'Students can put up with exam stress'

AHMEDABAD: For a tenth standard student, Mohit’s daily schedule is mind-boggling, comparable to a top company CEO. For this 14-year-old, the day begins at 7 when he has to rush to his tuition class starting 8 am, then his school at 11, another tuition after school and back home late in the evening only to get back to books again.
As board examinations of standard 10 and 12 creep up, it’s a stressful time for students, trying their best to keep pace with time that seems to be, as many admit, fast running out.They are fighting a gritty battle to fight stress to keep up to expectations , achieve their goals of making it big.
Like every year, the examinations may be scheduled in March and preliminary exams will be held in December. “My family expects a lot from me and I cannot disappoint them. Though my schedule seems to be tight, I got to cope with it. There have been times I have felt stressed out but I have always motivated myself by looking at my goal, to put up a fight and beat the competition,� says Karan Bhusari, a 10th standard student of St. Xaviers Loyola.
“I don’t want to disappoint my parents as they are shelling out a lot on my studies and tuitions. I want to score a minimum of 85 per cent,� exclaims Sonia Hariramani, a student of M K School Psychiatrist Namrata Bhargava says, “The students are studying for a purpose, to make a good career. Thus, we should consider the stress which they go through as a natural phenomenon�. Even the parents seem to be pretty comfortable with the way their wards are working hard.
“I want my son to score a good percentage so that he can get admission in a decent course. Moreover, to remain in the competition he has to put in efforts by not spending much time with the family. You win some, you lose some,� says Gayatri Sabharwal, a housewife. Sheelu Dhariwal, another housewife, adds “Though there is competition all around, being a bookworm is of no use. The student should devote time to extra-co-curricular activities so that his mind remains fresh�.
Tuition teacher Rina Singh says, “It’s true that a child goes through a lot of stress but if the student puts in efforts in these two years, his life is almost made. The family should understand his stage and should support him when he needs it the most. Quality matters not the quantity�.