Today’s exam was interesting. It was the first exam I’ve had in Law School where I’ve had sufficient time to write in my own handwriting. When I write normally, I’m fond of using cursive. I like the style, and I particularly enjoy weaving it with my fountain ink pen. It usually brings me moments of joy, and a lot of comfort because it’s so deep-rooted in my memory. I’ve been writing in cursive since Grade 2, and it was a genuine struggle to get it to look decent, not in the least because of the way pencils used to smudge as I wrote across my book with my left-hand.
However, college exams have meant my handwriting has taken a turn for the worse. In the exams, I write to make sure my letters are discernable, but ensure that where I do not know case names fully I write just about enough to make them think I do. I don’t know how effective I’ve been in employing the skill, but till date, I haven’t got in any trouble for the writing. I’ve always walked out of the exam hall a little disappointed in myself – knowing that the representation of the words on paper have never fully accurately represented me, and my identity. I know it’s counter-intuitive. Exams are meant to have anonymity to ensure a lack of vindictive marking or any form of discrimination by faculty members. However, I find comfort in leaving my representation on whatever I write. To have that opportunity stolen away from me owing to lengthy question papers, an inability to write quickly, and a lot to write – it’s always heartbreaking.
Today’s question paper has just made me pleased, as a result. I’ve written in cursive that Grade 11 Tejas (who was undoubtedly at peak cursive levels) would be proud of.
I left a little bit of myself on that paper. It was a Drafting exam, so I not only had the opportunity to leave a mark in the form of my handwriting, but in terms of some of the names and aliases I assigned to the parties to the various instruments I was expected to draft.
Things aren’t great – but they’re on the mend.
Tejas Rao 