When the Clock Feels Louder Than the Challenge

Monday arrived with another tech assessment looming, and I could already feel the weight of it before the sun came up. Sleep was restless, my mind replaying scenarios and trying to plan for every unknown. The short turnaround time didn’t help, less time to prepare, more pressure to deliver. Still, I woke up early, gathered my focus, and dove straight in.

It wasn’t that the questions were impossible, in fact, I understood what needed to be done. But the ticking clock changed everything. It’s incredible how much time, or the lack of it, can distort performance. I realized something about myself today, I thrive when I can explore the problem fully, examine the angles, and create a thoughtful solution. These rapid-fire assessments, though, reward speed and efficiency above all else. It makes me wonder, have we reduced problem-solving to a race? Are we valuing the finish line more than the depth of thinking it takes to get there?

I can’t help but question the box we are all asked to fit into. Each of us thinks differently, solves differently, creates differently. Yet, assessments often reward the quickest hands rather than the sharpest minds. Is it wrong to need more time? Is it wrong to care about the “how” and not just the “what”? Maybe this is just my reflection, but it feels like we sometimes risk losing the human element in the process.

By the end, I did what I could. It wasn’t perfect, in fact, I felt a little defeated knowing I had more to give but not enough time to show it. But life doesn’t stop for one challenge. So, I shifted gears, turned my energy to the things that keep me grounded, my photography, my blog, sending out applications, and carving out time to plan my next round of learning. I even found space to reconnect with a friend, which reminded me that life is bigger than any one test.

Some days this uncertainty feels heavy. But deep down, I hold onto one belief, what’s meant for me will never pass me by. This journey might not make sense right now, but one day it will.

~ Nerusha