Today is Monday, May 6th. Regular classes have ended, and it's time for me and Quilene to study up for finals. I've got some pretty cumbersome final exams to look forward to, especially when it comes to the likes of Elementary Algebra and Gender, Race, and Sexuality. Rhonda understands how hard final exams like the one she's assigned to me and the other students is, but at the same time, it's her job. She can't really play favorites with any students and help them cheat (not that I would ever resort to doing anything like that). Anyway, I'm not really looking forward to finals, but whatever. I'm going to have to pass them if I want to make it to sophomore year.
The first thing I do with Quilene is go over the review sheet for Elementary Algebra and have her help me memorize the formulas and equations for the final exam. From what I hear, the final exam is a beast of an exam. There's multiple-choice questions, there's questions that require you to write the entire formula out and solve from there, and then there are essay questions. At least you're allowed to use a calculator the whole time, which makes it somewhat easier. The other final exams are probably going to be easier than the Elementary Algebra one, but I can't be certain how much easier.
"Man, I'm so glad these final exams are all that's left," Quilene groans. "I don't know how much more of this semester I can take."
"I know, I know," I reply. "Man, I am so ready for summer to get here so we can forget about this university stuff for a while."
"Me too. Spending time with you here has been really fun, though. Can't wait to do this again next year."
"Me too. Now if we're gonna be roommates again, we're going to have study together and make sure we pass all our final exams, even if we barely do so."
"Okay, that sounds like a plan, especially since we'll have to study for days and help each other with the review sheets."
"Yeah. So how do you feel about these final exams? Are you nervous at all?"
Quilene briefly looks up before facing me again. "A little. I've been trying to study whenever I can. I don't know how confident I am that I will pass all these, though."
"Well, that's why I suggested we help each other."
"I know, but I've never really been fond of exams all that well. I tend to do better on assignments than on tests."
"I'm kinda the same way, but I managed to overcome my hurdles and pass my finals last semester. Is there anything we can do to ease our anxieties on this stuff?"
"Well, there is one thing I've been using to ease me during exams this semester..."
I lean in, curious to know what this solution is. "What is it?"
"Gummies, but not just any gummies. CBD gummies..."
I've heard of those. They're supposed to relieve anxiety. I think Quilene might be onto something here...
Today is Thursday, May 9th, and the day of the Elementary Algebra final exam has finally come. I've managed to go over just enough of the review material for this final that I might just be able to pass, "might" being the key word here. I've also managed to eat some CBD gummies that Quilene loaned me beforehand. Hopefully, they'll do as they've promised and actually relieve my anxiety.
I proceed to head on down to Demarest Hall and make my way into the room where I'm supposed to have the exam. I can't help but notice that almost the entire room is quiet except for a few students talking here and there. I wait for a little bit before Professor Waters walks in.
"Alright, class, it's time to take the final exam," Professor Waters announces. "I hope you've been going over your review materials. They've covered everything that's on the test. You can also use your calculator and your notes to help you if you like. Otherwise, I would prefer that you do this without other materials. Before we begin, please put away your cellphones, laptops, tablets, textbooks, scouters, or whatever else you got laid out besides your notes."
We all do as he says. With that out of the way, we proceed to take our exams with the best of our abilities. I try my hardest to remember the material I went over, namely the stuff regarding exponents, expressions, polynomials, like and unlike terms, and constants and then progressing through the harder topics this course has to offer. I manage to get through the exam slowly but steadily, making sure to carefully go over the multiple-choice questions and the essay questions. Finally, at long last, I've managed to finish this thing with little worry. All that's left to do now is to get up and hand my exam over to Professor Waters. As soon as I've transferred my exam into Professor Waters's hands, I give a polite little smile. He reciprocates and then makes a sweeping hand gesture in my direction. I take this as a cue to go back to my desk, collect my things, and then leave.
Just like that, I've managed to get through the first day of final exams. I head back to my dorm and flop down on the couch with my backpack by my side. In an instant, I can feel something poke my face. I look up to see Quilene staring at me.
"So... how did your final exam in Elementary Algebra go?" Quilene asks me with a glint in her eye.
"Pretty well, I must say," I reply confidently. "It wasn't easy, but I managed to pull right through it."
"Did those CBD gummies help?"
"I think they did. I felt a lot calmer in there."
Quilene grins at me. "That's wonderful. I knew it. I knew those would help you."
"Well, thanks, Quilene. You really did me a solid in there. In fact, I think I'm going to have to keep sharing them with you for the rest of the week."
Quilene squeals in glee. "That's so awesome! I'm so glad I offered them in the first place. I think they might be the key to getting us to sophomore year."
"You know what? I think so, too."
Who would thought cannabis would be such a great studying hack? If I'm going to pass the rest of my exams, then I'll have to do whatever it takes. If I can't, then that's okay, too.