It was really hard to get back into that routine of studying again. I signed up for an online study group, which helped focus my reading. First I started with reading the books on the train to and from work. I also made about 300 flash cards. Reviewing for 80 minutes 5 days a week didn't seem like enough (shockingly) so I had to include 1-2 hours after work at least twice a week plus a few hours on the weekends. Of course there were some weeks where I couldn't keep up with this routine. It was a lot of work. There weren't many practice tests available, but I did have about 3 in my possession, so I took them throughout the 3 months I studied and turned many of them into flashcards too. All the exams I finished early, I wasn't averaging 1.2 minutes per question and I was only averaging about a 60%.3 months of studying. At the end, I was getting burnt out. I didn't want to study anymore. I wanted my 'life' back (which is silly because I don't do much) and I wanted to read for fun again. But I pushed through to the end. I took the day off before the exam to review areas I was less confident about...but for the most part, by this time, I thought I was ready to go.
The morning of the exam, I went into the city early and walked around for about 40 minutes for fresh air and to get my blood flowing. I still got to the site early, mostly because it was raining and I didn't have an umbrella or a hood.
There were only three candidates in the room. They provided the pencils and the water. No snacks at all during the 4 hour, 200 question exam.
At the appropriate time, I opened my exam book and started. Slowly, I started to become frustrated with the questions of the exam. I started skipping the ones I had no idea what the answer was, and I'd go back at the end, I had to remember to leave enough time. At three and a half hours, I counted how many questions I had no clue what the answer was...30. Yikes. 30 questions I would be mostly guessing plus other questions I got wrong. I was getting frustrated. I didn't like where this was headed. Time was ticking. I realized I was spending so much time re-reading some of the poorly worded questions and re-reading questions because I was still trying to figure it out.
At exactly four hours I put my pencil down. Not because I was done and confident with my responses, but because I didn't have any time left. I answered all the questions, but there were a few I would have liked to think about a little more. Oh well.
Then I had to wait 8 weeks for the results.
When the sealed, confidential envelope arrived at work, I had this sinking feeling that I failed and would try to re-take the exam one more time. I started to dread giving up my 'fun' reading again. But I also remembered how much time and work I put into it. No matter what would happen, I knew that I learned so much, and there is always more to learn. I looked up and thought of ManFriend and his encouragement about certification, I knew he'd want to see me pass.
I debated if I should open the envelope at work or wait until I got home. But it was staring at me. I am really bad with will-power. I had to get it over with. I needed to know.
I read the letter. It didn't make any sense. I read it again. Wait, what was that first word? Congratulations.? Holy shit. I did it. I passed. I started shaking. I went into my bosses office with the letter in my hand and I said "I did it, I passed". and his smile was so huge and congratulated me, stating that he was confident I was going to pass. You could tell how proud of me he was.
I took a picture of the letter and I mass texted many of the people that knew about the examination and the time I put into it. Everyone was thrilled.
It was a very labor intensive (and expensive) process. But rewarding. I feel so accomplished. And I really did learn so much over the last few years.
Now I just need to keep it up the credential and recertify every few years.
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