School life is fun, it cannot be compared to life outside, but whoever introduced examinations spoiled the whole fun. You will be busy arguing, playing, and all, but let the exam timetable drop, everybody starts getting serious and all.
Staying motivated during exams is tough, but possible. For me, I know and understand myself so well, I don't do my things the way everyone else does it. While others would love reading in cafeterias, open places, among colleagues and all, I prefer to not be seen, I pick calm corners with little breeze. I can read anywhere, I can read where there's noise, but still, I know what works best for me. I prefer reading in the early hours of the morning or late at night. I have studied myself so well to know when, where and how my brain processes better.
Also, I believe in resting, I rest and sleep a lot. I have never pulled an all-nighter. I can count the number of times I read at midnight throughout my stay in school. Even if it is in the afternoons, I like my sleep a lot. I have found out that reading when you are tired is just you stressing your brain. So, I sleep well and take breaks, there are times I even watch movies just as a way to give myself some break. The brain needs rest, it isn't a generator, even generators need rest.
I talk to myself as well, it helps a lot, I speak positivity and words of affirmations....“You’ve done this before, you’ll do it again, you’re smart, you are able, you've got this. It's not as if saying it makes me more intelligent automatically. But it reset my brain and helped replace anxiety with action. It is important to guard ones mind, cause that's where motivation starts from.
Also, when it's exam time, you can just be all about yourself, people will definitely be around, some will just come to stress your life and destiny join. I have learned to navigate through them from my early days in the institution. Here are the three sets of people I stay away from.....for my peace.
1: The “Huhm, I’ve not read anything o.” Those ones are liars of the highest order. These ones just want to disturb you, they've read even beyond, they just want to mess with you.
2: The “Let’s revise together.” You see these ones, I stay away from them, there's a different kind of spirit that works with them, if you decide to revise what you've read before with them, believe me, you will stutter. They only remember and bring up those things you've read, at the end of the day, you find out you've forgotten. You'll just start questioning yourself.
3: The “Everything is in God’s hands.” You don't need to tell me that, I know. But you can't possibly hand over what you haven't studied to God or to the examiner. How does he or God help you.
And that is part of the reasons why I arrive at the exam hall late, yes, you read that right. Most of the time, I get to the exam hall just when everyone is sitted and they are about sharing the answer booklet or question paper. Not that I love tension, it's because I’m avoiding psychological damage. When you get there early you start seeing people revising, and you begin to ask if you've even read at all, you see some asking certain questions and you will be like...this same course or another. You will hear topics and questions that are so new to you. To me, it is.a self-defense mechanism.
Also, I eat well during exams, not heavy or too much food, just enough to keep me going. Sometimes, it's just biscuits, snacks and that's all. But I don't play/joke with water, hydration keeps the brain sharp and going.
I reward myself after each paper as well, no matter how good or bad it seems. I keep myself happy and lively, it might just be a visit to the cafeteria, take a walk or visit a friend. Something to lighten me up and not keep me down, that way I return refreshed to read for the next paper.
I am not one who enjoys group study, I'm not anti-social, but it's not just for me. I prefer reading alone. I don't need/want motivational and academical confusion all in the name of a group study. And, it's not as if I don't ask questions, I do, but from only one or two trusted friends who I know understand me and the course.
In the end, what keeps me going is knowing fully well that which brought me to school in the first place. My dreams, family, and the future I keep imagining. We all know exams are tough. But, as long as you approach it with some strategies, sense and some humour, trust me......you’ll be fine.
So while others are scared and running up and down, you will find me sipping my pure water with doughnuts in hand, while whispering words of affirmations, and doing my best in dodging all those set of confused people.
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