Studying = Students + Dying

I can't take it anymore. It feels like I am keeping so much bottled up inside. I have been away from my drug too long. I am experiencing strong withdrawal symptoms. I need to get a shot of it NOW.

I haven't written for almost 2 months. This is so unlike me.

So Hello Folks! Glad to be back.

A lot has happened over the past two months. Well, a lot happens in 2 seconds and I am talking about the past two months.

My brother has started with his Board exams. In India the Grade 12 CBSE Board exams are a “coming-of-age” ritual of sorts. As January approaches, the shadow looms large. Every teacher, tutor, friend, classmate, senior, junior, uncle, aunty, neighbour, known, unknown face seems to just be saying one thing – Got to hurry. No more time. February arrives. Most of the parents have a choice taunt for their kids – You don't even have a proper one month February will be over before you know it. Dear Parents, the whole year has almost come to a close without the kids realising so please don't rub it in with salt and everything else that time is running out. Chances are they have realised.

I mentioned a lot had happened over the last 2 months so why do I sit here writing about exams. I don't have any except for a viva voce 2 days later. Yes, I am worried about my brother but I have entrusted him with Allah. Then why?

The answer lies in something I recently came across.

Last week, on a Friday just like this, I was sitting in the book bank of my college. Our book bank is a huge place which has ample books and perhaps infinite nooks and corners to get absolute peace and perfect silence so that one can sleep in peace. Ooops! That is just me. I meant so that one can study in peace. I was having fun with Harrison there, that’s not some cool foreigner so get rid of that look on your face reader. Harrison is the Tell All book of Medicine. It weighs more than a ton perhaps and consists of two volumes. Yes, I like having fun with my studies than being frustrated by them.

(For those reading this and don’t know me, I am a medical student.)

An intern walked in. We started talking about some important topics, study methodology and her current clinical posting. She was currently an intern with the Psychiatry Department. She told us of a case she had just attended to. The patient, a girl aged 16 years had been appearing in the Grade 12 exams. Her Physics exam went bad, so bad that she lost her mind over it. She had all the other exams ahead of her but now she isn’t going to be giving any. She lost all her opportunities over one bad question paper. Every year there are so many students who end their lives because of the same.

The intern walked out and I returned to Harrison. Subconsciously I was still thinking.

Today I kept aside my books and decided to write this. (While writing this line I glance at my books and they almost seem to be smirking at me. They have been aside for quite a few days now. Never mind.)

We need to think where what is going wrong. At this point if I was at any school, college or in any meeting, this would be the point where I would say, “Let the blame game begin.”

One of the learned elders (teachers, some parents) would say, “It is the students. They just don't know how to deal with it anymore. They live distracted in false made up scenarios. The reality of life kills them. When we were their age…

Dear elders when you were there age the seat versus student ratio was way low. Dear old Medical professors and especially very old Medical professors you chose your specialities. You did not have to appear in an entrance exam again after graduation. So without offending the sensitive ones I request you to please stop right there with the “When I was your age” lectures. Also please stop the “Don't try to act smart/confident/over smart/overconfident” taunt. The students don’t act. They are trying to get through. There are enough troubles without you adding to them. There might be some tough eggs to crack but all they need is guidance, mentorship and caring support. For those who still don’t take heed, they’ll learn when they stumble. You don't need to go all out and break their spirit, nip it in the bud before they have even bloomed.

Another thing that should be stopped is gauging a student’s worth by their marks.

In the real world out there it is practical approach of the knowledge that counts. Learning up facts and figures and vomiting them out does not guarantee one’s success in life. So stop gauging students by marks. They are worth a million times more.

A right answer equals 100% marks, a compliment and all else. Very good. Well deserved.

A wrong answer in a written exam is still easier to let go. Just less marks.

What hurts rather hits is a wrong answer in a viva. The poor student gets a weird look of disappointment, a sarcastic or rude remark or something like it is almost the answer but not exactly what the examiner had wanted to hear, it isn’t that word in their head. (The only answer to that is in my head but I can't tell it to the people it needs to be told to i.e. I know the answer and I know it is right. However I lack the power of telepathy examiner so I cannot tell you exactly what you have in your head.)

Some parents would say it is the teachers who are at fault. The whole education system has become too commercialised, they just don't care for the quality of education. The teachers of a school, the faculties at colleges – they are to blame.
There are black sheep everywhere. Stop generalizing. Don’t paint all with the same colours. While some teachers, faculty members work day, night and all times in between trying to give your ward a better future, there are some who take their jobs for granted. It is difficult enough trying to answer the million questions that every statement by the teacher raises in the minds of the pupils. Add to it conducting exams, disciplining the pupils and other tasks like taking attendance and spotting the proxies. In the case of a medical school faculty these professors are also attending to full OPDs. It isn't going to do any good just blaming the teachers. What could be there would be orientation programmes and periodic self assessment of the teachers. That would help to really improve. No one really wants to be remembered as a bad teacher, do they.

The students have to learn from them all anyways. So the students ought to respect their tutors, teachers and faculty members. Parents teach your child to accept what they cannot change. Never talk poorly about teachers.

Inculcate in children the vision, the passion to look beyond the four walls of the classroom or lecture theatre. Tell them they shall receive if they ask. They just got to look in the right places.

Now, the most awaited version. What the students have got to say.

A generalised opinion from students would be, “The teachers, the parents, the infinite people in society constantly judging us don’t know what we go through. Stop it already.”

What I would like to say is this. I have been an ace student for almost all my life. Then I had an academic setback or let’s say that is what others thought. Alhamdulillah Allah has given me a lot to be thankful for even my setback. He blessed me with a unique experience during that time. I learnt a lot that I may have missed out on. However all that I learned then cannot be tested in any exam. It is only in the test of life that I can apply that and that is all that really counts. Today I don't want to rate myself on the basis of my report card alone.

Undoubtedly it is important to study because what the mind does not know, the eyes won't see, the ears won't hear, the hands won’t feel and the lips won't question.

We got to study but not just to pass exams but to broaden our horizons.

We got to study not to vomit out data in the exam paper but to excel in our chosen fields in life. In the future In Shaa Allah when I am a doctor practising somewhere I am sure the patient is not going to come and question me on the marks I got during my undergraduate years and all those details. They'd be interested in getting their problem solved. That is what really matters.

If you can contribute to society, add some positivity to the lives of others and bring cheer – Sleep peacefully tonight you are going to be successful In Shaa Allah.

Thoughtfully Yours After A Long Time

Fatima

PS. If you are appearing in Board exams/Entrance Exams/any super important exam –GO STUDY. People may not call you on your birthday but they are waiting for your result day to come  ;)