The answer, or why I associate headaches with exams

littlemissattitude · 11-15-2005, 02:02 AM

I posted over in word assoication the word "headache" in response to "exam", and said there was a story behind it. There is, and here it is:

When I was taking classes at community college, I had an instructor who would allow a "cheat card" for exams. He was one of my mentors actually, and my favorite teacher I have ever had for I took physical anthropology from him, and psychphysiology, and a cultural anthropology class on the California Indians. In fact he encouraged the cheat cards, and would give hell to anyone who didn't make one. That cheat card couldn't be any larger than 3 inches by 5 inches, but each student was allowed to write as much on both sides of that card as they could get to fit. Well, being determined to do well in my course work, I would prepare a cheat card for each exam with special care. I had fine-lined pens in blue, black, and red, and I would write as small as I could and color-code the information so that I could find things more easily on the card. I can write very small and I got a lot of information on those cards, but then I had to read that small writing, and I'd always end up with a headache by the end of every one of his exams. Which is why, to me, exam = headache.

Fortunately, the very act of preparing the cards was a good study aid (which was the instructor's whole point anyway), so that I didn't have to use the cheat cards that much, and I did very well in his classes, despite the fact that his exams were quite difficult. But he would always tease me about the cards, because I wrote so small. The first time he saw one of my cheat cards, he picked it up and looked over both sides of it and asked me if I could really read anything on it. I just smiled sweetly and said, "Sure. Can't you?" :biggrin:

Leto · 11-15-2005, 09:09 AM

Excellent ! True, making "cheat card" is a good way to mesmorize your studies. I always did them to prepare my exams (and retyped all my courses on a writing machine, then a computer) and... sold them to ones lazier than me.

You're lucky LMA to have had such studies as they seems very interesting. I wish I had more time to take back some uni course (maybe asian or arabian language or philosophy).

To me, exams are associated to upset stomach due to the sheer amount of caffeine I drank to stay awake studying. Strangely, although I smoke since I'm 16, I've never been able to smoke while preparing an exam.

Princess Ivy · 11-15-2005, 12:12 PM

yeah, i'm finding similar with the way the ou encourages you to study. i wish they'd shown that in school!

Alexa · 11-16-2005, 01:24 AM

I wish I had such of instructor ! :biggrin:

Alexa · 11-28-2005, 09:27 PM

I really had a headache after my last exam even if I had had the notes available

Believe me, whenever they allow you the books or notes for the exam, don't expect an easy exam. *sigh*

Leto · 11-29-2005, 09:09 AM

True, in some law exams, they authorised us to keep our regulation books, and it was even worse as we lost time checking for the right article then reading how courts interpreted it.

Good luck with your exams.

Alexa · 11-29-2005, 12:25 PM

The worse part was the profs didn't explain well their subject, but they prepared tough questions. So, even if you knew where exactly to look into the notes, no answer could be done with them.

Thanks, I really need for the last one.