Homework and exams, a daily affair,
Yet friendships and laughter, always to share.
In this journey of youth, we strive to excel,
For in these moments, our stories we tell.

Through ups and downs, we learn and grow,
The path may be tough, but our spirits aglow.
Class 10, a chapter in our life’s grand scheme,
We’ll cherish the memories, like a cherished dream.

The post The Struggle appeared first on The Teenager Today.

It’s that time of the year when students start biting their fingernails! With the examination season upon us, it is natural to get stressed as there is an unprecedented pressure that is created by social media due to an information overflow and even a toxic mixture of unrealistic peer and parental pressure.

In today’s fast-paced world, information is readily available at the click of a button. This hardly gives time or space for reflection and assimilation of knowledge. In addition, constant comparisons between offline and online also creates a pressure cooker kind of situation for teenagers.

Panic attacks, tantrums, and dark circles around the eyes are some tell-tale signs you may have noticed. You probably remember your exam dates better than your birthday! Parents say “STUDY!”, but even spelling it is a stress!

Unfortunately, such stress can lead to a stage where you may think yourself to be worthless. It is like a vicious cycle that can negatively impact your performance and score. 

So how does one cope in such a situation? First and foremost, sit back, think, and ask yourself:

• Are you alienating yourself from your support peer group and parents?
• Are you questioning your self-worth?
• Is sleep your worst enemy?
• Has your mealtime become a chore?
• Do you feel that you may not meet the expectations of your parents or social group?
• Do you have difficulty in focusing? 
• Are you a time bomb waiting to explode?

You might have other symptoms of stress that are not listed here and that’s okay. No two people are born alike. We are all different and cope with stress in different ways. 

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The post Feeling the Exam Pressure? Be Determined to Conquer It All! appeared first on The Teenager Today.

I am in Class 9 and I want to become a doctor. But I’m not able to focus on my studies. I want to pass the Class 10 board exams with flying colours. What should I do to focus on my studies?
Nishika (14) / Notre Dame School, Delhi

Since you want to be a doctor, find out for yourself which course you should do, what is the selection process and the level of competition, etc. Once you know your goal and what is required to achieve it, it will be easier to stay motivated and interested in your studies.

Here are some other tips:

• Don’t study for hours at a stretch and burn yourself out. Instead, study in short bursts followed by a small break. Taking short breaks every hour or so can help you recharge your brain and reduce fatigue.
• Don’t put yourself down by comparing yourself to others.
• Seek accountability; it can be an excellent way to develop an interest in studies. By sharing your study goals and progress with others, such as friends, family, or study groups, you can increase motivation and accountability.
• Take help for difficult subjects.
• Make a study time table as well as a goal for every day. Follow your time table and try to reach your goal regularly.
• Studying in a group is not only fun, but it also gives everyone in the group a sense of responsibility.

The post I want to pass the Class 10 board exams with flying colours appeared first on The Teenager Today.

2 days and 10 chapters more to go!
Will I finish studying?
What if I don’t complete the paper?
I should have planned better.
Why did I waste so much time?
I am so exhausted right now.
Will I fail?

How often have you asked yourself these questions?

Students often feel that the syllabus is very limited and that they can finish it in a single reading, until they actually sit with their books and realize that it’s a completely different story. Planning and organization play a key role here. Most students underestimate their time and this leads to them fumbling last minute. It is also said that students generally start studying the subject they like the most. It is suggested that you start with the subject that you find the most difficult.

Learning certain strategies to retain information better is very important. How do we learn the colours of the rainbow? VIBGYOR is the word that helps us recollect all the colours quickly. In the same way, students need to form certain strategies to grasp lessons better.

Academic burnout is very common, it is also on the rise when a student is less prepared. This is because the anxiety of being under-prepared adds to the burnout and fatigue.

