Final exams are approaching, and many students would be focusing only on how well they can do last minute preparations and score better. Most extra curricular activities may have been put on hold, and there may be some amount of tension with dates coming nearer.

Some are so focused on their exams and preparation that they do not look beyond. They are not mentally ready to tackle the question – what next, or what steps to be taken after the Board exams are over? There is a tendency to postpone those decisions till after the exams.

Actually things work the other way round. Those who do have a fairly clear career goal actually find that their studies are smoother, their comprehension is better and, most important – they score higher in the exams! This happens in the same way as any traveller who knows his exact destination can walk faster, enjoy the journey, and reach in the shortest time span. This is the advantage of having an ambition and clarity of future direction.
One may say that it is not absolutely necessary to have goals. There are many young people who take life one day at a time, who explore alternatives and options from time to time, who like to get a hands-on feel of different vocations, and then drift along towards whatever they find most attractive. There is nothing wrong with this. Some of the most creative and adventurous people have careers that oscillate from one field to another, diagonally opposite to each other.

Yet, having some form of goals in life helps in giving you a direction. It makes studies more meaningful, because then you understand that you are not studying just to gain marks, but actually to acquire knowledge that will be useful. Your goals should be based on not only your interest, but also your skills, aptitude and inclination. There is nothing wrong in changing goals if you find something better later on — but when you look forward through the dark tunnel of hectic studies and long hours of exam preparation, the goal acts as a bright light at the end of the tunnel.