Hurray! It’s exam time!

Don’t you think that you are a very lucky young teenager? Everyone dreams big. Everyone thinks about reaching somewhere in life and thinks of doing some amazing things in life. But, you are actually going to get to do all the things. There are millions who can only wistfully dream because the precious years of their lives have passed; and some may think of making it big but may not have the resources or the opportunity to do a thing. But you still have it all — the age, the opportunities waiting outside the door to knock, the blessings of your parents and teachers and probably all the resources, too. Well, well… close your eyes and think for a moment or two…

You do have a house, right? Probably, a lovely cosy home and a family that cares. You do have a wonderful set of parents or even a single parent — you do get to bask in the warmth and comfort of their love and pampering, isn’t it? And then, you do have a school/college to go to, right? Your parents sponsor your education and they have dreams for you. After all, we expect the world only from those we dearly love and whom we know are perfectly capable. You have a fine body and can see and read and write and have all the writing materials and books, etc.

The exams are just around the corner and the focus has to be on greeting our buddy; our opportunity which has come in disguise and which will test us and determine whether it should give us the gifts it has brought in its garb or not. If we smile and welcome it warmly, the opportunity will unload its gifts. If we frown, panic and hide, it will feel sorry for us, but leave us nothing and bid us goodbye.

And to top it all, one of those wonderful opportunities that come knocking at our doors is right around the corner! Yes, EXAMS! Hope, you are not one of those less wise ones or those unlucky ones who miss the moment and thereby sends the opportunity-in-disguise away? Of course not. You seem to be one of those wise ones who see through the disguise and even if an exam appears scary and tough, you know that it is, in reality, an opportunity. You will not mistake it as an obstacle, isn’t it? You will not fret and frown, isn’t it? Or else, the opportunity will leave your door and move on and it is only much later that you would realize the truth and then there would be no point in wishing that had you recognized it, life would have turned out to be much different, after all.

There is little sense in sitting down and wondering now, as to why and when we did start developing an aversion to the very mention of the word EXAM. There are many reasons associated primarily with our own behaviour and with the systems we have built. But don’t get bogged down just because many things are not designed the way they should have been. There are many truths about our education and examination system that need to change and there are many a lacunae, too. However, the exams are just around the corner and the focus has to be on greeting our buddy; our opportunity which has come in disguise and which will test us and determine whether it should give us the gifts it has brought in its garb or not. If we smile and welcome it warmly, the opportunity will unload its gifts. If we frown, panic and hide, it will feel sorry for us, but leave us nothing and bid us goodbye.

What do you think ought to be your approach? How do you want to treat an exam?

Do you like the word ‘HURRAY’? Well, isn’t it a very fun-filled word; a word that refreshes us and energises us? We need to remember just this one word before and during the examinations and we shall be filled with the same energy and joy that this word is synonymous with.

Walk down the following steps with a HURRAY! In your mind:

STEP 1

H: Have with you the most essential ingredients as soon as an exam is announced:

• Have your time-table.
• Have the wisdom to make a balanced and practical schedule.
• Have the courage to adhere to your schedule.
• Have the correct estimate of your strengths and weaknesses.
• Have a talk with your parents.

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