprehensive Exam, I would like to spend it with Bo’s (in Ramos).

  

The place was not teeming with customers. Three medical students were thrashing out their lecture in one corner while a foreign national was forking her omelet on another side as I entered the coffee shop. The barista took my order – a choco-chip blend grande and a chicken turn-over. Then I settled myself in another corner facing the patio of coffee shop.

“Aahhhh!” I sighed as I made myself comfortable in a comfy couch. I plugged my earphones in my mobile phone so I could listen to my recording of the pointers for the exam. I took out my review notes and some photocopied materials so I could start my review. My mobile phone came in handy to connect with my classmates and with the coffee shop’s Wi-Fi connection, accessing the Internet was a breeze.

It was past 12 noon when I had to make another order for a fudge brownie and a raspberry chiller (forgot to snap a picture of it) while I was on the fourth subject for Day 1. I then found out I was reviewing on the wrong subject after a classmate confirmed on the subject’s coverage. I would surely flunk in the exam without that advance head’s-up. Whew! It was a sigh of relief, but it meant only one thing – I haven’t reviewed yet for the “real” fourth subject for Day 1. Funny. But yeah, it was frustrating.

I pulled up my composure as I managed myself to wrap up everything in the next three hours and a half. Not much time though, but I had to make that needed rest.

Just in time when I packed my things, the coffee shop was now crowded as a number of doctor-wannabes swung the door open to get themselves their day’s dose of Bo’s Coffee or a place for them to study, more likely.

Forty three minutes past four, I was already home.