As the exams approach
I vividly recall a moment last year when a 10th grade student came to me completely overwhelmed and distraught. She was so crippled by exam stress that she had abandoned all hope even appearing for, let alone passing the exam. Through focussed guidance and support she not only appeared for the examination but achieved high scores.
This experience was a powerful realisation that students rarely lack the ability to succeed. What they truly need is to remove fear that paralyzes them. Consistent, compassionate support paired with practical guidance is the key. By simply showing them the way and reminding them of their strength we can immediately dissolve their stress and unlock their path to success.
Experiencing some stress and pressure to perform well during exams is completely normal. However the real danger emerges when students fail to manage stress effectively. Unchecked pressure can quickly become detrimental, leading to disturbed sleep patterns, a dramatic loss of concentration, diminished interest in studying and ultimately poor academic performance. It is therefore crucial to manage stress before it undermines their health and their results.
First and foremost we must learn to recognise the signs of stress in students. Once the signs are identified, it becomes imperative for parents and teachers to initiate open and honest communication with students to help them emerge stronger.
As parents and teachers, our fundamental responsibility is to provide students with the opportunities to set achievable learning goals. It is destructive to mount unnecessary pressure on them to score excessively high or perform consistently beyond their inherent capacity.
Every child possesses a unique ability and pace of learning and they can thrive when allowed to achieve according to their strengths. When subject to intense external pressure, a student often fails to achieve even their true potential. Therefore the focus must shift from demanding perfection to nurturing potential.
Effective time management is without doubt a crucial tool for stress management. A common pitfall for many students is their failure to manage time efficiently for studies and exam preparation throughout the session. They often start cramming only when the exam looms near leaving insufficient time to cover the entire syllabus. The simple solution is to follow a regular structured study schedule. It will definitely come to students’ rescue during exams.
To deliver their best during exams, students must prioritize proper rest and adequate sleep with a minimum 7 to 8 hours each night. Sleep is not luxury, it is essential for memory consolidation and peak cognitive function. Furthermore incorporating a gentle physical activity, such as short walk into their daily routine can do wonders.
Educators need to inculcate positive thoughts and encourage students to regularly look and reflect on the immense journey they have completed and significant achievements they already secured. It is equally important to reinforce that they have prepared well and there is no reason to worry.
Besides maintaining a healthy physical body it is equally important to enrich and nourish the mind. Simple yet powerful practices like breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness are essential tools for mental clarity and stability.
Furthermore students can take immense motivation by taking inspiration from successful individuals. Exploring their struggles, resilience and success stories and understanding how they overcome hurdles to achieve milestones can be profoundly encouraging.
Ultimately parents and teachers must emphasis the value of sincere efforts over the final results. It is crucial to genuinely appreciate the hard work students put in and reinforce the idea that their efforts are more important than their results.
In turn students should focus on giving their sincere best, remain optimistic and actively heed the advice of their parents and teachers.
Ghulam Quadir Jeelani, Educator at Govt Model Hr Sec School Zoohama
