An encouraging message for students facing exams

The jacarandas are blooming, which means it’s exam time. Many of our high school students will have an end-of-year test that will be an important point in their educational journey. For some this is a small thing, but for others it is a very stressful time for themselves and possibly their families.

I was one of those who really enjoyed exam time with the promise of the upcoming summer holidays. The exams I took usually meant hours of non-stop writing, where the biggest problem was hand cramps. Every now and then I had to stop to flex my right arm before rushing forward until the final bell. Sometimes I would finish a few minutes before the call and could go back and read what I had written hours earlier. Not so bad, I thought.

Well, I took all the exams and did pretty well on most of them. They seemed extremely important at the time, but at this point in my life I see that they were important, but not exceptionally important. Students may think that their whole life depends on their exam results, but this is not true. You are much more than your results. Indeed, success in exams opens doors to the future – in many amazing ways in my life. But success in exams does not always mean success in life, and it is success that matters.

What’s more important is what you learn in the learning that leads up to the exams, and how the seeds of that learning bear fruit on your journey beyond the exams. Exams test your knowledge, your insight, your ability to express thoughts. But they don’t test your ability to give of yourself; and ultimately this is what determines your success in life.

So I say to all the students who are facing exams: all the best in your exams, good luck in your exams. If you succeed, congratulations, but remember that this is just the beginning. And if your results aren’t what you hoped for, don’t panic. We have a long way to go and you are more than your exam results. Whatever your results, I tell students: remember, the real test is whether you have learned to be dedicated throughout your studies. And no matter what happens, the jacarandas still bloom.