Written By Riya Garg (Grade 11)
I think we’ve all heard one of our classmates say that they would kill themselves if they failed a certain test. Some of us might have even said it ourselves. We always hear phrases like these being thrown around casually but for some people, it is a lot more than a part of a friendly after-school conversation.
According to the Hindustan Times, over 4000 students ended their lives between 2017 and 2019 after failing in exams. I’m also sure that we can all see the link between exam pressure and how it negatively affects the youth’s mental health. It isn’t surprising that we see more and more deaths by suicide being reported during results season. A 2017 article by The Guardian also states that suicides among children and young adults peak at the start of exam season. But why?
The need to attain good grades has been ingrained into most of us since we were in kindergarten. As we grow older, being able to attain said good grades becomes harder but the need stays the same. This results in constant comparison, be it by teachers, parents or even by ourselves, which results in a community that cares about the results we get on paper and not about the work that goes into getting the results. As one enters high school, a lot more emphasis is placed on being academically proficient and students are often told “if you don’t get good grades, you won’t get anywhere in life.” That statement is not only incorrect but also harmful to the fragile minds of the youth. We start to tie our self worth to the marks we get. We sacrifice hours of precious sleep just to attain 2 extra marks on a test the next day.
Marks may be important to a certain extent but I can say with certainty that 10 years from now, you won’t even remember how much you got in that test you were so worried about. More importantly, nothing matters more than your mental well-being! You are worth so much more than your results and you are unique in your own way. You have so much potential and are an asset to the world. Do not let a bad exam get the best of you. We all have our ups and downs, so when you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, remember that the only way to go is up.
Sometimes it can be hard when your results don’t match the effort put into achieving them, but are those marks really worth more than your life?
Featured Image Courtesy – News18