Week 3 Story: The Final Exam
The leaves on the trees had began to fall, the wind began to feel like daggers piercing the skin, and most important of all, the final exams approached.
It was nearing the end of the Fall semester at The University of Oklahoma. Not a student was in sight, as many were nestled away in their dorms from the outside cold preparing for the final exams. Winter break was right around the corner! They had sailed their journey for as long as they could remember, and soon they would reap the fruits of their labor: no homework, no studying, and even Christmas!
But one thing stood in their way from all this happiness: final exams. Thus, the students began relentlessly studying. Although they were so close to being free, they needed to go out with a bang, which was a spot on the President's honor roll; and so they studied.
Everyone was in it together. Close friends helped one another. People made new friends and study-buddies and doubled up on their methods of studying. It was one for all, and all for one; everyone was on each other's team.
The days passed both slowly and quickly, something one can only understand if they have undergone this stressful studying period. But, eventually, the day was here.
The students, one by one, entered the cave of the final exams. They kept one thing in mind: they were nearly free!
The brave entered and began first, while the others stood back and waited to build the courage. Time passed slower than it ever had. Every question was meticulously answered with extreme precision and thought.
Yet, some students were unsuccessful. While others escaped and made their way home with smiles on their face with their gleaming report cards, the others felt like prisoners, still at school and unable to enjoy their break without their spots on the President's list.
Regardless of the results, they knew that the beast - the final exams - had been defeated. And now, it was their next steps in their journeys.
--- Author's Note ---
This idea seemed a lot better in my head before it came onto paper, but I feel like that is the entire point of writing sometimes! My story may seen nonsensical, but it is a rendition of The Odyssey, when Odysseus and his men reach the land of the Cyclops. Instead of using an actual character in the place of the Cyclops, I swapped the concept with the "final exams," where the "men," or students, had to overcome this great feat to return home (Winter break) which was actually Ithaca for Odysseus and his men. I attempted to make the concepts similar in that, just like how Odysseus and his men found the island to be beautiful at first, but eventually were faced with the cyclops, I had the students act gleeful to finish, but still worried to get the exams over with. Some escaped, and others remained prisoners. But, for both, it was all one journey to return to home.
Kline, Tony. The Odyssey. Source.
Hi Z,
ReplyDeleteI think your story was great! I think it turned out great on paper and is very unique, I’m not sure I would have ever thought about it that way. You did a great job of setting up the scene and atmosphere. I almost felt like I myself was right in the middle of deadweek/finals studying with friends and classmates awaiting the dreaded finals. I like the way you mention at the end the way in which some students were now free and did well while others still could not enjoy their break for not doing well.
What's up Z!
ReplyDeleteI thought you nailed every single college students inner thoughts perfectly. We are all just fighting to get to the next break, but those pesky exams get in the way. You went into great detail and wrote the story so well. You made me a little nervous because we will all be in that predicament soon enough once again. Great job!
Best,
Payton