Significance of School Final Examination (X/XII)
When we were in school, the term 'school final examinations' had already gone out of use. However, that still resonates within me, though we never used that term. In our times, it was the SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) and nothing else. I also learnt that it used to be called Matriculation. In the VII grade, our class teacher, Mr Joseph Valavi, cited this alliterative quote, said to have been pronounced by someone of olden matriculation times: 'After a careful consideration and consultation, I came to the conclusion that the matriculation examination is a great botheration, for the Indian nation, whose occupation is cultivation'. Indeed, for those times, for a native Indian, whose occupation typically would have been cultivation, matriculation was indeed a 'baali kera mala' (an uphill task). However, we were beyond that age, although even in those times, clearing the X grade board examination was not considered an easy task. The pass percentage used to be around 50% or less. In our school, we were considered to have been a good batch with around 60% pass, and about 5 or 6 distinctions, and a few first class (division) marks (score).
With SSLC, our school time ended, and all of us who pursued higher studies would enter the college for Pre-Degree, which was then part of the university system in many states, including Keralam. As I joined the seminary in that year and shifted to UP for the same, I didn't have that peculiar experience of a vibrant free student pursuing PDC (which later was made memorable by the famous Srinivasan (Vijayan) quipping: predegreeyum atra mosham degree onnumalla, Dasa - Nadodikkattu). I completed my XII grade as part of the Intermediate System (part of the school system, termed usually Inter College).
However, in those days, when the 12 exams of the board were held from one Wednesday morning session to the next Wednesday afternoon session, with just 6 days of intense examinations and one Sunday holiday in between. I think hardly anyone was stressed like the modern-day youngsters, in spite of this apparently stressful schedule. As such, though not a sports person, my evening games - usually football - became more regular in those days. When the children gathered in the plot next to ours to play, I too joined them. My mother watched this, but never said a word regarding my studies. Nor was I (or perhaps, any of my siblings elder to me) given any special food or some beverages like Boost or Bonvita!!
I felt that had we been given a more systematic coaching with some guidance, we could have scored much better, as my study habits, when I look back, appear to have been quite lacking in an exam orientation. I used to complete my homework daily, read the texts regularly and learn the poems by heart. Hardly ever prepared question answers, except for the typical maths problems. I always wrote my answers impromptu as I got the questions, unless they were some definitions or objective-type. Hardly ever wrote any answer for any question as preparation for exams.
With the changed scenario and adequate and at times over-emphasis on mental health, child well-being, etc., things are much better. And when it comes to X grade, the stress might be less, especially with the CBSE and ICSE boards as the students are generally promoted to higher class. However, scoring well will become decisive when they are choosing the stream they like. Hence the importance of preparing well and doing well in the exams.
So as the students prepare for their exams, it is worth giving consideration to a few things, that even otherwise could be part of forming healthy habits.
However, this year, when I confronted two groups of students who were about to appear for their board exams the next week (just 12 days to go), they responded that they were not tensed. The management wanted them to have a session that would put them at ease for the examinations. I sensed that they would have been happier to left alone at that point of time.
However, I had a few thoughts and some skills to share, which might be of use to them.
I consider SSLC (X) grade as an important stage in one's life. With that, the foundational learning for the rest of one's life ends - at least that is the case now. You get to pick and choose after that stage. The languages, humanities, sciences, arts and crafts - all these become optional hereafter. So it is important that one doesn't miss out on them, as most of them would be found useful in various circumstances and on various occasions of learning and life.
Here I find the six honest men of Rudyard Kipling as useful tool for learning in general and for the exams, though till X grade we a learner typically remain at the level of four of them - What, who, when and where - these are typically LOTS (Lower Order Thinking Skills) domain, where as the last two (How and Why) or even a third one (Why not) form the HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) domain.
