[worldofpharm]

I need advice on how to handle a situation. I take my pharmacy exams in a private room due to anxiety, and study in that room occasionally (so that will feel more comfortable during the exams). I was studying in there the day before and had papers everywhere (tons of notes, old exams (perfectly acceptable to study from), homework, etc.) I also like to compile a list of salient notes from the syllabus so that I don't need to keep flipping through the many pages of the syllabus. I type these notes out in relatively small font so that I can have as much info present on one page as possible. The next morning the secretary walked me to the room to take the exam. I had nothing but pencil and calculator. I got through most of exam when I noticed papers sitting on a chair that was pushed in against the table. They were mine from the day before, I missed them while packing up. I finished the exam, and not thinking properly, took my exam and the notes and started to head to the office to return my test. As I headed down the hallway, the secretary was walking to let me know my time was up. Only then did I realize that I had notes present on me, and how that would look if she noticed. I panicked. As we walked down the hall, I slid the notes onto a workman's cart but then realized I also laid down one portion of the exam. She said "Do you have everything or are they with the papers you laid down". I went to cart, got the exam portion I needed, and left the other papers there. She had a somewhat quizzical look on her face. I was terrified. I headed upstairs with her, turned the test into the office, got my bookbag, and saw the secretary head downstairs. I still didn't know how to explain the situation, so I walked outside for ten minutes then went back to cart and my papers were gone. I highly suspect that she took them (although the workmen may have moved them or thrown them out) and don't know if she will bring academic dishonesty charges against me. I didn't use the notes, most of the exam was over before I even noticed them, and I think I did fairly poorly on the exam, showing further that I didn't use the notes! My question is do I wait it out and see if charges are brought against me and then defend myself with an admittedly suspect situation, or do I explain now to the secretary the situation? If I explain to her that I had notes present during the exam and she Wasn't going to press charges, then I feel I am unnecessarily implicating myself. I was clearly not thinking well before the exam (forgot my calculator and had to borrow from another secretary), during the exam, or after the exam (forgot my coat I hung up in the office). I CLEARLY wasn't thinking well when I picked up the notes and took them with me to return my exam but they were good notes that I wanted to keep for the final. A few of the pages were the compiled notes, typed in small font. I don't think the situation looks well for me, and I am at risk of getting expelled from the university. I am well into my PharmD program and this would be a personal tragedy. Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks for any input.