Tomorrow is the day I take the WEST-B (Washington Educator Skills Test Basic), a five hour long state required test covering mathematics, reading, and writing. Each subset has sixty multiple choice questions, except the writing portion which has fifty multiple choice questions and two essay questions. Due to poor timing on my part in the making of the decision that this is the path I want to go down, I have had about three and a half weeks to study.
Tomorrow I will wear my lucky pants (yes, I have lucky pants), my favorite sweater, and will be carrying an unopened water bottle (with the label removed, as per the testing rules). I will also bring three Ticonderoga #2 pencils with which to fill in all those annoying little bubbles. But for my essays the Ticonderoga #2 is not good enough, not even close. For my essays I shall use a Pay ‘n Save #2 pencil that, if I had to guess, is from the early 1990’s. I found it in my parents’ kitchen junk drawer a couple weeks ago and I know it is a pencil that my dad used.
I am sentimental but just skeptical enough to think that a #2 pencil from that long ago may cause the computer that scan those little bubbles on the test papers to freak out and start shouting “Error! Error!”. Husband has tried to assure me that “graphite is graphite” but I would rather be safe than sorry.
Tomorrow it is “go time” (wow, what is up with me and the “ ”s?). Tonight it is pizza and movie night at our house and I will try my best not to think about tomorrow. But I am glad to know that tomorrow I will have with me a trusty Pay ‘n Save pencil, a little piece of my childhood history, and a pencil that my dad once used.
Shoes On The Wrong Feet 
Hey I have power girl panties, when I am going to an interview or doing something that I require a bit of luck with, I break out the power girl panties.
You’ll do fine. Just. Fine.
Reblogged this on ARZcreation.com.
Good luck – not that you will need it with your lucky pencil!
I believe in doing everything you can to make yourself comfortable and feeling confident before a test. I used to dress up nicely for my exams in college, just to make myself feel more confident. Good luck to you! I wish you all the best!!
You’re going to rock this test…With or without lucky pencils (but bring them anyway)..Good luck!!
Thinking about you this morning, sweetie.
Knock ’em dead!
good luck!!! Show them what you’re capable of!
It will be nice to have your Dad’s pencil there with you!
Good luck!! I’m sure you will do just fine!
Am crossing my fingers for you, I also collect really old pencils, I call them my rescue pencils.. now remember; read the questions out loud in your head, slow down, time yourself, if a question is impossible skip it and come back to it after you have finished. Look over the whole section before starting each one. How exciting. I love taking exams. I love the organisation, and time management and sheer tidiness of exams. PLus no-one can bother you for the whole time. It is all just beautifully quiet. Have fun. celi
I am sure it all went well! The lucky pants and pencil are sure to be magic! 🙂