Dreams about Being in School & Taking a Test or Exam
I PRETEND TO BE A CAT—THE DREAM: I had a dream that I was pretending to be a cat by meowing and being on all fours. I was trying to get adopted so that I could save myself and others from something. People were convinced I was an actual cat, even though I clearly looked human.FELT HOW: Strange.MAIN LIFE ISSUES: Age 19. Adjusting to college. Rejection, loneliness, overwhelmed by work, pent up feelings.STORY LINE: Something actively seeks what it needs.SYMBOLS:A cat: A pet, a loving creature; can be a symbol of independence, resourcefulness, playfulness. Pretending: Taking on a role; practicing being something else.Meowing: Getting attention, communicating.Trying to get adopted: Wanting a home; in this case, wanting to feel loved, craving attention, wanting to feel more at home at college.A convincing act: Someone succeeds in self-expression; suggests dreamer will succeed if reaches out to others.I was a cat: Success representing oneself as one wants to.WHAT THE DREAM MEANS:When a cat needs something, it gets your attention. Whether a cat craves love, food, or wants to play, it goes out of its way to let you know. It meows, rubs against you, jumps in your lap. This dream is a metaphor for wanting to be loved and wanting to feel more at home in college.The dream is telling you to take the initiative to find love, fun and nurturing. Express how you feel, join groups and activities, and take the time to make friends and interact with them. And if college still feels overwhelming, take advantage of a session or two of free counseling most colleges offer; it can feel good and acquiring a few extra coping tools is a smart thing to do.The t.v. version of college life can portray fun and games, but many students go through college in a quiet or lonely way. Good students sometimes make the mistake of concentrating TOO much on their studies without balancing their lives with friends, activities, and fun.BOTTOM LINE: The dream points out that you have the power to get what you need and want. Get out there, communicate, and create a life that is balanced and fulfilling. Years from now, you will have a good career and discover that most employers don’t care whether you had an A or B average; they care that you do your work well and get along with others. In fact, having fun and leading a balanced life will improve your studies, so go for it.
UPSET AT MATH GRADE—THE DREAM: In the dream I got really upset about the grade I got on a math test. I thought the grading was unfair and started yelling at two teachers. I thought they were not being fair and they did not realize that my answers were actually correct. They kept pointing out silly mistakes I had made and told me my answers were not very clear. I got really angry.FELT HOW: Angry.MAIN LIFE ISSUES: Anxiety.STORY LINE: Someone feels unfairly judged, which angers and upsets them.SYMBOLS:Getting angry: Reacting in a negative way.A math test: Being assessed, a difficult challenge.Getting a bad grade: Negative feedback, not appreciated for what one can do. Not true: Unaware of actual facts or situation.Silly: Not important, irrelevant. Not clear: Needing to explain more, not communicating enough.WHAT THE DREAM MEANSAt age 14, life can feel vulnerable as you learn to understand the world and find your independence. It can feel at times as if you are unfairly judged and challenged. The dream mirrors how you feel when that happens.BOTTOM LINE: Newsflash. People will do that all your life—get the facts wrong and sometimes judge you unfairly. Learn to deal with it; let it roll off like water off of a duck’s back. Smile, respond clearly, do your best, and you will come out a winner.
FAILING A MATH TEST—THE DREAM: I have a math test and can't answer any of the questions.FELT HOW: Anxious.MAIN LIFE ISSUES: As a sixty-year-old in current economy, I am anxious about finances.STORY LINE: Someone is faced with something they don’t feel they can deal with.SYMBOL: Math Test: Questions that need to be answered related to finances.WHAT IT MEANS:The dream mirrors your anxiety as you wonder if you'll have enough for retirement. Dreams are a digestion system for feelings; this one is trying to help you digest your fears and points out how stressed the topic makes you feel, which may be counterproductive. BOTTOM LINE: The future can seem scary, but most things are not as bad as they appear or as bad as we think they’ll be. As you look at future options, finds ways to alleviate stress and talk to others in similar positions who have made their way.
I AM BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL—THE DREAM:It was first day of school at the opening ceremony and I was struggling to find my class. Everyone was so young, it was difficult to recognize my friends. I felt old (am now 21). After I found my class, I saw my best friends. I go to the bathroom with one and my friend applies cream on my back where I got a tattoo. I try to explain to her that something is wrong because everyone is small and I'm “big.” Then we decide to sneak out for a cigarette behind the school, hiding in the bushes. While smoking, kids in the window of a house nearby laugh at us and scare us by filming us on a camera. My friend runs back to school; I follow her but everyone is inside already, only our teacher is waiting for us. She beats my friend for being late, and I argue that's she awfully harsh and couldn't stand it, so I went home. On my way, I meet my mom and ask her how old I am; she tells me I’m 21. I explain something is wrong because I have to go to school with young children, but she only smiles.FELT HOW: Felt like something was missing and didn't know how to get it.MAIN LIFE ISSUES: Love.STORY LINE: Someone is somewhere they think they’ve outgrown yet acts like those they should have outgrown. SYMBOLS:High school: The school of life; what we have to learn.Sneaking a cigarette: Breaking the rules.Tattoo: Sometimes associated with being a rebel; edgy. Clash between the older generation and the new. WHAT IT MEANS:You say love is your main issue and that may be what you want. However, the dream indicates work issues or rebelliousness about growing up in general, is what you have to currently deal with.The dream shows someone who thinks they should be farther along (past school) yet act young-ish (get tattoo, sneak out for a cigarette, late for class). The dream tells you that even though you think you have grown up and are beyond authority, rules and being told what to do, you still have a lot to learn. Newsflash – there is a lot to learn all your life and, in that sense, life is a continuous school.The dream indicates that you resist accepting where you are at and are not as mature as you think you are. Perhaps you feel those around you like bosses, are harsh (e.g. if you are not on time). Life can be tough if you rebel; others do not meet you half way or cater to your likes and dislikes. It is you who has to adjust. However, if a job does not feel right, you can switch, but you’ll have to measure up whatever you are.BOTTOM LINE: The dream suggests that it's time to grow up and take a step in maturity. Take heart! Everyone eventually figures out the rules of life and finds the work and the social life that suits them. It takes time. Accepting where you are at will get you there faster.
