As you know, it's been a WHILE since I've posted. Lots of things have passed in these past 4 months and summer has come and, officially (as of today), gone. It's quite unbelievable...and so very sad. I love the summer so much for so many reasons...sunshine, beach, blue skies, warmth, beach, cookouts, long days, vacations, beach...
This summer, however, was sort of a different story; not quite the sun-shiney, happy summer season. My Master's Comprehensive Exam was scheduled for the end of August this summer. My BIG test on pretty much anything I've learned in the classes that I've taken during the past 2 years of studying at ODU. Yes, scary. Very. Scary. Studying was certainly not the most fun thing to do during the summer... I had a very hard time focusing early in the summer with the small amount of time I had while I was teaching in the Anatomy & Physiology exam in May & June. July was then filled with our annual beach trip, out of town visitors, having a little fun, and attempting to re-focus my efforts in studying. July flew by and I instantly and majorly felt the pressure for effective, quality studying to prepare at the beginning of August.
August was filled with library and coffee shop visits, freaking out, hours and hours of reading, thinking of the possible outcomes of my exam, reviewing potential exam material, more studying, becoming overwhelmed, and reading the Bible and praying fervently to the God who created all of the intricacies of the human body that I was studying. (Do you know how amazing kidney and cardiac physiology are? I know that are so very amazing and that only a Divine Creator could ever dream of and form such functional and purposeful, complex cells, tissues, organs, organ systems along with their the perfect coordination to allow us to function as we do. Amazing, I tell you.) :) Not only is he Creator, but He is my Comforter and my Friend, too. Reminding myself and being reminded that He cares for us always and in everything is a truth that carried me through my anxious thoughts and through my exam.
This was certainly one of the most challenging obstacles of my life emotionally, physically, academically, spiritually. I cried (...and cried and cried), I became tired of and from crying and mentally focusing for such long periods of time, I prayed, cried some more, read and prayed again. For some reason, I'm not super (*understatement) at coping with stress or with overwhelming situations and as a result...I cry. I think this very undesired emotional response was amplified exponentially by my anxiety: the unexpected and infinite possibilities questions my professors could ask me, the uncertainty of my focusing/studying the right material, longing for the test to be over, on top of the magnitude my performance had on the entire exam and therefore finishing the MS degree I had started all played into my thoughts. It seemed there wasn't a single moment that passed where I wasn't worrying, studying, or praying in August.
All I can really say is how thankful I am for my God and His placing such encouraging people, mentors, friends, and family during this entire process. I've never read and prayed his Word more specifically or as often as I had during this month and have come to realize how important this way of praying is. I am so very thankful to our Creator for providing exactly what I needed throughout my studying, in my growth and dependence on Him, and especially for His provision during my exam.
I praise God that this part of my life is over with and that my professors were gracious enough to grant me passing grades on all of the sections of my comprehensive exam! With the successful completion of this exam, hopefully I will be finishing my degree either this December or in May; I'm just waiting on credits and paper work to be approved by the University.
Thank you to all of you who encouraged, listened, and prayed to help me through this. <3
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