The morning sun cast a golden hue over the academy as students hurried toward the exam hall, their faces reflecting the nervous tension that filled the air. Some were flipping through notes for last-minute revisions, while others whispered prayers under their breath.
However, amidst the anxiety, Maria's group walked into the hall with calm confidence. Their late-night study sessions, pre-exam practices, and group discussions had prepared them well. While others were fidgeting, they simply exchanged knowing glances, reassured that they had done their best to prepare.
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Inside the Exam Hall
As they settled into their seats, Maria glanced at the clock—9:55 AM. The exam was set to begin at 10:00 AM and would last for two hours.
A soft murmur spread across the hall as the invigilator, Sister Margaret, walked in, carrying a stack of question papers. She placed them on the desk, adjusted her glasses, and spoke in her usual firm yet kind voice.
"Good morning, students. Before we begin, I remind you that this is a formal examination. No talking, no looking around, and no extra time will be given. You may begin as soon as you receive your paper. Best of luck."
The sound of rustling paper filled the room as the students flipped their sheets and began writing.
Maria scanned the questions on the "Devotion to Mary and the Saints" paper. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips—she had expected most of these topics. Without wasting a moment, she picked up her pen and started answering.
Around her, her friends were equally focused. Catherine was writing with intense concentration, her brows furrowed. Emma was deep in thought, her pen hovering over her paper. Kate, as usual, scribbled quickly, finishing her multiple-choice section in record time. Jennifer, Emily, and Fiona paced themselves, ensuring their answers were well-structured.
As time passed, Maria noticed that she was moving swiftly through the paper. By 11:30 AM, she had completed her last answer, carefully reviewed her work, and set down her pen. She glanced around and saw that Kate and Catherine had also finished early.
At 11:45 AM, Maria stood up and quietly submitted her paper. She was among the first to leave the hall, followed closely by Catherine and Kate. One by one, their entire group finished before the deadline.
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Post-Exam Gathering in the Cafeteria
By 12:30 PM, the cafeteria was buzzing with students discussing the exam. Some looked relieved, others frustrated. Maria's group, however, had no signs of stress. They occupied their usual corner table, their trays filled with sandwiches, fries, and steaming cups of coffee.
Jennifer leaned back in her chair. "Well, that was easier than I expected."
Kate smirked. "Told you Maria's pre-exam would prepare us. It was even harder than the actual paper."
Emily stirred her coffee. "I think the essay on Marian devotion was the trickiest part. What did you guys write for it?"
Catherine sipped her drink before answering. "I focused on how the Rosary strengthens faith and serves as a meditative practice."
Fiona nodded. "Same here. I also included examples of how different saints encouraged devotion to Mary."
Emma exhaled. "Okay, so I'm not the only one who wrote that. I thought I was repeating the same ideas too much."
Maria smiled, listening to the discussion. "You guys did great. What's important is that we answered confidently."
Kate grinned. "And now we focus on the next paper. What's up next?"
Jennifer pulled out her schedule. "Overcoming Spiritual Challenges."
Emily groaned. "Oh no, the one with the long case studies?"
Fiona chuckled. "Yes. But at least we know how to handle it. We've already discussed coping with doubts, worldly distractions, and maintaining faith during trials."
Catherine clapped her hands. "Alright, let's strategize. Since we're already here, let's plan how we'll study tonight."
Maria leaned forward. "I say we review key points from our notes, then test each other with questions. No heavy reading. We've already covered most of it."
Everyone agreed.
Kate raised her coffee cup. "To one exam down and another to go!"
The others laughed and raised their cups, clinking them together in celebration. Despite the challenges ahead, they knew they had each other—and that was enough to keep them going.