A Night of Last-Minute Revisions
The dim glow of the lamp in Emily's room flickered softly as Maria's group gathered for their final study session before the first day of exams. The room was filled with open textbooks, scattered notes, and the soft murmur of voices as they revised the essential topics that would be tested over the coming days.
Maria sat at the edge of the bed, flipping through the pages of The Rule of St. Benedict, while Catherine, sitting on the floor with a notebook, carefully underlined key points. Kate and Emily occupied the chairs by the study table, reviewing past discussions about religious life and vocation.
Maria: (looking up from her book) "Alright, let's review one more time. Kate, can you explain the significance of vows in religious life?"
Kate blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
Kate: (thinking hard) "Okay… Vows are the foundation of a nun's commitment to God. The three main vows—poverty, chastity, and obedience—symbolize a total surrender to Christ's mission and teachings."
Maria nodded approvingly.
Maria: "Good! But don't forget to mention how each vow strengthens a nun's relationship with the Church and the community."
Emily let out a dramatic sigh.
Emily: (laughing) "Maria, do you ever take a break from teaching?"
Catherine: (grinning) "She doesn't. It's part of who she is."
Maria chuckled but remained focused.
Maria: "We only have a few hours left before our first paper. We need to ensure we're fully prepared."
Rachel, who had been scribbling notes in her journal, looked up.
Rachel: "But we've already covered everything twice. Maybe we should take a break before we start confusing ourselves."
The group glanced at the clock. To their surprise, it was already 1:30 AM.
Emily: (yawning) "Okay, that's a sign we need to stop. Otherwise, we'll end up falling asleep during the exam."
Everyone laughed as they began packing up their books.
Kate: (smiling) "I can't believe I'm saying this, but… I actually feel ready."
Maria gave her a playful nudge.
Maria: "Told you these study sessions would help."
One by one, they left Emily's room, heading to their respective dorms for whatever little rest they could get before the big day.
---
The Morning of the First Exam
The next morning, the cafeteria was filled with students nervously flipping through notes as they had their breakfast. Maria's group gathered at their usual table, their plates filled with bread, eggs, and tea, but hardly anyone was actually eating.
Catherine: (sipping her tea) "Alright, deep breaths, everyone. We've studied, and we're ready."
Emily: (poking her food with a fork) "I know, but why do I still feel like I'm forgetting something?"
Maria smiled reassuringly.
Maria: "That's just pre-exam nerves. Once you see the paper, everything will come back to you."
Kate, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly grinned.
Kate: (confidently) "For the first time, I'm actually looking forward to writing an exam."
Emily gave her a mock-surprised look.
Emily: "Who are you and what have you done with Kate?"
The table erupted in laughter, breaking the tension.
---
The Final Moments Before the Exam
As the clock ticked closer to exam time, the students made their way to the exam hall.
The corridor was filled with students whispering last-minute questions, flipping through notes, and some simply trying to stay calm.
Maria turned to her group.
Maria: "Alright, no overthinking now. Just read the questions carefully and manage your time wisely."
Rachel nodded.
Rachel: "We've got this."
A nun standing by the door signaled that it was time to enter.
Emily: (taking a deep breath) "Here we go."
With determined expressions, they stepped into the hall.
---
The Exam Begins
The exam hall was silent, except for the sound of papers being flipped and pens scratching against sheets.
Maria felt a wave of relief as she read the first question—it was exactly what they had prepared for:
Describe the role of vows in shaping a nun's spiritual journey and service to the Church.
She glanced around the room.
Catherine was calmly writing, her face serene.
Emily had her head tilted slightly, deep in thought.
Kate, to Maria's surprise, was writing confidently, not hesitating like she usually did.
Time passed quickly, and soon, the examiner announced,
Examiner: "Five minutes left."
Maria double-checked her answers, ensuring everything was neatly written.
---
The Aftermath – Relief and Joy
As soon as the papers were collected, students let out sighs of relief.
Outside the exam hall, Maria's group gathered near the courtyard, exchanging excited looks.
Emily: (grinning) "That wasn't as bad as I thought!"
Catherine: (nodding) "The questions were fair. We prepared well."
Kate looked ecstatic.
Kate: (laughing) "Guys… I actually knew every answer. I think I just wrote the best exam of my life!"
Maria beamed.
Maria: "See? Hard work pays off."
Rachel stretched her arms.
Rachel: "Now that it's over, I feel like I can breathe again."
The entire group burst into laughter, feeling an immense sense of accomplishment.
---
Looking Ahead
As they walked towards the cafeteria for lunch, Maria turned to her friends.
Maria: "One exam down. A few more to go."
Emily: (grinning) "And if we survived this one, we can survive the rest."
With renewed confidence, the group moved forward, ready to tackle whatever came next.