The chilly November air swept through the university corridors as students hurried to and from their classes. The atmosphere had shifted—final exams were approaching, and an air of nervous excitement filled the campus. Maria sat on her bed early in the morning, scrolling through her phone, waiting for the official exam schedule to be released. She was already feeling the weight of the upcoming tests, knowing that these exams would be crucial for her future.
Her phone vibrated.
University Portal: "Final Exam Schedule for Religious Studies Department (Semester Finals) has been uploaded."
Her heart skipped a beat. Without wasting a second, Maria tapped the link and scanned through the document.
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Final Exam Schedule – Theology & Religious Studies
Exam Dates: 15th November – 26th November 2024
1. 15th November – Devotion to Mary and the Saints
2. 17th November – Rosary and Marian Devotion
3. 19th November – Lives of Significant Saints
4. 21st November – Intercessory Prayers and Their Importance
5. 23rd November – Overcoming Spiritual Challenges
6. 25th November – Handling Doubts and Spiritual Dryness
7. 26th November – Coping with Worldly Distractions & Maintaining Faith During Trials
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Maria immediately took a screenshot and switched over to WhatsApp. She tapped on the study group chat, which consisted of her closest friends—Catherine, Kate, Emma, Jennifer, Emily, and Fiona.
Maria: "Girls, the exam schedule is finally out! Brace yourselves!"
It didn't take long for the responses to flood in.
Catherine: "Oh no… this looks intense."
Kate: "Seven exams in eleven days? Are they serious?"
Emma: "I feel like I just aged ten years reading this."
Jennifer: "We need a solid study plan. ASAP."
Emily: "Agreed. Cafeteria at lunchtime?"
Fiona: "Count me in. Let's strategize."
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Cafeteria – Study Group Meeting
At lunchtime, the girls gathered in the bustling cafeteria, pushing together a few tables to create space for their books and notes. Despite the usual chatter of other students around them, their focus was entirely on the upcoming exams.
Maria placed her notebook in the center of the table. "Alright, let's break this down before we panic."
Emma took a deep breath. "First off, Devotion to Mary and the Saints is our first exam. That alone has a lot of theological depth."
Catherine nodded. "Not to mention Intercessory Prayers—we have to cover the significance of seeking prayers from saints, scriptural references, and the role of faith in intercession."
Fiona looked around at the group. "We've always done well in previous semesters because we planned together. Let's divide the topics."
Maria pulled out her pen. "Good idea. Let's assign specific topics to each person. That way, we can share notes and make it easier for everyone."
Jennifer, always the organizer of the group, flipped open her planner. "How about this—"
She began writing down the assignments:
Maria & Catherine – Devotion to Mary and the Saints
Kate & Emma – Rosary and Marian Devotion
Jennifer & Emily – Lives of Significant Saints
Fiona – Intercessory Prayers and Their Importance
Emma & Jennifer – Overcoming Spiritual Challenges
Catherine & Fiona – Handling Doubts and Spiritual Dryness
Maria & Emily – Coping with Worldly Distractions & Maintaining Faith During Trials
Kate groaned, stretching her arms. "This means we're going to have to study non-stop for the next two weeks."
Emily laughed. "Come on, we're in the final semester. We can't give up now."
Maria smirked. "Exactly. We've survived this far, haven't we?"
Fiona, always the practical one, added, "We should meet in the library every evening for group study. Self-study in the mornings, and then we'll go over what we learned together in the evening."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "What about mock quizzes? Should we test each other a few days before the exams?"
Catherine clapped her hands together. "Yes! We'll make our own questions and do a full revision before each exam."
Jennifer scribbled everything down in her planner. "Alright, it's settled. Study sessions every evening, note-sharing in the group chat, and a review session before each test."
Kate sighed dramatically. "Great. I'll have to cancel my Netflix nights for this."
Emily nudged her. "Oh please, you weren't going to watch anything anyway."
The group burst into laughter, the tension easing slightly. Though the road ahead was daunting, they knew they had each other's support. With a solid plan in place and their determination unwavering, they were ready to tackle the final challenge of their academic journey.