Hi, I'm Annie.  I'm in 3rd grade at North Elementary.  I have what what my doctor calls anxiety.  I don't know what that means, but my mom says it's why I'm always so nervous and why I'm so hard on myself to be the best that I can be at everything I do.

I want to tell you all about my Social Studies test last week.  Mrs. Aumann told us this was going to be a big test and that we should be studying every night so that we didn't try to learn everything the night before.  We had to remember all the States AND their Capitols!

I starting studying at home two weeks before the test.  My mom helped me to make flash cards.  We put the State name on one side and the Capitol on the other side.  For the next two weeks, I took my flashcards with me everywhere my family went.  I studied so much, I think my 9 year-old-sister even remembered them all!

The night before the test, Mom and I went through all the states one more time before bed.  I knew them all!  After mom and dad tucked me in, I just laid there and laid there.  I couldn't sleep!  I even got up and looked through my flashcards again to make sure I really knew them.

The day was finally here.  It was test morning and I was ready, or so I thought I was.  Mrs. Aumann passed out our papers and told us we could begin.

I froze.  

I couldn't even pick up my pencil.

My belly started to hurt. 

This was no good!

No, this was terrible!

Mrs. Aumann must have noticed because she came up to my desk.  I just knew I was about to get in trouble!  She asked if I was ok.  I told her I had studied so hard for 2 whole weeks, but I suddenly couldn't remember a single capitol.  I felt so dumb.

She kneeled down beside me and quietly whispered in my ear.  Mrs. Aumann told me I wasn't dumb at all.  She also told me about a time when the same exact same thing happen to her and this it's ok to get nervous.  She said she had someone she wanted me to talk to.  She asked Mrs. West to cover the class for a moment.  

We went down the hall to Mrs. Blackwell's room.  I'd never been in her room before!  My friend Beth was sitting in there.  I was surprised she wasn't back in her class taking her Social Studies test too!  Mrs. Aumann asked if it was ok if she explained how I was feeling to Mrs. Blackwell and Beth. I shook my head yes.  I knew Mrs. Aumann cared about me and was trying to make me feel better.

Mrs. Aumann asked if either of them could help me through what I was feeling.  Beth said she could!  She told me that she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but she just calls it ADHD, and she cannot focus to take tests when all the other kids are around her.  She said she feels like they are all looking at her and she can't concentrate.  Her mom and Mrs. Blackwell and some other teachers all decided it was best if she took her big tests somewhere where it was quiet and she could focus.  I was surprised by this because Beth is one of my smartest friends!  She even knows all her multiplication facts!

I had no idea that other kids' brains got all overwhelmed and fuzzy when they got nervous.  Well, that's what mine feels like anyway.  I felt so much better!  I told Mrs. Aumann that I was feeling much more settled and that maybe I was ready to try my test again.

We walked back down to class, and I felt lighter.  I know that sounds silly to say, but my belly didn't hurt and I actually felt confident.  I reminded myself that I was smart and capable and that I had prepared myself for this test.

I sat down at my desk, picked up my pencil, and finished my test in no time!  I did it!  I got through them all and just knew I got them correct!  I felt so excited inside!  I couldn't wait to get to recess and tell Beth all about it!

At lunch recess I ran up to Beth to tell her that I got through my test!  I also thanked her for telling me how she sometimes needs help too!  I said it really felt nice to know that I had a friend who got so nervous and overwhelmed just like me, and that maybe it wasn't so weird to feel that way inside!  It turned out to be the best day!