25th of May 2011, the day I will hardly forget for the rest of my life. The day when I was really stressed out to the extent where I thought I would not perform at all at the practical exam (Only 3 Questions asked). For the exam, I prepared for weeks, understood every step and made the most use most of consultation timings, the professor had put for the practical exam.
All these was on one side.. But, after i made the most of the consultation hours, the biggest test, for me I reckon was to make my best buddy Danny Stog understand the concept of the sums. I made him taught the sums to him step by step word by word, told him why it is done in a particular manner and showed him the tricks for the same....
Before I continue any further I want to confess that I am NOT a mathematics student. I did mathematics up to Standard 10th which is known as SSC (Secondary School Certificate) in Mumbai. I took commerce and picked the option of doing Organisation of Commerce and Secretarial Practice. Then, I continued in commerce field by pursuing my under-grads in Bachelor of Commerce Specialising in Banking and Insurance. And in the meanwhile I had lost all my knowledge of mathematics as accounting for banking and finance was the core focus.
Coming back to today I am a student of Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. The field in which I am (Masters specialising in Banking and Finance) there is a subject which is compulsory called Quantitative Methods of Business which is purely mathematics. Moving ahead....
After I made him understand the practical sums and the steps he was still in a bit of confusion. I solved his doubts, but in solving his doubts I ended up having the same doubts. Me and Danny sat almost everyday doing the practical sums, on the other hand I was starting to get nervous about the exam as I was practicing the sums again and again and again. I was praying that during the exam I should not forget the steps. We reached the university (POST-GRAD LAB) at 12.30pm odd and did the sample questions together setting the time limit as an exam paper. Let me tell you I was nervous for that as well. My hands were cold, I was staring at the screen for 3 mins thinking what to do and where to proceed from. I "regained" my senses and started with the last sum as it is the fastest and consumes very little time. I made a mistake. ooohhhh this is bad. I practiced for weeks, I made the maximum use of consultation timings, made my buddy understand the sum and I myself made a mistake. I continued...
Checked the sum again looked for the "negative" sings made the corrections and proceeded with the next sum... Then I did the first sum which was very simple. I came to know about a shortcut at that moment of the practice, exam like test and completed it no time.. The sum I did last was Question Number 2 which was involving a use of a formula called "Solver". I completed that sum fast as well, basically because I had practiced the same sum again n again n again. After the completion of all the sums I checked the time, the remaining time was about 25 minutes, so I checked the solutions again. I was sure of first two sums but the last sum I was not sure although the main final answer was fine, the 1step i felt was wrong. I did it again and found the answer was right. Happiness was glowing on my face.
After the practice test was over I checked the answers with my best mate Danny, we were relaxing. There were two people who approached us and were asking us doubts about the solver and matrix. I was scared again because I was wondering they are coming to me and asking doubts and hoped that after I teach them I should not forget. I explained every step and made sure they understand. At 2.45pm my best friend started for giving his exam which was starting at 3pm. I wished him all the best and hoped that we would do the best in the paper.. Eagerly waiting for his paper to finish I was sitting there nervously and also making the other people understand how the solver has to be done. At 4.15pm he came back where we sat originally and told me he had an awesome paper (and got a blue colour paper) but the solver question was tricky as it was in word format and not in table format, so he had to draw the table so that he can put those values in excel and solve it using solver. I was surprised to see it. I asked him what type of sum had come and all he said was it was similar to the question of the practice paper but only the last one was different. and in matrix question (the last question) the variables were in this form -> X1, X2, X3, X4 while in the practice question we were given only 3 variables x, y and z.
I was fine with that, but, the nervousness was increasing. I was at the same time not able to be awake as I had slept for only 4 hrs odd. I purchased an energy drink called "Mother" and was having that. At 4.30pm I was in a position where I could not study and ended up watching Britain's got talent 2010 semi finals and the group performing was "Twist and Pulse". I was relaxed after watching that video. At, 5pm we went for the tute and told the professor that we had not done any sums because of the exam and also that the sums are to much and tough. This my friends is the DERIVATIVES.. the TERROR of Mathematics subject. I was not understanding a single bit of it. All I told myself was the procedure in which the sums have to be done is the ONLY WAY to do it, so mug it up. the tute got over at 6pm and we (myself, Danny and a another girl who attended the tute with us and (also asked me doubt about the solver)) started walking towards the lecture. We went to canteen first as hunger was just saying that damn the lecture eat first. hahaha yeah so we decided to eat first. Then, as we walked up to the lecture I and the girl said we are in no position to go to the lecture and Danny joined us. We three were hanging outside the lecture chit chatting and passing our time. the lecture got over at 8pm. The professor came outside and asked me if want to use the consultation, I said yes and proceeded with her about the doubts I had in Derivatives and differentiation n crap hahaha.
