March 27, 2014
When you read this article I believe it is the examination time in India (or may be over) and all are anxiously waiting for the results of SSLC and PUC. May be somewhere many big dreams are to crash and many expectations are to fall. Along with that tragedy may strike suddenly from nowhere. I was in India in February 2nd week and I read 6 suicide cases in a short period of 9 days in Mangalore and Udupi!! These suicides are the direct results of, from fear of facing the examination; to getting low marks. Age group varied from 16 years to 20 years. Really an alarming situation. Considering the fact that those exams in February were may be class exams as well as preparatory exams for SSLC, I am sure going by the trend, April / May months, are going to witness many more similar situations when the actual results come out.
The pressure in the field of education to perform has gone up drastically. At the same time there is hardly any change in approach in study methods or techniques. Add to this imbalance, we have this parental false prestige(we want to be noticed by others), media glorification of the talent and lack of knowledge about the other plenty of good possibilities beyond engineering and medical degrees. This is what driving us to depression and tragic ends. We are relying on our memory more than learning with logic or curiosity. Everyone wants to become an Engineer or a Doctor. Nothing less than that. I also read about in that week of February month, some programmes giving lessons on radio to SSLC students and some lectures about examinations, which leads to more confusion, fear and chaos (This should have been done in the beginning of the year where a student gets enough time to practice and adjust to a new technique, if any, not at the fag end).
Kindly observe carefully what is happening around us. Today’s modern world gives everything that an Engineering or a Medical degree brings, provided you perform well in the chosen domain. It need not be just these two titles. Just a bachelor degree in these two streams is not going to give you stars from the skies. There is quality education, recognition and life beyond these two titles.
Kindly note that there is no difference in a student who gets 85% and 100 %; hardly any difference in their IQ levels. Then where is the problem? Problem lies in the environment and enlightenment provided at home. So before putting your child under pressure to perform, look at yourself first, what you have given your child to perform. Parents responsibility doesn’t ends by just sending them good school. In fact it is the environment at home that makes or breaks .Have you ever noticed why a doctors child will enter medical field, an engineers to engineering, a politicians will become a politician, an actors into acting etc etc? It is because they model their parents, they are the product of their environment. A child / student don’t just go by your advice, but they see what actually you do and follow that. That less percentage of marks is just for that day only and pertaining to that set of question paper. It’s not universal. May be if there is one more exam on the same subject, the very next day I am sure, ranking / percentage positions of the students will not remain the same (like the best of 3 games in final; in cricket).
Take care of your child. Don’t push them to end their lives. Look at the balloon, it looks beautiful until it can contain a certain amount of pressure, beyond that it bursts and the purpose is lost. That's how your child is. When you are in confusion / lost, remember the laws of nature. You will get the answer as well as inspiration. Life always gives many more opportunities. So wait for your turn. Look around us , we will find plenty of people living happily, earning big money, in many cases much more than a doctor or engineer earns and have good social standing without the label of degrees In case your child gets low percentage nothing is lost, take this small failure (If it as a failure) as a feedback. It is not the end.
Spread this awareness around you. Look at who is depressed and thinking negatively and dangerously about the results. Report to their parents first or to a counselor or give them the positive feedback and put them back on the right track. Save lives, they are precious. Whatever be the nature of the problem, there can’t be a valid reason for self destruction.
If your child is in SSLC / PUC, start talking to them from today itself. Make them feel easy and show your concern to them and convey them that whatever be the results you love them and need them. If any assistance is needed you may mail me to insightvivi24@yahoo.com.