1. Sleep
Nowadays, we are not able to say anything regarding personal habits - earlier it was said to be healthy to rise in the morning - brahmamuhurt - say from 4 am to 6 am, and get freshened up and spend time studying. Apparently, there are scientific reasons also for this - brain activity and effectiveness, etc. However, even I cannot vouch for it, as it had never been my habit to study early in the morning or late in the night, I used to do my studies in the general waking hours, forenoon, and sometimes, even in the afternoon. Hardly ever did I burn that midnight oil! Though I used to wake up generally before 6 am, it was never for studies - rather, from my childhood it was for attending the Church, and in the seminary life and thereafter, it more or less continued with greater intensity. However, I still feel that, for a student, ideal hours to learn would be morning hours.
I also believe in the mystery of creation, where day and night are created, and most of the living beings, including human beings, tend to be tired and feel sleepy at night, when nature sets itself to a restful mode. And after the sleep, people feel rested, healed and rejuvenated.
Brain science tells us that an adult requires 7 to 9 hours of sleep, and a teenager 8 to 10 hours. This may appear as a very lazy schedule for the eager X or XII grader. I could say that at least 6 hours of sleep should be obtained by the learner, and ideally, at night.
The brain files convert short-term to long-term memory in sleep, and helps in concentration, recall and sound decision-making.
Proper sleep leads to brain detoxification and reduces the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.
Good sleep increases attention span, problem-solving and creativity.
It improves 'neuroplasticity', which is the brain's ability to adapt and restore.
It regulates mood, stress response and emotional balance.
Positive Thinking
Though X grade, and even XII grade exams have now become a relaxedly paced event, with much time being given for advance preparation and adequate time in between the exams, still many children are found to be stressed, and are led to negative and pessimistic thinking. Regarding this RET/REBT (Raitonal Emotive -Behavioural - Therapy), initiated by Albert Ellis, can shed some light. The approach speaks about ABC (...Z) of human behaviour. In many cases, we think that an Activating event leads to the Consequences in life. Not necessarily so. Very often, it is our Belief system (perception/thinking) that leads to the consequence. Typical example is the one who walks a dark pathway, said to be infested with snakes, and comes across a piece of thick rope on it, and reacts with great commotion, shouting snake, snake... The same may happen in human relationships and human engagements like exams or job hunt. We generally term it as 'thinking makes it so'. One of my good friends had an obsessive aversion with noise - however, when there was blaring noise of horns, or loudspeakers from the neighbourhood (temples and mosques), he seemed to have no problem, whereas, when the TV was switched on with a volume which he felt was beyond his tolerance level, he would react violently. Similarly, when doors were shut with no attention paid resulting in some banging noise, he would react, and get stressed. Basically, because he was having the belief that people are either careless or that they were doing it deliberately. This could happen in interpersonal relationships, especially, in the modern days of rapid and incessant communication - a small gap is stressful, with the thinking that something is amiss.
Such Bs have to be substituted by the Dismantling of irrational beliefs or an Effective philosophy/world view.
Thus, e.g.,
(i) TINA - There Is No Alternative vs TATA - There are a Thousand Alternatives
(ii) It's now too late to learn - It's never too late
(iii) Oh so much of my life is gone waste - Today is the first day of the rest of my life
(iv) What will happen tomorrow - I will live just for today.
Good Start of the Day with Self-boosting Auto-Suggestions (Positive Self-affirmation)
I typically rely on the mantras of Reiki (the aura therapy): as soon as one gets up, firmly resolve:
(i) Just for today, I shall show the attitude of gratitude
(ii) Just for today, I shall not worry
(iii) Just for today, I shall not anger
(iv) Just for today, I shall do my duties diligently
(v) Just for today, I shall show respect to all beings.
I add a couple more:
(vi) Just for today, I shall be HAPPY
(vii) Just for today, I shall do at least one act of goodness(kindness).
Perhaps, one could go and stand in front of the mirror - smile at oneself, and then recite these mantras.
