Towels are for sweat...

...not forfeiting.
Today actually started pretty badly. I chose a very unhealthy breakfast that sent me in jitters for the entirety of my AP Gov exam. A couple things regarding this test:

It might just be my distaste for inexperience among my peers, but I am mildly disgusted by the cram sessions bustling around me. I thought that taking almost 10 practice tests with the class would teach people what kind of questions would appear on the test. Those questions are practically buried under boulders in review books, and certainly aren't attainable in the textbook. The same questions appear on the exam every year. Is it really that hard to study for something like this? I guess I shouldn't complain. I probably got a 4.

But I do think it's silly to pull all-nighters before tests. I understand that this can work for relatively short tests, like a 30 minute biology quiz or 50 minute physics test, but I don't believe that a deficit of 8 hours of sleep is going to help someone pull through a 3 hour exam that covers a semester's worth of information. But I still shouldn't complain. I need the curve.

As I finished my free response section, I began to feel myself become very happy. I had predicted 3/4 free response questions. I answered all of them, probably lost a couple points here and there due to some ambiguous sass, but was immensely satisfied with my work. It took all of half an hour in the past week to study for this test. And so I began to unfoil my brilliant plan.

Under my first free response question, I wrote: "Grading free response must be a dull task. To show my appreciation for your time and commitment, I have included (below) a list of my favorite puns. I hope that you will derive some liberating pleasure from these epigrams. Life is about the small things. And God. But also small things."
1. I tried to catch some fog, but I mist.
2. 2n+2n is 4n to me.
3. Lady Gaga giggles when you poke her face.
4. The geometer went to the beach and came back a tan gent.
5. Taking attendance is an absent-minded task.
6. Broken pencils are pointless.
7. I lost an electron, I'm positive.
8. When chemists die, we barium.
9. When a clock gets hungry, it goes back four seconds.
10. I was wondering when the sun would rise; then it dawned me.

Under my second free response question: "The entertainment continues! I don't want to offend you, but I feel obligated to include a couple Bible verses that have helped me this past year:
"If our God is for us, who then can be against us?" Romans 8:31
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesions 5 something. (This is one of my favorites. We all sleep too much.)
"There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
God is so good!

Under my third free response question: "Since you are grading an AP Government exam, I assume that you are not as inclined toward the art of mathematics. However, it is my belief that everyone should have the opportunity to be exposed to the beauty of numbers. For this reason, I have provided a comprehensive proof of the law of sines." From here I proceeded to label and diagram and algebraically derive the law of sines, although I didn't have enough time (or wit) to prove that a/sin(a) = 2R. It is to my regret.

Under my fourth response question: "The grading is over! Thank you very much for investing your efforts in making my future better. I am sure that if you have students, they are just as appreciative of your energies. If you are still reading this, I am happy that this exam has fallen into the right hands. I would like to leave you with one last thought, said eloquently by Apostle Paul in Romans 8:38-39.
"I think that nor angels nor rulers, nor heights nor depth, nor anything else in this world, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord."
That was paraphrased, because I only have 3 minutes left and I don't remember it. It was wonderful writing to you. Adieu.

*end note. So, now, before you accuse me of stealing my test booklet (I mean, how else could I have memorized such long and witty passages?), know that sometimes, when I care, I remember things REALLY WELL. As is the case here. Especially since I wrote it so passionately.

That was my adventure for the day. I also ran 5 miles in this great 80 degree weather, stretched, and did push-ups. I can only hope that the night will treat me well also.