Sitting for the MCA oral exam is an intense experience.
For my Officer of the Watch (OOW) oral exam, I was filled with adrenaline and nerves—it’s completely natural.
Despite having worked as a bouncer in a previous career, dealing with conflict on a nightly basis, nothing had quite prepared me for the pressure of sitting in front of an examiner.
I remember battling imposter syndrome, convinced that I didn’t know enough, that I hadn’t studied enough, and that every word out of my mouth was failing to justify the months of hard work I had put in.
Fast forward eight years to my Master’s oral exam. I still felt anxious, but my mindset had completely changed. I was relaxed, focused, and ready. When the examiner was changed at the last minute, I simply smiled and carried on. I knew that was beyond my control, so I didn’t waste energy worrying about it. Instead, I concentrated on passing the exam.
Between those two exams, I had gained experience sailing worldwide on a variety of ships, developing my competence as an OOW and later as a Chief Officer. I had also been lucky to work under experienced mentors who guided me along the way. But just as important as that real-world experience was the mental preparation I had learned.
Being psychologically ready for an exam is just as vital as knowing the content itself.
For my Officer of the Watch (OOW) oral exam, I was filled with adrenaline and nerves—it’s completely natural.
Despite having worked as a bouncer in a previous career, dealing with conflict on a nightly basis, nothing had quite prepared me for the pressure of sitting in front of an examiner.
I remember battling imposter syndrome, convinced that I didn’t know enough, that I hadn’t studied enough, and that every word out of my mouth was failing to justify the months of hard work I had put in.
Fast forward eight years to my Master’s oral exam. I still felt anxious, but my mindset had completely changed. I was relaxed, focused, and ready. When the examiner was changed at the last minute, I simply smiled and carried on. I knew that was beyond my control, so I didn’t waste energy worrying about it. Instead, I concentrated on passing the exam.
Between those two exams, I had gained experience sailing worldwide on a variety of ships, developing my competence as an OOW and later as a Chief Officer. I had also been lucky to work under experienced mentors who guided me along the way. But just as important as that real-world experience was the mental preparation I had learned.
Being psychologically ready for an exam is just as vital as knowing the content itself.