Parents should be supportive during the crucial period, say counsellors
Pune: Often students of Std X and Std XII are told that they are in a crucial phase of their career and there is no substitute for hard work and dedication towards study. Along with these suggestions, support is a key aspect that will help students keep calm and take the examination.
During the examination period, there are several news reports about students’ suicides or deaths due to stress and anxiety before the exam. Student counsellors claim it is exam pressure. Low confidence, less preparation for the exam, self-expectations and competition adds to exam pressure more than parental pressure. Some symptoms of exam pressure are fever, sudden vomiting and stomach ache, sweating hands, said Sanjay Kulkarni, a career counsellor.
“Late beginners, students who don’t study from the start and begin only after mid-term is over face stress as the exam dates near. As it is also time for lots of submissions of assignments that collides with preparation time. Moreover, students suddenly develop self-expectations as they get into the competition,” said Kulkarni. Continued on P2
There are also studious students who undergo nervous breakdown during exams. Kulkarni said, “I was counselling a bright student who used to maintain time and was well-prepared before the exam. However, a day before the exam, I received a call from his mother saying he is refusing to go for the exam and looks anxious. Though he was well-prepared and a scoring student, he feared failure, which brought down his
confidence.”
“We always train children to win and not how to lose. We set a target which needs to be succeeded giving no chance to fail and explore other ways. Less exposure and no failure experience also develop anxiety and stress among students,” said Kulkarni.
Counsellors have suggested that parents should note behavioural changes in children, especially during the examination period like not having meals properly, sleepless nights, arrogance or keeping
quiet more.
“Due to exam tension students become more irritated because of which they overreact to simple things or behave rudely to parents. Sometimes, they are unusually silent. Their food habits and sleeping time should also be taken care of,” said Surekha Nande, student counsellor from Vimlabai Garware School.
“At this time, parents should be more supportive towards children. Parents should boost their confidence and tell them they will perform and achieve what they deserve. Parents should not impose their demands at this time by giving examples of excellent sibling or relatives to make them competitive. Simply talk to them and assure that whatever results they get will be accepted,” said Nande.
Symptoms of exam pressure
Some symptoms of exam pressure are fever, sudden vomiting and stomach ache, sweating hands before the exam.
There are behavioural changes such as not following usual routine like not having meals properly, sleepless nights, arrogance or keeping quiet more.
