The Exam I Almost Missed

The final exam of the term was in my favourite subject, history, and I had spent two weeks on revision. My tutor had helped me review every chapter, and I felt ready. This assessment was important: if I didn't pass, I wouldn't be able to attend the advanced class next year.

TerjemahanUjian akhir semester itu untuk mata pelajaran favoritku, sejarah, dan aku sudah menghabiskan dua minggu untuk mengulang materi. Tutorku membantuku mengulang setiap bab, dan aku merasa siap. Penilaian ini penting: kalau aku tidak lulus, aku tidak bisa mengikuti kelas lanjutan tahun depan.

On the morning of the exam, my alarm didn't ring. I woke up at eight thirty, and the exam started at nine. I jumped out of bed, put on yesterday's clothes and ran to the bus stop.

TerjemahanPada pagi hari ujian, alarmku tidak berbunyi. Aku bangun pukul setengah sembilan, padahal ujian dimulai pukul sembilan. Aku melompat dari tempat tidur, memakai baju kemarin, dan berlari ke halte bus.

The bus came quickly, but after five minutes it stopped in the middle of the road. "Engine problem," the driver said. "Everyone off, please."

TerjemahanBus datang dengan cepat, tetapi setelah lima menit bus itu berhenti di tengah jalan. “Mesinnya bermasalah,” kata sopir. “Semuanya turun, ya.”

I ran. I ran past shops, across a park and up the hill to the school. My heart was beating so hard that I could hear it. When I arrived, it was nine twenty, and the door of the exam room was closed.

TerjemahanAku berlari. Aku berlari melewati toko-toko, melintasi taman, dan menaiki bukit menuju sekolah. Jantungku berdetak begitu keras sampai aku bisa mendengarnya. Ketika aku tiba, sudah pukul sembilan lewat dua puluh menit, dan pintu ruang ujian tertutup.

I knocked. The teacher opened the door and looked at me. "You're late," she said. Then she saw my face. "Sit down. You can still finish if you start now."

TerjemahanAku mengetuk. Guru membuka pintu dan menatapku. “Kamu terlambat,” katanya. Lalu dia melihat wajahku. “Duduklah. Kamu masih bisa menyelesaikannya kalau mulai sekarang.”

My hands were shaking, and for the first ten minutes I couldn't remember anything. Then I took a deep breath, and slowly all my knowledge came back. I finished the last question one minute before the end.

TerjemahanTanganku gemetar, dan selama sepuluh menit pertama aku tidak bisa mengingat apa pun. Lalu aku menarik napas dalam-dalam, dan perlahan semua pengetahuanku kembali. Aku menyelesaikan soal terakhir satu menit sebelum waktu habis.

I passed, but I learned something more important than history that day. Panic had used more of my energy than the exam itself. Now I always prepare my things the night before and set two alarms. Being calm, I discovered, is a skill too.

TerjemahanAku lulus, tetapi hari itu aku belajar sesuatu yang lebih penting daripada sejarah. Rasa panik telah menghabiskan lebih banyak energiku daripada ujian itu sendiri. Sekarang aku selalu menyiapkan barang-barangku malam sebelumnya dan memasang dua alarm. Aku jadi sadar bahwa tetap tenang juga merupakan sebuah keterampilan.