I have been remiss in not noting that we’re into actuarial exam season. (To those whose brains are about to fry / have fried, I salute you!)
This morning, I had the opportunity to be an exam proctor for the first time.
I have to say that it’s quite a different experience from the other side of the table. Aside from the distinctly lower stress level, it was kind of cool being able to watch the different behaviors of the exam candidates — the different strategies of organizing exam material; the different piles of supplies folks brought (e.g., one candidate brought three calculators; another had essentially a small pantry of food and snacks to tide him through the 4 hour, 15 minute ordeal…surprisingly, no Red Bull was in sight)…even the different ways that folks would exhibit that they were lost in thought (looking up; quietly banking the heel of a hand on the forehead; ticking off list items on fingers….)
That was a fascinating experience.