Mrunalini Pai

 

How to prepare for or overcome the stress of disqualification from competitive exams?

Exams have always been a major stress factor for students, right? May it be NEET, JEE or any other competitive examination, it leaves students under immense pressure to compete and qualify for their desired course. Competitive exams for any field of study, carry the potential to decide a student’s future; it either sets a ‘red carpet’ for students into their desired course, or leaves them clueless as to what to do next? I don’t intend to scare anyone, but the negative outcome needs to be acknowledged too, which doesn’t seem to happen much.

Students and their families often have plans as to how to go about studying for these competitive tests, which college or university to opt for or which city to move in for education. But very few of them think of the other side of the coin. There’s always a chance that a student may not get qualified for the course they wanted. This definitely doesn’t mean that the child didn’t work hard or is less intellectual, yet, it stresses the student out. This stress, which makes students feel like they’ve reached a dead end, is way more dangerous than their tension before answering the exam itself. They could think of themselves as failures or might even go into depression.

But there is always a bright side. I am doing little on my part to help students control their fear and stress. Today, in this article we shall look at some suggestive methods to prepare for or overcome the stress of disqualification from these competitive exams.

Meditation and Yoga
The power of Yoga and Meditation is not new to the masses. We are very well aware of its benefits in making our body and mind calm and to also reduce the risks of any health problems. But we tend to avoid practicing it, don’t we?

For students, who have their hearts racing with fear and stress, absolutely need to dedicate some time into meditation. This will help you keep your mind calm and sane, to make further decisions, to think about what needs to be done next, whether it is before the exam or after the result is out.

Don’t let a negative outcome block your thinking process.

A ‘Plan B’
This is something I feel a student must do, even if you are super-confident about the result. Nothing can be guaranteed. Just when you thought you could easily get into a course, the competition might get tougher and you may not get a seat. In such cases you always need to have a ‘Plan B’, a second option. It could be temporary or a permanent one but I feel there should be a chalked-out path, just in case the original plan doesn’t go as expected. This saves you the time and panic of taking the next step in case you are not qualified for your desired course.

Surrounding yourself with the right people
It is equally important to make sure you have the right energies around you. By that I mean, surround yourself with people who spread positivity and motivate you. They could be your friends, family members, cousins, a therapist or even god. No, talking to god is not funny, it works for some people. But what I’m trying to say is make sure there is someone or something that keeps you motivated despite the negative result. Talk to people who won’t make you feel like a complete failure due to the disqualification but will help you fight through it.

Like the saying goes…’Good Vibes Only.’

Don’t focus on others merits, but work on your own flaws
It is quite common for students to look at their friends getting through these competitive exams and feeling a tad bit envious about it. You may feel guilty to admit it, but it does happen. As much as it is true, you really need to avoid going down that road. Looking at others victories should inspire you and not make you feel further dejected. Yes, your friends got through and you didn’t. That means there is something more you could have done to get through as well.

So, look forward to improving yourself than to think about your friends getting ahead of you and you being less capable than them.

There was something you can do better, so go ahead and improve upon yourself.

Don’t Give Up!
Lastly, don’t give up. No matter how bad the situation gets, there is always a way out of the problem. Even if you disqualify in an important exam, you can always try again. Work harder than before and defeat your earlier self. Never think of yourself as a failure based on the result of an exam, because you did work hard. All we got to do is work harder next time.

You could re-answer the exam by preparing again or look for a course which interests you more. Sometimes, this disqualification turns into an opportunity to something that students might have not thought they would be good at.

The bottom line is, disqualification into a course is not a dead end. Try harder or try a new path but TRY. Never give up! Keep going, because you are meant to be the best in something. Find your area of expertise and chase excellence. Soon, the stress about disqualification will fade away.

 

(Writer is a student residing in Vasco)