Comprehensive Exam - Preparation & Experience

Date/Semester

Spring Semester 2019

Learning Domains Addressed

o Education

o Assessment and Evaluation

Evidence

Learning Outcomes

1. SWiBAT successfully develop their own study guide with program material of their choice based off the exams rubric.

2. SWiBAT successfully form and maintain study partners.

3. SWiBAT successfully complete the comprehensive exam.

Assessment Rubric

Reflection

Preparing for the comprehensive exam of this program was a new challenge for me. I had never experienced anxiety preparing for a test. This is not necessarily because I always knew the material but I did have a process that has helped me get ready for exams during my time in school. This time was different though. The pressure of taking the exam was compounded by the fatigue that had manifested over the program. I honestly felt walking into the last semester that my best days of effort were behind me. I had given the previous semester 110% and I found myself struggling to find the mental space to tackle this monumental challenge. I eventually got to the point where I was started to seriously doubt my ability to pass the exam and that resulted in a few weeks of anxiety. After I finally shared how I was feeling with my small group, Dr. Fujimoto suggested that I take some time off from work to recharge and get myself centered.

I took my faculty's advice and ended up camping in mountains for a week. I hiked, I rested, I cooked food and sat under the stars. I mingled with the locals and spent significant time reminding myself of past obstacles I had overcome. My classmate and good friend came up halfway through the trip and what he did for me was invaluable. He calmed me down, and walked me through step by step of what we needed to do to create a study guide, which until that point, was the most difficult part. We studied for hours and by the time I left the mountains and came home, I felt like I could conquer this challenge. Although the struggle continued when I came home, I stuck to my process and when it came time for exam day, I walked in with a sense of peace I so desperately coveted. I passed the exam and when I was finished, I went to get some alone time to reflect. I was proud of myself and proud of my cohort. We had done it, and the rest is history.