The following question was asked to some students. “Do you feel stressed especially when the Exam is approaching?” Some replied ‘yes’ while some others said ‘no’. Even if your anxiety / stress, is occasional and for short duration, the cognitive exercise given below is worth trying.
Consider 2 students with divergent thoughts and attitude.
Student No.1: For this student, the predominant thought and attitude is to obtain high marks in the Exam, to be first in the class. If this student is in the Final Year of S.S.C or H.S.S.C. or Graduation, there is a desire for his / her name to appear in the Newspaper, for Felicitation, etc. So for this student, the main focus is on ‘Marks’.
Student No.2: This student received the following information from a Counselor and applied it.
His\her Thoughts are as Follows: ‘Change is Power. Change is Dynamic’. When and wherever possible, we must use a different word or a different phrase. The intended purpose ought not to change. Some words and sentences are used since many years and they have lost their charm and power. They may also cause some kind of allergy or repulsion. So, I am changing the word ‘student’ to ‘a learner’ and ‘studying’ to ‘learning’. I am a ‘learner’ and my job is to ‘learn’.
“My purpose to learn is to gain knowledge. Inside the class room and outside the class room,by observing people, nature, events etc. Knowledge is power. It can be utilized for my benefit and for benefit of others. Misuse of knowledge can have adverse effects. ‘A knife in the hands of a surgeon can save life and in the hands of a criminal can take away life’. So my purpose to go to the school / college is to gain knowledge. Examination for me is a method to ascertain ‘what I know and how much I know’ “.
Some students forget what they studied, soon after their Exam. Don’t you think, the main reason is, they did not focus, ‘to gain knowledge’.?

Marceline Rebello.