5 Commandments from the Yoga System
The yoga system gives ten commandments as foundational for those who are being initiated. They are called Yama (rules for interpersonal relationships) and Niyama (rules for oneself).
Yama: (i) Satya - Truth/integrity (ii) Ahimsa - Non-violence/love (iii) Asteya - Non-stealing - not taking what is not one's own (iv) Aparigraha - Non-covetousness - Not seeking what one does not 'need'. (v) Brahmacarya - chastity - strictly speaking, a dedication (focus) on the word (learning), leaving no room for distractions common to living beings.
Niyama: In this context, I would focus on the five principles for self-direction
(i) Sauca - cleanliness - of mind, body, word and environment - vapus, manas, vacas, and parivesa.
(ii) Santosha - happiness - the decision to be happy, and realisation that happiness comes from within, and from my decisions and that nobody or thing will bring real or lasting happiness. It is also an ability to strive for betterment, while being content with what I am/have now.
(iii) Tapas - Austerity - It is to see learning itself as a 'tapas', a heroic effort for betterment.
(iv) Svadhyaya - self-study - It implies efforts at learning new things on one's own, and always having a reference to the sacred knowledge contained in the scriptures of the world/one's cultural tradition.
(v) Iswarapranidhana - Surrender to God - Spending time to surrender oneself to God in prayer.
6. Finding Time to Work Out - Sweat it Out
Making it a habit to play outdoor games, or run or walk - devoting at least half an hour for this; or spending time for physical work - like gardening, growing vegetables or cleaning your environment (home or neighbourhood)
7. Breathing and Relaxing - It would be good to put to use the following exercises, depending on one's needs, though preferably on a regular basis, at a regular time.
(i) Breath of Happiness - with a smile on your face, stand/sit and stretch both hands sideways, and bend back wards to the extent possible, breathing in. Breathe out and hug yourself bending your head to the chest, with both shoulders being held by the opposite hand with forearms criss-crossed.
3 to 5 times
(ii) Breath of Calmness - Anuloma-viloma Pranayama
With the right thumb, close the right nose, with the little and ring fingers close the left nose, leave the other two fingers straight on the bridge of the nose.
Close the right nose, breathe through the left nose, taking at least 4 seconds, hold the breath for a count of 4, release the breath through the right nose, while closing the left nose, remain without breath for a count of 2; Reverse the process, inhaling through the right nose and exhaling through the left to complete one round. Do it 3 to 5 times when stressed. Or as a regular morning or evening practice.
(iii) Breath for Energizing - Bhramari
This involves breathing in with all apertures of senses closed with the fingers of both hands - the little fingers at the middle of the lower lips; ring fingers on the middle of the upper lips; middle fingers covering the nostrils from the sides; index fingers covering the eyes, and the thumbs covering the ear flaps.
You take a deep breath in; hold for a few seconds; then breathe out with mouth closed, and with a humming sound - ooom, till the breath lasts without stress. While breathing out, the thumbs may be used to push down the ear flaps gently, while the exhalation part of the breath is done. It is to serve as an energiser while feeling sleepy or tired.
(iv) Full body relaxation
This is a method by which, when you are stressed, you could suggest each of your body parts, starting with your toes and reaching up to your head and brain, 'to relax', and indeed let that body part go and relax.
In all these cases, it is important to keep the back straight.
Conclusion
Ideally, I would suggest a year plan - planning well in advance for such landmark examinations of one's academic life. That would involve having a time-table; early to rise, between 5 am and 6 am; and early to sleep - between 10 pm and 11 pm. and follow a schedule of study, play, meaningful manual labour, prayer and relaxation. 6 to 10 hours of study per day, with 6 to 8 hours of sleep; besides the regular working hours of 5 to 6 hours. However, in the modern era, many things are becoming highly subjective, and hence, individuals' inclinations and aptitudes should be taken into account when making a schedule or plan. A healthy plan, while being flexible within the 24-hour scheme of a day, should incorporate these five elements in a suitable manner.
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