Janus Speaks

Learning from experiences....

A little apprehension was justifiable. After all, I was giving an exam after a gap of 30 months. And it was not ‘an’ exam but 8 of them. My first semester at FMS has come to an end. Now is the time when professors want to test that how successful they have been in delivering their content. It is said that a professor seeks the reflection of his teachings in his students. I guess that is what the exams are meant for: To check the effectiveness of the content delivery by the professors. And yes, there were some who were trying to burden themselves by thinking that exams are a means to test their abilities. Who says ignorance is bliss?

I was worried that I should not let my professors down. Hence there was an itch to perform well in the exams. Performing well is not a relative term for me. Performing well simply implies to be able to complete the paper within the stipulated time with legible hand writing. The stress was inevitable as my fingers now work faster on keyboard than on paper with pen. I was all set for challenge with the best writing pens, a pencil, a sharpener and an eraser ready. Now came some operational issues like preparing for courses to be able to use the ‘equipments’ I had bought.

For Management Accounting, Managerial Economics and Quantitative Methods I was well prepared. But rest were still an enigma to me. First four papers went relatively well. Then what followed was nothing less than a blood bath. Fifth one Marketing Management had me psyched out. More than half of the chapters were not fortunate enough to be critically analyzed by me. Not my problem though. As per the expectancy theory there were no goals to be achieved and hence the performance was low too.

Mine having a 2 year work experience in IT company does not necessarily translate into myself having a good grasp on my next exam of IT Management. More flustering was the thought that the course covered in classroom contact sessions was not sufficient to make even a 50 marks paper. I went into the examination hall with an ‘open’ mind and my IT work-ex to back me in case of emergency.

Global Seth is what we call our next paper. I still do not know the full name of the course which we studied. The paper was supposed to come from his book. A day before the exam I realized that I did not have his book. His class notes were in too shabby condition because of my lack of concentration (rather distractions that I have) in the class. Then came this sweet ‘little’ friend of mine to my rescue (hint is in the sentence itself). At the 11th hour of the night before the exam I got the summary of three chapters over phone. I made my ‘class notes’ then and there. Next morning, 15 minutes before the exam, got a ‘great summary’ of the course by another intelligent, diligent and hard working friend of mine (hint: from IIT). The paper went smoothly. Special thanks to the two angels sent by god to bail the professor out (remember, exams are a test of professor’s teaching capabilities).

Final paper on interpersonal skills was prepared for with due diligence and prudence by me. I was on Orkut whole of the day before the exam, honing my interpersonal skills! But alas, nothing of that sort came in exam. Again came to my rescue the ‘great summary’ provided by the same friend 15 minutes before the start of the exam. But let me assure you that 30 minutes before the start of the exam are the most taxing moments when people are discussing their exploits. You are like Alice in wonderland, all lost!

But the trouble has been worth it. I have learnt my lessons. Next semester end I will be more prudent in my preparation. I now know that the exams can be passed by taking class notes one night before exam and the ‘great summary’ some moments before. Next semester I am not going to waste any money on books or time on class notes. I do hope that my sweet ‘little’ friend and the genius friend from IIT do not read this blog. Or else they mail feel that I am taking advantage of them. They would be better off thinking that ‘A friend in need is a friend in deed!’

posted by Janus @ 7:36 AM