I’ve always needed my wristwatch if I really wanted to manage my time, but I learned the hard way in the university. 

I was on the third line of the queue into the examination hall. Already, my heart was beating fast as I fell among those who will do two papers in that examination. 

*All of you should keep your wristwatches inside your bags. Do not bring them into the hall,* Mr Clement, the exam invigilator with the baritone voice yelled. 

*Sir, I don’t have a smartwatch. I have an analog watch and I’m writing two courses. A failed course and my regular one,* I said to him. No one dares talk back at Mr Clement but I had to speak from myself. 
In that minute, so many people stared at me to know who I was. Also, they gazed at Mr Clement to know what he was going to do to me. Maybe, he wouldn’t let me in the hall. 

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[Image](https://unsplash.com/photos/group-of-people-on-stairs-under-clear-white-sky-n0CTq0rroso)

*I said what I said. No one should bring any wristwatch into this hall,* I gave up on hope. 

Right there, I regretted ever failing Mrs Chukwu’s course. I should have taken it seriously from the onset. 

I entered the hall and sat at the middle. The two courses I’m having were bulky. The failed course was a literature course I failed the previous year and it’s clashing with my regular course. If I didn’t fail the course, I wouldn’t have to write two papers. 

I folded my hands and pleaded with my friends to teach me and not ignore me whenever I ask them any question. I had my two close friends next to me and when the examiners got in, they changed our seats. Then, I started getting more scared. If care isn’t taken, I’ll fail the course again and this time, it may be the two courses. 

*Lady, go to the front,* I was angry here. I wondered why the man told me to go to the front. 
Immediately, Mr Clement got in and said, *your exam starts now.*

I hadn’t even gotten my question paper yet. I started raising my hands with some other people to indicate that we’ve not gotten our question papers. I think Mr Clement just wanted to be wicked but I wasn’t shocked, that’s his normal lifestyle. 

Right after I got my question paper, I read them one by one but while reading, it felt like the answers were leaving my brain. I was blank for some minutes. I looked to my left and right but couldn’t find any of my friends nor course mates. 

I rested my brain for some minutes and started answering the questions. I tried my best to be calm while answering the questions. I knew I had two papers but wanted to take my time. 

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[Image](https://unsplash.com/photos/person-in-orange-long-sleeve-shirt-writing-on-white-paper-doplSDELX7E)

Out of five questions, I was done with four when I heard the baritone voice again. 

*You people have thirty minutes more,* then, the real race began. How do I write a paper and a half in thirty minutes?. The mission felt impossible. 

Also, I’m the type who never wants to leave a page blank or a question not answered but I did the impossible. Immediately, I rushed to the front table where the examiner was sitting. 

*Are you done? Go back, my friend!* he yelled at me. At first, I turned my back and started crying but I remembered that there was a course I needed to do. 

*Please sir, I failed a course last year and I want to do the little I can within the thirty minutes left,* I said to him. 

Lecturers can be so annoying. He looked at me with disdain. I didn’t mind. I just wanted the papers. Intentionally, he wasted five minutes of my time but I didn’t mind as well. There’s a timeframe and I just had to meet up. 

I got the question papers and answer sheets. The questions were difficult. Even difficult than that of the previous years. 

*Look here and write fast,* a guy said to me. 

I watched closely the exam invigilators. Their eyes were not on me. I didn’t even know the guy but I knew we would talk about it later. 
He opened down his answer sheet and I wrote almost exactly all that he wrote. 

I was about writing the last answer when the baritone voice interrupted again. 

*Pens up! If you jot anything down again, I won’t collect your script,* I didn’t even argue. If he doesn’t collect my script, it’s an extra year for me at the university.

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[Image](https://unsplash.com/photos/white-and-black-pencil-beside-white-paper-FrzGKG2Yvpw)

I submitted and went outside the hall with the guy who helped me. I thanked him casually for the help. 

Then, when the results were released, I had to thank him more. I had an A in the course and for the second course, I had a B. 
I didn’t know how I was able to manage my time but all thanks to the man with the baritone voice for letting us know how many minutes we had left.