Every new experience is accompanied by the fear of the unknown, but it demands courage to go through it. The same phenomenon applies to first board exams in one’s life.

When I heard the word ‘board exams’ for the very first time, it followed numerous questions. For instance, how will I memorise the entire curriculum? How will I undergo an examination in a totally new environment? How will invigilators treat me? What will the exam questions be? And this is when fear set in.

Another quite horrible thing was the new terms associated with the preparation for the above-mentioned exams. These included ‘send-ups’ or ‘detentions’, ‘pre-boards’ and ‘crashes’.

The most difficult thing was to give an assessment from all syllabi — which you have studied all through the year. This is more dreadful for students who study in private schools and are used to giving tests from a few chapters or from a few topics. Students have to learn plenty of things in the same year.

These fears were further enhanced by the pressure given by teachers. Students were continuously warned about the dire consequences that they would have to face if they didn’t study hard. The stress was further enhanced by comparison drawn by family members among cousins of the same age.

All these factors lead to immense problems for young individuals. Some of them lose interest and motivation to study. This diverts them from their prime objective, which is to study.

But the ones who are quite determined and committed to achieving their goals don’t back off. The first outcome they face is a sleeping disorder. Students try to manage their endless coursework deadlines by sacrificing their rest time and forty winks. They are young, so they survive at this age. But as they grow older, they are at a greater risk of health hazards, like hypertension, diabetes, heart attack, stroke and many other mental illnesses.

When pupils are unable to cope with their ever-increasing work, despite their constant hard work and efforts, they become disheartened. They try to keep their worries bottled up and not seek help from elders. Ultimately, they consider it as the end of life. This results in an escalating rate of depression. This all leads to devastation.

This surely requires a solution, because health is wealth and such destructive damage could not be ignored. Students can avoid stress by dividing their study targets into small chunks and completing them one by one on a daily basis. This will help them prepare the syllabi in a better way. Parents and teachers should also play a positive role by helping students deal with their studies.

The youngsters need to understand that no predicament is too big to become hopeless. No fear is so huge that one may lose control over their nerves. An optimistic approach is the key to solving all issues. One should be brave enough to embrace challenges, because life is another name for challenges.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 28th, 2023