My Exam Experience with African Culture and Societies

Hello Steemit family and my beloved people of Nigeria
I’m so excited to share a little piece of my academic journey with you all. This second semester has truly been God’s doing. Even the most difficult courses that seemed impossible, He made them easy for me. Yes, as students we must read, study, brainstorm, and practice, but above all, we must ask God for His mercy because success is never by strength alone.

I have written 5 out of my 7 courses this semester, and I can boldly say it has been a success. But today, let me share the story of my fifth exam, one I will never forget.

The title alone should tell you it was no joke. Imagine studying the cultures of all African countries, including countless ethnic groups. The course materials were bulky : textbook, handouts, and notes that could make you dizzy. This particular course gave me sleepless nights.

One of my friends, however, kept saying: “It is not of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.” She didn’t open her books even once; her faith was strong, but Nne, I didn’t want to run mad! I had to read.

The Exam Day Drama

The exam was fixed for 2nd September 2025 by 12 p.m.

That morning, I went to school and kept reading within the school environment because I didn’t want to skip any topic. With three professors handling the course, you can never predict where questions would come from.

Looking around, all my coursemates had dull faces. Honestly, if faces could cancel exams, that one would have been cancelled already. We stood under the scorching sun, and the sachet water sellers made a fortune that day.

By 4 p.m., I was already tired and weak. I don’t like writing exams in that state. So I whispered a prayer:
“Lord, please cancel this exam for today. Your daughter is hungry and tired. Have mercy.”

And guess what? An hour later, the exam was postponed! Shifted to the next morning at 7 a.m. Some of my coursemates nearly cried, “Why so early?”

The Rain, The Rush, The Miracle

That morning around 5 a.m., heavy rain started and didn’t stop. I continued revising and practicing CBT questions. At exactly 8 a.m., it was still raining heavily when I got a call that the exam had started.

I screamed, jumped up, and rushed out without bathing or eating. The rain washed me clean, body and soul. As I reached the school gate, I heard that the invigilators had called our department earlier, but only a few were present, so they moved on. Luckily, an hour later we were allowed to start.

When I logged into my dashboard, behold 50% of what I studied appeared! I wrote with joy, and I left that hall praising God.

Lesson
This experience taught me that success in exams is not only about studying hard but also about leaning on God’s grace. Preparation is important, yes, but God’s favour makes the difference.

Truly, it is not of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

Thank you for reading, Steemit family. Have you ever had a dramatic exam experience like mine? Share it in the comments, I’d love to read your stories!