"Tick, Tock..." Goes the Old Nagging Clock

A glance at the clock reveals that it was only moments before I had to take the first math test of the semester.

I wonder if I had studied enough for this test. Will I pass? Oh, man...

The professor walks in to the room of 30 students and I could almost sense tension building up in the room. Sighs fill the air.

"Is everyone ready for the exam?" The professor asks.

Umm... let me think about this one, no of course not, when do I ever feel ready for an exam?

He hands me the exam.

Oh great it looks like a book. There are 55 problems. I am doomed!

Ok take a deep breath I can do this. I will do well on this test. I thought with determination, repeating it in my head, hoping to convince myself that I was going to do well.

I gathered up my pencil, eraser, and scratch paper.

Where to begin? I thought as I thumbed through the pages.

I guess I will start with problem one.

Problem one:x plus 3 equal twelve... How do I solve this one?Let me see!

Moments later a sigh of relief escapes my lungs as the first problem was finished.

"Tick, Tock..." says the clock like an annoying sister, nagging me to hurry up.

Crazy clock! Looking up at the clock and realizing that the first problem had only taken a few seconds. Hmm... Not bad. Maybe this will not take too long, as long as I can focus on the test and not let my mind wonder.

Problem 2: Wow! What a long problem. I look up taking my eyes off the test for a couple minutes as if I was hoping to find an answer on the board or the walls. No such luck! Oh well, with a deep breath I look at the problem again, It is a word problem. I hate word problems.

I begin to stare into the blank page hopping to find the problem answering itself.

What should I have for dinner tonight? Pizza sounds good no wait steak sounds better, I don't know how about...

"Tick, Tock..."

Glancing at the nagging clock, I realize that it has already been 10 minutes since the test had started and I had only finished one problem.

Man I cannot keep letting my mind wonder. I am going to be here forever. Ok how am I going to solve this problem? Moments pass and the problem is finally solved, I hope I had answered it correctly. Okay onto the next problem.

Problem 3: True or false: If true then prove why it is true, if false give an example. The graph above is an exponential function.

This should be easy! Its true no wait a minute false. Man I think I spoke to soon, its not so easy after all. Umm... True sounds right to me. Okay it's true then.

Ok here I go Problem 4 finished, Problem 5 finished, wow I am on a role now...Problem 52 finished...

Yawn, stretch.

I wonder if CSI will be on to night. I cannot wait to see what happens...

"Tick, tock..."

Oh how I wish I could throw that clock out the window. I guess that would be hard since this room does not have a window. I wonder what would happen if there was, an emergency and I could not get out of the room. Calm down everything is going to be ok. What if...

"Tick, tock..."

With a quick glance at the clock, I realize I only have 20 minutes before the class is over and I still have to finish the last three problems.

Okay, I have to finish problem 53 yet. Okay, here I go again, this time I am going to finish it...

Moment's later problem 53 was finished and I glanced at the clock and realized I had 15 minutes before I had to hand it in.

Okay, I know I can do this.

Ten minutes pass and I was able to finish problem 54 and realized that problem 55 was the hardest.

Only five minutes left. Ok I know I can do this if I stay focused and not let my mind wonder.

I stare at the problem and think. I think as hard as I can but by now, my brain is fried.

Should I leave it blank? How many points is it worth? Oh, man its worth almost half as much as what the test is worth. I have to try to finish it. Ok here it goes...

"Tick, tock..."

Not looking at you clock. Come on I can finish this...come one...

The last problem is finished.

Ok I think that is it I finished the last problem. Hope I did it right. If not well I could say I atleast tried. Should I check my answers? Ok I will check them really quick.

"Times up, time to turn in you exam" says the professor.

Man I did not get to finish checking my exam. Oh, well I guess I will have to take my chance. I hope I passed! I hope I passed!

I give the exam to the professor.

Finally the test is done and out of my hands.

A week later, I get my test grade. It was not what I had intended in getting. I did pass but a C is not good in my book. I realized that maybe that the old nagging clock is like a sister; sometimes you just have to listen to them and not let you mind wonder.