Exam results giving you sleepless nights?

Inspiring message

It’s that time of the year again. Class 10 and 12 students have their eyes on the clock and are busy bribing the Almighty for good results, which has become a part of their daily routine.

“The results are expected somewhere around this week and all I can think of is how much I will score in Maths and English, since both the subjects are compulsory for pursuing Economic Honours from Delhi University,” says Garima Chawla, who recently wrote her Class 12 exams.

While ICSE and ISC Boards declared their results two days back and students have bagged a marvellous scoreboard, CBSE students feel the tension and challenge to come out tops as well.

“The results have gone as high as 97.5 per cent and I am really worried if I will be able to make it to my dream college, or whether I’ll be able to meet the cut-off of a good college at all?” an anxious Chawla told Metrolife.

One feels the pangs of suffering of these youngsters who have their entire life revolving around these results. Metrolife got in touch with Dr Vasantha Patri, chairperson of the Indian Institute of Counselling, to suggest ways of overcoming the
stress experienced by students and their parents, before the exam results.

“The worry begins at the level of parents, wherein they seek to fulfil their unaccomplished dreams through their children. It is that pressure which children mostly worry about and spend sleepless nights thinking whether they would be able to make their parents proud or not...” Dr Patri succinctly describes the angst of the children and the parents.

A middle class parent is usually preoccupied with such thoughts even before they have children. Because of financial instability and risk accountability, parents dream of making their children count amongst the aces, because they themselves couldn’t achieve all that they wanted to.

“The stress before the exams usually happens because both parents and children are uncertain about a lot of things, despite the numerous options that are available. It is also because of the immense ambition that has developed amongst people, who at the same time, are unable to judge their aptitude and capabilities,” adds Dr Patri.

According to her, in a society where parents live their dreams through their children, the pressure is bound to intensify. Besides, comparing the children with their cousins and fellow classmates makes the child feel a certain kind of insecurity, triggering a
feeling of inferiority complex within them.

“It is even more difficult for those children who hail from small towns, and move to metropolitans in search of more opportunities and advance their careers,” she says.
In the face of such a massive competition, how does one tackle the pressure and the stress before the exam results?

“In such a situation, the family and friends have an essential role to play. Apart from being supportive, the parents should also stay vigilant of the child’s behaviour,” says Dr Samir Parikh, director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Hospital.

Each result comes with a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of the children.
“It is a reflection of your own efforts and you need to accept it as a reward for your performance. Even if it’s less, it’s still your own performance, so just celebrate it,”
says Dr Parikh.

There is also the crucial question: ‘How much can a single result affect one’s life’? Though children and parents focus all their attention to the Board results, they should
always keep in mind that they can never determine the fut­­-ure of any child, assure the experts.

 A 90 per cent-holder might not be as successful as a below average student, who moves forward to pursue his passion and excel in the field of his personal choice.

As Dr Patri says, “One sho­uld be open to all the different options available. You must
always get into the career which you enjoy, even if it’s not something related to the subjects you opted for in Class 12 or graduation.”

Addressing the parents and children, she says, “Don’t load your basket with all the eggs. If your children don’t make it to a good university, there are a lot of other private institutions available where they can pursue their desired courses.”

“If parents and children get to talk to each other and interact on a personal level with each other, the tension can be easily reduced. A lot of ways to handle all the stress will come up and eventually it will become easy to tackle the situation,” says Dr Patri wishing luck to the children awaiting their results.