The midterm exam, the kind words

Monday, 14th April 2025

Today, I woke up, took a shower, and played some music as I usually do. I felt a bit distracted, though I couldn’t really tell why. Maybe it was the nerves —tonight was my first algorithms midterm.

I went to classes, came back home to wait, and then returned to the university. I walked up the stairs to the labs and, while waiting for the professor to call my name, I started feeling a sharp pain in my stomach. Classic anxiety.

She called me in. I grabbed my laptop. The Wi-Fi was trash, as usual. We had to open a new incognito window in the browser, but I had just installed SimpleFox —it removes most of Firefox’s interface. I couldn’t even find the private window button. I was sweating cold. Somehow, I managed.

I filled in my info on a Google Form and started answering. The thing restarted. Twice. I lost almost all my progress. But still, I managed to finish everything faster than expected.

When I got out of the classroom, the stomach pain was gone. It had all been stress. I sat outside and waited for my friend to finish.

I texted her. She replied right away.

I told her I had just finished the midterm and I thought I scored something like a 9.5 or 10. I said the results would come later. She said: “Wow. How confident. Very well. I'm glad :3. Let me know.”

Those kinds of words… they go straight to the heart.

My parents also texted me. They were proud. Last year, there were applause, handshakes, interviews, dinners with teachers, medals, diplomas. Now, I’ve got sincere little words and casual toasts with cold beer cans.

And somehow, this love —this simple love from the right people— feels greater than any formal recognition.