Tips to help you deal with academic burnout and conquer demotivation

1. Make time for things that make you happy.
Set aside a time where you only do things you really like. It could be watching a good movie or reading a book. For that full amount of time you don’t do anything but that. Limit it to 30 minutes in case your exams are just around the corner.

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Studying as an MBBS student may be overwhelming sometimes. Since the syllabus is vast, you can benefit by dividing the portion equally and preparing an organised daily timetable to help you learn better. Make sure you keep some time as free time or a break time to avoid getting too bogged down by the syllabus. Try learning in terms of pointers first and later elaborate on what you have learnt. Use a highlighter wherever required, this would help to magnify important words or statements. Try to maintain a book on pointers only, this will help you revise your entire portion at one glance, last minute. You can also audio record yourself as you read out a difficult answer and hear it later; according to studies, listening to your own voice repeatedly can help you memorise better.

The post I am having difficulty in preparing for my exams appeared first on The Teenager Today.

It is against this background that we bring you, this month, a special article, Day Of The Results, by Dr Augustine Pinto, well-known educationist and Founder-Chairman of Ryan International Group of Institutions. Dr Pinto, himself a parent, affirms what the agitating parents seem to have realised, though belatedly, thanks to the Corona virus: “Parents need to understand that children are more important than the marks and the ranks you want them to score in examinations… failure in an exam or their scoring lesser marks than you expected, is not the end of the world!”

The same positive thought is beautifully reflected in another article in the present issue From Rejection to Acceptance by Dr George Kaitholil, a reputed author of numerous motivational books, published by Better Yourself Books. “Rejection (failure, too) hurts, and hurts like hell! Paradoxically it is also a moment of great potential!” says Dr Kaitholil.

The July 2020 issue brings you a lot more, still homebound due to Covid 19. Johnny Orlando, the new teenage sensation on the cover, and the exclusive interview with him by Verus Ferreira, is sure to fascinate you! You might even want to start reading about Johnny before the other articles though they are all equally interesting and beneficial.

Do You Have a Role Model? by Denny Joseph, Making a Difference in Corona Times by F. M. Britto, the special feature: The East Indians – An Enduring Image by Irwin Almeida are all there for you in addition to the regular columns, making the present issue really memorable. However,we are unable to send you the hard copy, yet. So make sure you get an e-copy from our office and share it with your friends, as well!

The post “Exams don’t matter, but children do!” appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Dear Akshay,

You have shown courage by owning up that you resort to copying in your exams… it is heartening to see that you want to take steps to learn better and get out of it, as well as to secure a good percentage.

Rather than studying a lot (quantity), study effectively using a mix of study techniques (quality). Here’s how you can do so:

Engage with information that you read or hear (with your senses):

• Focus to understand it clearly.
• Make it meaningful — relate it to your daily life using examples; associate it with something familiar.

Process and store the information:

• Find patterns, such as similarities or differences.
• Group or chunk similar items together.
• Transfer information from one form to another, e.g., written to visual such as diagrams, tables, flash cards, and so on; or audio to written such as taking notes in bullet points and diagrams.
• Use funny methods such as mnemonics or your favourite movie character as a part of your study.
• Write — it helps to fix information in your mind.

Recall the information by solving lots of papers so that you know exactly what you don’t know well.

Practise or revise at regular intervals — not just once.

In addition, socialize, exercise, eat healthy, sleep enough and take micro breaks and naps (5 to 15 min) to boost memory… and you’re good to go!

The post Whatever I study I forget appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Dear Prachi,

Maths sure looks like a subject that makes you freeze and feel that you’re no good! It so upsets you that your parents and teachers scold you about it and don’t quite get what’s happening with you.

Build the habit of working step-by-step for each sum. Write down or recite the steps in your mind. In the exam, you can write the steps on a rough sheet if permitted. For example, with constructions, mentally go over the sequence: First draw a line. Then place your compass on Point A and draw an arc and so on. Focus on accuracy and steps, not on speed. When the steps are correct, the speed will come. You can also use a sheet of paper to cover the next sum so that you focus on only one sum at a time.

