Travel is supposed to be about moving from one point to another with ease, but sometimes the journey itself becomes a test of patience, endurance, and strength. The worst travel I have ever experienced happened during a time when I was juggling two academic programs in two different schools. Both schools began their exams around the same period, and unfortunately, some of the exam days clashed. I found myself in a situation where I had to sit for two different exams in two schools on the very same day.
On a particular Monday, I had one exam scheduled for 11 a.m. in the first school and another exam by 3 p.m. in the other school. The schools were far apart about one hour to one hour thirty minutes’ journey by road, but I felt confident I could handle it. I didn’t ask for help because I believed the time gap between the two exams was enough to travel and still arrive early.
That morning, I wrote my first paper at 11 a.m. and to my relief, it wasn’t too difficult. By 12:30 p.m., I was done and out of the exam hall. My plan was simple, get home quickly, pick up the things I needed, and head straight to the second school. I was so anxious that I couldn’t even eat when I got home. I just grabbed my items and rushed out again.
At first, I tried to wait by the roadside, hoping to get a direct car to save time, but after a few minutes without success, I decided to head to the park. That decision turned out to be the beginning of my frustration. At the park, I met several empty cars waiting for passengers. The only car that had people in it contained just two passengers. I thought I could afford to wait a little since my calculation showed I would arrive before 2 p.m. if we left soon.
But the wait dragged on and on. Minutes turned into almost an hour before the car finally filled up. Even then, the nightmare wasn’t over, the driver was painfully slow. Every turn of the road felt like it was moving us backward instead of forward. I sat there restless, my heart racing, thinking of the exam I was supposed to be preparing for. At one point, I even wished I could take over the steering wheel and drive the car myself. I tried to pick up my book to read on the way, but my mind was too troubled to concentrate.
By the time it was almost 3 p.m., I was still about thirty minutes away from my destination. My anxiety turned into anger and helplessness. Then, the worst happened, the car broke down on the road. The driver had to stop and look for a mechanic, I begged him to find another driver to take us, but there was none available. Tears filled my eyes as I watched the minutes fly by. It felt like time was mocking me.
Eventually, the car was fixed, and we continued the journey, but it felt endless. By the time I got to my stop, it was already after 4 p.m. To make matters worse, I still had to take a bike to the school. When I finally arrived at the exam hall, some of my mates were already leaving, having finished their paper. I rushed inside only to face another battle, the supervisor initially refused to let me in. After much pleading from me and support from some friends, I was eventually allowed to sit for the exam.
Although I managed to write the paper, I came out drained, angry, and close to tears. It was one of the most frustrating days of my life. That terrible bus journey nearly cost me an exam, and it taught me an unforgettable lesson about preparation, patience, and how unpredictable travel can be.
Looking back, I can say without hesitation that this was the worst travel I have ever experienced. It was more than just a delayed bus ride, it was a mix of anxiety, wasted time, helplessness, and the fear of missing something very important.