Later, I was waiting for the exam moment to come but the wait was also nervous. I was dead scared to give the paper. I was getting exhausted from inside. Me and the girl walked towards the exam hall. I was cold, my hands shivering and I could feel my ribs shaking inside the body. AS I SAID I AM NOT A MATHEMATICS STUDENT THE NERVOUSNESS WAS VALID..
As I sat in the hall I saw I forgot my wallet which had my ID card. I ran up to get it from my friend (I gave him my bag and my id was in it) and came down. The first sign of nervousness.. I took deep breath and said to myself, "take it easy all will be fine, even if you don't make it, its fine and this not the end anyways." I relaxed saying this, Although some of you may find it negative but these were the words exactly I said to myself. I always believe in those words, as it gives me the courage to things in relaxed manner and not worrying about the results at all and when I am relaxed I am sure I will not do any mistake. Continuing back I sat and the paper I got was in pink colour. (there were three colours Pink, Blue and Green) I got the Pink one. I read the question paper and waited for the time to start. The professor came for another round to check all have different paper. But, the row in which I was sitting (4 people were siting in one row) there was a girl sitting next to me and another next to her and then a guy at the corner. The two girls had blue and I had pink. As the professor saw this she started to change the paper and I said that I can have the paper she (girl sitting next to me) is having and she can have mine. Saying this, the professor did the same thing and I got a paper of different colour.
Since, it was time I didn't read the question paper but directly started with the last sum (matrix sum). As i read that question I remembered what Danny said, the question has the variable as X1,2,3,4. Only then I saw the colour of the paper which was blue. I was extremely happy. I did the sum perfectly without any mistake and proceeded with the first sum. I applied the same shortcut that I had done during the demo exam I had using the practice questions. I got the answer right. Now, the big one SOLVER. I must say it was very confusing and tricky..... I took 10 mins to understand the sum and draw the table so that I can insert the values correctly in excel. I did that and proceeded with the sub questions of the same. After, I completed the solver questions I checked the answer I have written on the paper seeing the answer in excel for solver, matrix and the 1st sum. I came out of the exam hall in 28 minutes FLAT. I called my friend Danny, he was shocked to see my call and he asked me what happened. I replied, nothing man the exam is done and I am ready to get picked up by you. (he was picking me up in his car). he said ok see ya in 3 minutes. I ran to the destination from where he picked me up.
This is because I had my job at 9.45pm but due to exam I called the manager at the work that morning and said, "I will be running late due to my exam and will be there at work at 10.45pm max for sure". So I had to run. I sat in the car and Danny asked me what happened and why I am out so fast. I replied, "I finished my paper because I had the same paper as yours and did everything right". He, was very happy listening this and we started playing songs and played it LOUD and in happiness he was just HONKING half the way.. hahaha, lucky we didn't get any abusive words, :P hehehe but, I would have done the same as what Danny did. I reached my work at 10.25pm sharp and started my work at 10.27pm. Yes he drove fast. We were happy for two things. Firstly, we both performed excellent in the test and secondly, we had the same paper... The joy was immense the relief was awesome........ I yelled out of the window and so did he. We enjoyed the drive and all because our efforts paid us and paid us well...
But, later that night I got a call from my friend Danny which I saw at NIGHT 1.20am (i.e. 26th may Morning 1.20am). I was scared in real sense as to what had happened? Did we do a sum wrong or something... I called him the next day in the morning at 11.30am and asked him. and he said to me that HE FORGOT TO WRITE HIS NAME AND STUDENT NUMBER ON THE PAPER... I was shocked, damn this is bad, oh god what happened here??? I was very scared for him.. I think this is why he is my best friend and this is what best-friends do.. They cry for each other, be happy for each other, and are supportive too. Coming back to the incident, after he said about the problem I was panicked but was sharp as always. I said to him to mail the professor and tell her what has happened and also in the email to include his full name and Student ID Number. He said, "yes, I have done that and is waiting for her (the Professor's) reply". I was back to normal. Later, on he called me and said that he got a reply from the prof. saying she has taken care of the paper and that his paper was the only one without the name; and since he had replied her at night she saw the mail in the morning and rectified the problem. She wrote his name on the paper. Ufff......, what a day of adventure it was..... truly an amazing adventure with thrills, lots of excitement.... In all, a package of entertainment..
I will never forget this day as this is my city moment of success over mathematics..... and finally all thanks to Danny (not about the same paper) had it not been for him my confidence would never be present in the first place. He has shown me that I can go hard on mathematics and score well although I am not a mathematics student. Thnx a lot Danny bro for being there and also thanks for waiting for me till the exam got over and dropping me at my work place.. :)
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