UPSET AT MATH GRADE—THE DREAM: In the dream I got really upset about the grade I got on a math test. I thought the grading was unfair and started yelling at two teachers. I thought they were not being fair and they did not realize that my answers were actually correct. They kept pointing out silly mistakes I had made and told me my answers were not very clear. I got really angry.FELT HOW: Angry.MAIN LIFE ISSUES: Anxiety.STORY LINE: Someone feels unfairly judged, which angers and upsets them.SYMBOLS:Getting angry: Reacting in a negative way.A math test: Being assessed, a difficult challenge.Getting a bad grade: Negative feedback, not appreciated for what one can do. Not true: Unaware of actual facts or situation.Silly: Not important, irrelevant. Not clear: Needing to explain more, not communicating enough.WHAT THE DREAM MEANSAt age 14, life can feel vulnerable as you learn to understand the world and find your independence. It can feel at times as if you are unfairly judged and challenged. The dream mirrors how you feel when that happens.BOTTOM LINE: Newsflash. People will do that all your life—get the facts wrong and sometimes judge you unfairly. Learn to deal with it; let it roll off like water off of a duck’s back. Smile, respond clearly, do your best, and you will come out a winner.
FAILING A MATH TEST—THE DREAM: I have a math test and can't answer any of the questions.FELT HOW: Anxious.MAIN LIFE ISSUES: As a sixty-year-old in current economy, I am anxious about finances.STORY LINE: Someone is faced with something they don’t feel they can deal with.SYMBOL: Math Test: Questions that need to be answered related to finances.WHAT IT MEANS:The dream mirrors your anxiety as you wonder if you'll have enough for retirement. Dreams are a digestion system for feelings; this one is trying to help you digest your fears and points out how stressed the topic makes you feel, which may be counterproductive. BOTTOM LINE: The future can seem scary, but most things are not as bad as they appear or as bad as we think they’ll be. As you look at future options, finds ways to alleviate stress and talk to others in similar positions who have made their way.
I AM BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL—THE DREAM:It was first day of school at the opening ceremony and I was struggling to find my class. Everyone was so young, it was difficult to recognize my friends. I felt old (am now 21). After I found my class, I saw my best friends. I go to the bathroom with one and my friend applies cream on my back where I got a tattoo. I try to explain to her that something is wrong because everyone is small and I'm “big.” Then we decide to sneak out for a cigarette behind the school, hiding in the bushes. While smoking, kids in the window of a house nearby laugh at us and scare us by filming us on a camera. My friend runs back to school; I follow her but everyone is inside already, only our teacher is waiting for us. She beats my friend for being late, and I argue that's she awfully harsh and couldn't stand it, so I went home. On my way, I meet my mom and ask her how old I am; she tells me I’m 21. I explain something is wrong because I have to go to school with young children, but she only smiles.FELT HOW: Felt like something was missing and didn't know how to get it.MAIN LIFE ISSUES: Love.STORY LINE: Someone is somewhere they think they’ve outgrown yet acts like those they should have outgrown. SYMBOLS:High school: The school of life; what we have to learn.Sneaking a cigarette: Breaking the rules.Tattoo: Sometimes associated with being a rebel; edgy. Clash between the older generation and the new. WHAT IT MEANS:You say love is your main issue and that may be what you want. However, the dream indicates work issues or rebelliousness about growing up in general, is what you have to currently deal with.The dream shows someone who thinks they should be farther along (past school) yet act young-ish (get tattoo, sneak out for a cigarette, late for class). The dream tells you that even though you think you have grown up and are beyond authority, rules and being told what to do, you still have a lot to learn. Newsflash – there is a lot to learn all your life and, in that sense, life is a continuous school.The dream indicates that you resist accepting where you are at and are not as mature as you think you are. Perhaps you feel those around you like bosses, are harsh (e.g. if you are not on time). Life can be tough if you rebel; others do not meet you half way or cater to your likes and dislikes. It is you who has to adjust. However, if a job does not feel right, you can switch, but you’ll have to measure up whatever you are.BOTTOM LINE: The dream suggests that it's time to grow up and take a step in maturity. Take heart! Everyone eventually figures out the rules of life and finds the work and the social life that suits them. It takes time. Accepting where you are at will get you there faster.