Exams, Exhaustion & This Stubborn Cough

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all doing well. It’s been a little quiet from my side lately, and I just wanted to check in and share what this period has been like for me. Between exams, health struggles, and trying to stay balanced, it’s been one of those seasons where you’re just trying to get through each day. The exam timetable has been tight, packed, and unpredictable. Between reading, moving from one hall to another, and trying to rest in between papers, everything has felt rushed. And on top of that, I’ve been battling a cough that simply refuses to go away.

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my stressed out self

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At first, I thought it was just something minor. You know that normal “it will clear in a few days” kind of cough. But days turned into more days, and it just stayed.

I’ve tried almost everything people suggested.

One person said I should dissolve Tom Tom in hot water and drink it. I did.
Another said ginger works wonders. I tried that too.
Someone else recommended bitter kola. I chewed it faithfully.

Still, the cough held its ground like it had signed a tenancy agreement in my chest.

I went further and got Septrin tablets. No change. Then I bought erythromycin and a cough syrup. The cough syrup in particular makes me very sleepy. One day, after taking it, I dozed off harder than I planned and ended up getting to my exam late.

The cup syrup

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That moment alone stressed me.

But here’s the funny part — I wasn’t the only one late. Quite a number of us arrived behind schedule, so instead of sending us back, they moved all the “latecomers” to a separate hall to write the exam. In a strange way, that calmed me. At least I wasn’t alone in that situation.

And thankfully, the exam itself went well.

Aside from medication, I’ve also been told to avoid cold drinks and oily foods. The cold drinks part? Manageable. I can discipline myself there. But the oily food instruction? That one has been the hardest to obey.

Especially as a student.

Today, for example, is a free day. I had time to cook beans. Now tell me… beans without oil? That one is almost impossible. So yes, sometimes I default. Sometimes I tell myself, “Just small oil won’t hurt.” And I go ahead anyway. It’s a struggle between discipline and craving — and most times, craving wins.

Beans without oil?? Sure will not look this beautiful

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This exam period hasn’t exactly been smooth. Some days the papers start early. Other days, they’re delayed. And here’s the part that gets me thinking — when it’s the lecturer’s or examination officer’s fault for starting late, there’s usually no announcement, no apology, nothing. It’s just normal.

But let a student come late?

Suddenly, it becomes a headline. You’re explaining yourself, apologizing, almost begging for understanding — and sometimes it feels like nobody is even listening.

I understand that rules are rules. Exams require order. But sometimes I wish there was a little more balance, a little more empathy on both sides.

Between managing this cough, adjusting my diet, taking medication that makes me drowsy, navigating shifting exam schedules, and still trying to show up prepared, it has been a lot.

That’s also why I’ve been a bit away. Not intentionally — just survival mode.

The good thing is that despite the stress, the ups and downs, the dietary restrictions, and the stubborn cough, I’m still pushing through. The exams haven’t been easy, but they also haven’t defeated me.

I’ve learned something small but important during this period: sometimes strength isn’t loud. It’s just showing up anyway — tired, coughing, sleepy — but still showing up.

Hopefully, this cough clears soon. Hopefully, the remaining papers go smoothly.

For now, we keep going.
One exam at a time.
One breath at a time.

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