The oral exams generated anguish in me. Being in the presence, face to face, with the teacher and having to answer the questions without having enough time to think made me nervous. In the written exams, I had the opportunity to think over and over again the answer and change it. Although this could not be so convenient, because it has happened to me that by thinking a lot and not being very sure, I have made mistakes.
I remember I had an English teacher who recommended that when we took a test with a selection of true and false questions, we should answer the first thing that came to our mind, which in 90% of the cases, was the right answer. Of course this was true if you had studied, because if not... your crazy mind could indicate anything.
"Mark the letter b, that's the answer"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I am, trust me".
The results of this conversation were reflected in the note posted on a list on the study hall door, where the grade of the procrastinators was marked in red ink.
To prepare for the Botany oral exam, with my friends, I went around the botanical garden trying to recognize the plants with their common and scientific names, as well as the family they belonged to. It was not very easy to do it in such a short time, but I did my best. I was a young girl who was born in a city and lived in an apartment where, apart from the plants my mother kept in vases in the backyard or in the living room window, my knowledge of plants was very limited.
The botanical garden was planted with species brought from various parts of the country and the world, it was an area full of vegetation on both sides of a river that was channeled. On the other side of the street were the classrooms and laboratories of the Faculty of Agronomy in the city of Maracay. To go from one side to the other, there were two little bridges over the canal. It was very pleasant to be in contact with the plants.
In addition to recognizing the plants, I also had to learn the characteristics of the most important families and species. I had to memorize a lot, especially the scientific names, which I am not very good at, but I studied a lot and with pleasure.
On the day of the exam, the samples of the plants that we were going to recognize were placed in a very large room where there were some long tables. We were organized in groups. Each professor was assigned a group to ask the questions, and I was assigned the strictest professor, an excellent botanist with great experience in Venezuelan flora. He was a strong personality, but at the same time jocular. I got nervous immediately, I think that at that moment my mind was clouded, I did not remember anything of what I had studied. My hands got cold, and my forehead started to get wet, my lips were dry.
It was my turn, I approached the professor. He, with his long beard and his inquisitive eyes looking at me behind his glasses, repeated my name.
"Morela"...and he lowered his head to look at the list, and then he raised it up, "where are you from Morela?"
"From Caracas professor".
"Ah, gee, and why did you decide to study agronomy?"
I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, if he did it to calm me down, he didn't succeed, on the contrary, I had the impression that he was interrogating me.
I don't remember what I answered, something like why I liked plants.
"Okay, let's see Morela", and turning around he took a sample that was on the counter. "What plant is this?, what is its scientific name and what family does it belong to?. And if you can add any details that you find interesting".
I felt a great relief, I had studied it and I remembered it. I told him what he had asked me without making a mistake.
"Very well Morela", the professor looked at me behind his glasses, with a half smile.
He showed me something that looked like a scrubbing sponge, the only thing I knew was that it was from a fruit because it had seeds, but I didn't know it, I had no idea, nothing came to my mind. But not to remain without saying anything, I answered with the first name that came to my mind.
"It's not that one, not even similar. It was difficult for you to know it because this plant that we call estropajo is used by people who live in the countryside". And with a smile he told me to go on, that I had finished my exam.
I left the room disappointed in myself. Not recognizing that plant was going to lower my grade, but I never forgot its name again. And today I use it at home, and it always reminds me of that moment when I didn't answer correctly what it was called.
Thank you for reading.This is my participation in Creative Nonfiction in The Ink Well: Prompt #26