Firstpost

Editor’s Note: A shocking incident of a teacher’s murder in Chennai, gave us an opportunity to revisit the important choices that children make today. We therefore commissioned a first-person piece from a student in Chennai who is, quite literally, making these choices.

by S.S.Anjanaa Devi

Chennai: The realization that the approaching Board exams are possibly the biggest exams we ever have to face in our lives has set off an invisible timer in my head, and nervousness has gnawed my insides this past month.

I have to admit that my mood swings have become extreme, and I definitely feel like there is a sheath of tension around me constantly. Thinking about the magnanimity of the exams on my college options, and consequently my future career, is definitely a nightmare. Moreover, there are the expectations from teachers, relatives and elders which prove to be an additional pressure. The parental pressure factor certainly does not apply to me- if anything, my parents are a ceaseless source of comfort during my high-tension moments and snappy moods.

There is always a sadistic nagging voice in my head that predicts failure, and I’m sure I’m not alone among my peers. Ironically, it is not the exams themselves that are particularly difficult, but the reputation they hold, and the fact that this is our last chance to secure better futures for ourselves has been drilled into our minds so many times that it adds to the pressure. Surveys show that students who secure good marks consistently are as, if not more, stressed about the Board exams as students who do not.

Deciding the college for my career choice and striving towards the goal of admission is not a easy task. When looking at options, various questions arise: Which colleges in India or abroad satisfy my course requirements? Which prove better for nurturing scope in my career? Is choosing international universities a wise decision for under graduation? For answers to such questions, it is necessary to not just consult parents but also ask teachers, friends, peers, seniors, alumni and elders. It is also important to reflect upon my thoughts and opinions to decide what will make me most happy.

The next couple of months will be literally life-changing for everyone my age, and will test our performance in more ways than one. Gearing up for grueling exams, college applications and entrance exams is certainly scary, even just thinking about it beforehand. I’m glad that I’m at least clear about what I want to study and become- to half my friends that is an added pressure.

Facing the future head on and sincere hard work is advised by my seniors who have passed out of the school. In the end, though, I always manage to clear my head and drive out my fears by the motto: Work hard and whatever shall happen, will happen.

S.S.Anjanaa Devi
XII B
PSBB Nungambakkam