I think we know each other pretty well at this point.

You first started showing up in high school, specifically when the PSATs rolled around. From there, we struggled together through SATs and ACTs, and my scores definitely showed it (yay Holy Cross being SAT optional). Now, you only show up occasionally, since most of my classes are graded on papers rather than exams (hallelujah).

Sometimes, I question why you exist. I always study hard and I am always confident in knowing the material, but whenever the night before an exam rolls around, sleeping is difficult. I think the root of the problem is that I don't know what is to come. I don't know the exact questions that will be asked, and therefore, I panic that I missed something in my studying. I try deep breathing, I try counting back from 100, but no matter what I do, the night before an exam is a struggle.

Until the moment I receive the exam itself, I am worried. Once it arrives in front of me, there are a variety of emotions that can occur - both good and bad. Hey test anxiety - stop with the emotional roller coaster! Here's how it goes:

1. Open-ended/ short answer - good

2. Multiple choice - Bad, very very bad. I always pick the "kind of" right answer

3. Fill in the blank - Bleh, whatever

4. Matching or T/F - Also bleh

Do you see how this goes?

It's tough, and working under a time restriction makes it even worse. I get so nervous that I won't finish on time, or I feel like all of my answers are wrong and that I have no time to fix them.

Test anxiety - you cause my exams to not be an accurate measurement of who I am as a student. Let me write you a paper any day. Just know that you cause me quite a bit of unwanted stress, and I hope you will just leave me alone.

Much love,

Emma