Stress During Exams
Exam season is always a challenging period. The pressure to perform well can be crippling. I’ve felt overwhelmed not because I have failed, but because it's so easy to drown in the anxiety of failing. Getting caught up in my negative thoughts, questioning whether I've studied enough or if I'm even capable of succeeding. The negativity is consuming, and with my peers performing really well on top of balancing other things, reality checks abound.
Having given so many exams throughout my life, stress has become a constant companion on this journey, fueling my fears of failure. In school, there was this expectation of being first in the class. Yet, it's been a hard-hitting fact that all I'm aiming for in college is for my CPGA to be close to my class average.
Let me talk about my semester exam experience so far. My inability to study consistently throughout the semester always gets the better of me. Caffeine becomes my best friend during this time, leading to gastric problems (lol). I always undermine the syllabus, thinking it can be finished in a small amount of time. Although scoring marks in end sems is easier than school exams because sometimes we are awarded marks for filling answer sheets, my mind doesn’t allow me to rest before completing the syllabus. There is added pressure to give exams for 7 subjects. This often stretches the exam period, including the practicals, to almost a month. Not scoring good marks in 2-credit courses can crush the elusive 9-pointer CGPA goal.
In the midst of the chaos of exam stress, I've learned a few valuable lessons about managing stress and navigating through this challenging time.
Don’t make a timetable - It never works. Setting unrealistic expectations for yourself on paper will lead you nowhere. Eventually, you will go past your deadline and feel more stressed than before.
Drink water - Just like eating chocolate after a dementor encounter helps, drinking water helps when feeling stressed. People disregard this suggestion, given that it is so corny.
Lean on your support system - Whether it's friends or family, having a strong support network can make all the difference during exam season. During exam preparation, I felt that it was important to detach from the outside world. Yet when I was anxious, talking to someone really did help me de-stress.
Visualise success - Imagine yourself having a great time, doing whatever you want to do after the exam, happy and joyous. Imagine receiving your exam results and seeing a fantastic grade reflecting the effort you've put in.
Exam anxiety is ultimately nothing more than a temporary setback on the road to achievement. While exams may feel like the end-all-be-all in the moment, but they are really just a blip on the radar. By staying determined and showing ourselves some self-compassion, we can overcome any challenge.