According to Jordan Cooper: “If you’re over 65 and can still remember these 12 life events, your mind is in remarkable shape.”
We have tackled the 7 life events in previous posts. We are now in #8: A TEST OR CREDENTIAL THAT MATTERED
“Exam room, pencil type, the question you wrestled the longest. High-stakes tests glue themselves to memory because your arousal system tells your brain, ‘Keep this.’ If you recall the proctor’s shoes, the clock’s tick, and the relief in your chest as you walked out, your recall system is precise and well-indexed. I’ve mentioned this before but accuracy under stress is a classic marker of cognitive fitness.”
Back in 1975, the graduating high school students had to pass the National College Entrance Exams (NCEE) to be accepted in College.
There I was, seated beside the window, nurturing the wind blowing my hair like I was in a shampoo commercial. While trying to fix my hair as gorgeous models normally do, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew my test paper away! It flew out of the window and landed on the roof near our room.
My first impulse was to go after it but the proctor directed me to ask for help from a UE staff. I dashed from the third floor to the ground floor and looked for the janitor on duty. After searching for ages, Manong ran with me upstairs and stepped out to the roof to retrieve my test paper. We both saw my test paper dancing in the air and landing on the roof of the adjacent building. I could not just stand there and watch my test paper disappear from my sight so I hurriedly joined Manong as we chased after my test paper together!
At that instance, how I wished I was just having a bad dream. I could feel my heart pumping as if an elephant was stomping its feet on it. I almost peed on my cycling shorts! My hands were trembling like I was having a tremor attack. Even my legs were shaking. Then I cried out with all my might “Lord, please stop the wind and let me have my test paper back and let me finish the Exam on time!” Before I could even finish my prayer, there was calmness in the air. I swear I heard His voice “have faith.”
It felt like I was in a trance when I walked back in the room holding my runaway test paper. I breathed deeply then hastily answered the NCEE questions with my Mongol pencil #2. I started with Abstract Reasoning, proceeded to Mathematics, then English and lastly, Science—my waterloo. Through all these I was reading the questions as fast as I could. And since I knew I won’t have time to review my answers, I did not leave any number blank. When we finally heard the proctor’s Alarm signifying the end of the Exam, I almost collapsed on the floor totally exhausted to the bone.
Back at the dorm, my roommates almost died laughing after hearing my surreal story!
To be continued . . .
