Bopha sat at her desk, staring at the mountain of notes in front of her. The BACII exam was only a few days away, and her heart raced just thinking about it. No matter how much she studied, there was always that nagging feeling in the back of her mind: “What if I fail?” Every time she thought about the exam hall, the proctors, and the weight of the questions, a wave of anxiety washed over her, making it hard to breathe.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t prepared. Bopha had worked tirelessly for months. She had stayed up late, woken up early, and pushed herself to the limit. But the pressure seemed too much. The fear of letting down her family, her teachers, and herself clung to her like a shadow. Her hands shook, her stomach churned, and no amount of practice questions seemed to calm her racing heart.
The night before the exam, Bopha felt the anxiety hit her harder than ever. She knew she had to sleep, but how could she? Thoughts swirled in her mind, and tears welled up in her eyes. In that moment of weakness, she grabbed her phone and scrolled through photos of her time at Rodwell. The countless hours spent studying suddenly didn’t matter as much as the faces staring back at her through the screen.
There was the photo of her and her best friend during the Rodwell Gala, both of them laughing as they twirled in their dresses. Then there was the picture of her teachers giving her a thumbs up after a tough class work. She smiled as she remembered the inside jokes shared with her classmates and the endless discussions during lunch breaks about their futures. And, of course, there was the Kben Party—the memory of everyone dressed in their traditional outfits, celebrating together with dance and food, feeling like they were part of something bigger than themselves. Lastly, she just scrolled through her latest Farewell photos with her friends, and their smiles bring nothing but comfort.
As she swiped through the photos, something shifted inside her. She felt an overwhelming warmth. The anxiety that had been tightening her chest started to loosen. It wasn’t about the exam anymore; it was about the journey that brought her here.
Rodwell had become her home—a place where she grew, learned, and formed connections that would last a lifetime. She realized that the love, support, and memories she made there were far more important than any test score. The teachers, her friends, and every experience had already shaped her into someone strong and capable. The exam couldn’t take that away from her.
She closed her eyes and let those memories fill her heart. The sound of her friends laughing in the lobby, the encouragement from her teachers, the pride of completing her final project—all of it reminded her that she wasn’t alone. She wasn’t just facing this exam as Bopha; she was carrying the strength and love of everyone who had supported her throughout the years.
When the morning of the exam came, Bopha felt nervous, but this time, it was different. She took a deep breath and pictured the faces of her friends, teachers, and family, all rooting for her. As she walked into the exam hall, she whispered to herself, “I’ve already come so far. I’ve already won.”
The exam wasn’t easy, but whenever doubt started creeping in, she closed her eyes and thought about the laughter, the hugs, and the endless encouragement she had received. Those thoughts gave her the strength to push through.
And when she walked out of the exam hall, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. It didn’t matter anymore what the results would be because she knew that no exam could measure the person she had become. She had faced her fear and found peace in the memories of the people she loved and the experiences that had shaped her.
For the rest of her life, Bopha would remember this moment—not the exam questions or the proctors—but the realization that she was stronger than she ever imagined. She had overcome her anxiety by trusting in herself and the love that surrounded her.
By Rodwell