Now, when most of the exams are over and results are awaited, time seems to be a sheer torture, doesnʼt it?  What with mind already exhausted by exam stress that everybody seems to be a little too ʽconcernedʼ about your results and parents putting a ʽhumbleʼ front by saying ʽletʼs see what happensʼ(especially when youʼve not performed well so far, I mean AIPMT and IIT).  Itʼs hard to tell if students expect a lot from themselves or itʼs parents who talk them into believing that exams are the ultimate challenges that decide whether youʼre a winner or loser in life.  Isnʼt life worth much more than just some exam? 

Life is much more resilient than it might seem at difficult times.  If AIPMT is worth oneʼs life than so should be your first bicycle lesson.  But, how many people commit suicide when they ʽfailʼ to ride a bicycle the first time?  At the end of the day, you rise from your failure.  The most prominent reason for being afraid of results is the stigma of the word failure, a word that people like to associate others with only to satisfy their conscience that brands them as a failure.  For once, ask yourself ʽwhatʼs wrong with being a failureʼ.  How many of us truly succeed in everything we do?  That is completely impossible.  Isnʼt ʽnot succeedingʼ in a particular task means failing?  So, why take tension about failing in exams?  Even though things might seem to have no meaning during such difficult times but look at life in a broader perspective this will help you make better decisions.

That was regarding your own fears that block your mind from thinking straight.  However, there is another barrier that is a serious distraction.  It is your parents fear.  If you are not lucky enough to have parents who donʼt care about what others have to say then exam time and post- exam time turns out to be quite a difficult period.  You need to understand and realize your capabilities and interest and then talk to your parents about it with a determined but calm tone.  Arguing would only worsen things, as both you and your parents will get more headstrong about your individual points.  This would not just worsen your future prospects but also strain your relationship.  Sometimes a single moment of uncontrolled anger might just ruin your dreams.  So why take such a big risk?  Keep your temper under control and appear like a matured person who completely knows what he is talking about.  Moreover, parents too need to realize that each student is an ʽindividualʼ who went through different situations, grew up in a different environment, and is a unique person with strengths and weaknesses that are his own.  Not everybody qualifies IIT and pressurizing to be the one is foolishness, allow him to grow into somebody that he wants to be.  That would be his true success and that would be your true success as a parent who was able to give an ʽindividualʼ to the society rather than just an IITian.

So, donʼt worry about what is going to happen, live in the present and live your life.

Chandani Parihar (C) SuccessCDs.net