Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Exam Anxiety

It is that time of the year again when school kids go for exams. Very soon it will be the turn of college students.

All around there are anxious faces; children, teenagers and parents.

Our Exam system being what it is, with emphasis on
“mug, get a good score somehow, and forget”
kids try to cram.

With pressure to “do well”,
“If you do not do well you will not get admission in a good college. What will you do?.......etc. etc.”
they drive themselves into panic.

Some of the best students, the top notch brains also suffer from fear of failure. Some students are on anti stress medicines, hopefully under the scrutiny of a doctor.

Hesitant steps, “May I please talk to you for a few minutes.”

“Sure.” We talk for a while. I listen carefully and try to drive their fears away. They go back a little more confident. I hope it helps.

If you have young students around, please listen to them, encourage them, give them confidence.