The Pressure Cooker
The Pressure Cooker
By Sachin Mallya
Many of you, right now, may be working on exams. While exams are a significant part of our course grades, how important are they really? I mean they could determine the difference between an A and a B or a B and C, but why do we, year after year, let ourselves get carried away by these tests. Is it that we feel that our futures are so dependent on these exams? Is it that we need to feel superiority of intellect through the superiority of grades?
The answer is truly personal. I wasn't really obsessed with exams back in high school. It wasn't important to me. Grades were just grades and nothing more. I didn't care about grades, I didn't think they really mattered and I failed to see their significance. Psychologically, school was a means of social interaction, sure I learned stuff, but learning wasn't of importance. My dad really pressured me into working hard and getting good grades, like he did, and that was something that I really didn't want to do. Well, you know what? I really shouldn't have used my grades as a rebellion against my dad. I really should've seen what I wanted to do and done that.
The life lessons you learn in high school really have helped me in college. There is no "dad" to look over my shoulder and make sure that I am doing well. There is in fact no one to do that. It is me and only me who decides to work, decides to learn, and decides to do well. The power is in my hands, and while it may seem like a lot riding on my shoulders, it feels good. As I sit in my room getting ready for a dinner with our chapter advisor, this is what I'm thinking about, this is what I want to do with these finals, and this is how I want to live my life. It worked last semester, and I there is no way I will let it not work this semester. After all, there's no reason for me to break up my success.
I don't know, these are some of the thoughts I've been pondering as I sit in fear of my exams, yet with a subtle excitement that tells me not to worry. I hope not that these words help you, but bring you wisdom and self reflection in your endeavors.
By Sachin Mallya
Many of you, right now, may be working on exams. While exams are a significant part of our course grades, how important are they really? I mean they could determine the difference between an A and a B or a B and C, but why do we, year after year, let ourselves get carried away by these tests. Is it that we feel that our futures are so dependent on these exams? Is it that we need to feel superiority of intellect through the superiority of grades?
The answer is truly personal. I wasn't really obsessed with exams back in high school. It wasn't important to me. Grades were just grades and nothing more. I didn't care about grades, I didn't think they really mattered and I failed to see their significance. Psychologically, school was a means of social interaction, sure I learned stuff, but learning wasn't of importance. My dad really pressured me into working hard and getting good grades, like he did, and that was something that I really didn't want to do. Well, you know what? I really shouldn't have used my grades as a rebellion against my dad. I really should've seen what I wanted to do and done that.
The life lessons you learn in high school really have helped me in college. There is no "dad" to look over my shoulder and make sure that I am doing well. There is in fact no one to do that. It is me and only me who decides to work, decides to learn, and decides to do well. The power is in my hands, and while it may seem like a lot riding on my shoulders, it feels good. As I sit in my room getting ready for a dinner with our chapter advisor, this is what I'm thinking about, this is what I want to do with these finals, and this is how I want to live my life. It worked last semester, and I there is no way I will let it not work this semester. After all, there's no reason for me to break up my success.
I don't know, these are some of the thoughts I've been pondering as I sit in fear of my exams, yet with a subtle excitement that tells me not to worry. I hope not that these words help you, but bring you wisdom and self reflection in your endeavors.