Before an exam, calm yourself by doing 3 to 5 rounds of breathing. Stand with your hands on your hips, feet slightly apart. Breathe slowly and let your belly rise and fall as you do. Count up to 5 while inhaling and 5 while exhaling. (Avoid straining while doing so). During the exam, if you feel panicky, support yourself by putting one hand on your belly and one on your upper chest just below your throat. Close your eyes and breathe slowly 2-3 times.

Finally, change your self-talk. Put up posters saying stuff like, “Maths is cool and so am I!” “Numbers are my friends” or “Exams are just sheets of papers with questions that I can calmly answer!” All the best!

The post I panic and spoil the exam appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Examination stress is pretty much common among students these days. All students pass through this critical phase which arises out of excessive worries about excelling at and outshining other competitors in the race. The fear of examinations, referred to as ‘examination phobia’, adversely affects performance and abnormally disturbs the psychological balance of an examinee. It is characterized by feelings of utter confusion, worry, frustration, anxiety, depression, frustration and perplexity.

However, psychologists believe that a certain degree of stress is essential for a better performance both in the examination and life, because stress functions as a catalyst. Moreover, a little stress to some extent makes us stay focused on the goal that we want to reach in our lives.

Busting exam stress requires a two-pronged strategy — first, students must plan seriously and meticulously to prepare well for the examinations. Secondly, they need to stay cool, calm and composed when the pressure of doing better than others starts occupying their minds and affecting their routine.

1. Your approach to life and career must be very realistic
Every person on this earth is born with some inherent special talent which the rest do not possess. So it is very essential for students to recognize their knack and know that special talent. Ask yourself — what can you do best? What is your forté which others do not have? Based upon these honest findings and facts, students should set a specific aim in their lives.
There is no gainsaying the fact that setting goals without knowing your strengths and weaknesses would merely place you in jeopardy. Besides, your goal must not be influenced by the unrealistic dreams of your parents and peer pressure. This way you will be able to stave off undue stress in your life.

2. You must have a flawless and practical study plan
Planning is the stepping stone to success. That is why it is said that if you fail to plan you plan to fail! An immaculate study plan is essential for good examination preparation. However, before making the plan one must keep in the mind how many hours you have at your disposal to give to serious study. Planning only for the sake of planning will not help.

3. Do not hide your problems
Under stressful conditions, it is better to talk openly about your problems with someone you trust most and whom you consider as your confidant. Sharing problems reduces tension. The sensitive, empathetic, sympathetic and caring attitude of the parents at this critical time of anxiety may prove to be a much-needed cushion. Teachers too may prove to be saviours. They can help dispel any fear or phobia that might have arisen due to the pressure of imminent examinations.

Read the full article by subscribing to the print or digital editions of THE TEENAGER TODAY.

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Dear Anamika,

You are under a great deal of pressure, and are feeling quite hurt that your parents use harsh words. Your confidence has taken a huge hit and you feel depressed.

It is at this moment that you need to take charge of yourself and to focus on your goal, which is to make sure you learn thoroughly and feel confident.

So, here’s a simple equation in steps:

Before Exams (Clear Understanding + Learning + Memorizing + 3 × Practice) + During Exams (Recalling + Reproducing on paper) = Marks

So, Before Exams, ask for help to make sure you have clearly understood everything you need to learn, especially what is difficult. Solve practice papers/questions and find out where you made mistakes and correct them. Be firm about putting in the required study time and say ‘No’ to distractions. This will give you confidence During Exams.

Show your parents how committed you are. Share with them that you feel hurt and lose confidence when they use harsh words. Ask for their support.

When you don’t love, respect or think for yourself, you will say ‘yes’ to others easily. Know what is important to you; say ‘No’ to the rest. People will stop using you and start respecting you.

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