School and Senior Test Out

Sometimes you get motivated to accomplish something. However the motivation sometimes doesn't stick. Been there done that. However, about mid May my motivation came out of thin air. This is why Brett and I currently have an uneventful life.

At the time it seemed like hair school hell was never going to end, and that thought made me miserable. In order to graduate I needed 1600 hours. Mid may, I had about 1200 and should have had 1345 hours. I had a ton of hours to make up. So I became a robot.

I'd wake up at 7 AM, be at school by 9 AM, come home at about 9:30 PM, and be in bed by about 11 PM. Next day, I'd do it again. Monday though Saturday, except Saturdays were over at 1 PM, sometimes.  

... Here is the key to being a successful robot: Brett.  Now at about 9:30 PM, when I'd get home, I'd find Brett (key to being a successful robot) making me dinner. SMILE, SMILE, SMILE...

After my first week of this sort of torture, I was shocked to find that I was still alive. Empire still sucked, but I was still alive. And so I continued to endure this sort of pain for another week. I was doing good, until my "Transformer" like instructor announced senior test out. - Definition, senior test out: A written test of 100 random cosmetology questions followed by a practical examination that is pretty much identical to a state board examination, necessary to graduate - DUM DUM DUM DUMMM. Then I freaked out, just a bit. Or maybe a lot.

Senior test out was to be the first week of June. I focused worrying about the written test first. Empire doesn't give any sort of review for the written or the practical, I wasn't the least bit surprised. They tell you to read your text book, duh, why didn't I think of that. So I studied, and studied, then I studied 525 questions from a chapter review book. Later, after much whining and begging, I got a review. I knew almost the entire thing. The clouds parted and the sun beamed through. At least I was sure to pass the written. 

I moved on to practicing for the practical exam. There are five parts: thermal curling, haircutting, perms, relaxers, and color/lightening. Each section is timed, so I timed myself and did well. Except for the haircutting. I couldn't get the exam cut done in under 30 minutes. So I practiced the cut a few different ways till I got in done in under thirty minutes. Next day was testing.

June 4th, 9 -11 AM, Senior Test Out: Written Exam

I sat down and took the test. Nervous that I might miss one, cause I knew for sure I have answered them all correctly at least five times before. Then came question 69 that was worded funny: The heart, lungs, kidneys, and intestines are all: What are the heart, lungs, and kidneys? Same number, two questions. I was slightly perturbed that someone hadn't revised this test. Answer was organs. I finished the test and turned it in. A few hours later I was helping my instructor grade the tests by reading off the letters as she checked my classes answers. Second to last test was mine. I read the letters. AAABCD BCAD BCDAB BBDC ADCCD CDCADCDBBB (those are just random letters, not the real answers). She finished grading my test. 100% Once again the clouds part.

June 5th, 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM, Senior Test Out: Practical Exam

This whole test, honestly was a blur. I had the rules read to me a million times and I'd asked hundreds of questions. But other than performing the obvious tasks, I had to focus on sanitizing my hands constantly. So the test started. I sanitized and disinfected, set my crap up and began. Yeah, the first thing I was supposed to in section one, I didn't do. I forgot to check the temperature of my curling iron. The entire time I was just hoping that they assumed I did it. But after that first mistake, I did test my curling iron. Next was the haircut, and I finished it in under thirty minutes. The entire time I was telling myself to relax and that I'd done it in 30 minutes before. I guess it helped. Now, the rest was a blur. I finished everything. I left the room feeling pretty good. Mad about the only obvious thing I knew I missed. Stupid curling iron. However, I was reminded of one rule, anything the examiner doesn't see, is assumed completed in the students favor. Fingers were crossed. At about 4:15 PM test scores were read. I waited as the instructor read through all the scores but mine, and then she asked if she left anyone out, ME. "Franchesca, 100%, congratulations." SMILE, SMILE, SMILE...

That's motivation baby!