examination? what exam?

"Don't let a single examination ru(i)n your life."

That's a quote I recall from a note written by an encouraging teacher addressed to his students receiving their results the next day.

I've never believed in examinations, but accepts them as part of the process in grading. As much as we all want to get rid of exams, unfortunately, there's no better alternative to assess students. It's plain stupid to ask someone to 'prepare' for an examination, jail him for 2,3 hours and force answers out of his poor brain. You know why? Because even after a year of studying, probably 99% is lost within days or barely hours after the exam. The only thing that remains is called an impression.

I'm not anti-studying. But I don't believe in studying things that you will never get to apply. Yes, they may 'shape' your mind, train 'critical-thinking skills', or they may simply torture the brain and send it into a state of taking mental photos and attempting to reproduce at a certain time. In life, you don't have to store every thing in that confined space between your hair and eyes. There's something called a library which is defined as a collection of books and periodicals in a room or building. Or there's such thing as the Internet which has become indispensible, ubiquitous and the closest thing to what we label as our soul. There's no qualms that basic knowledge is required to be at the fingertips, but sometimes, academic syllabi are scarier than Frankenstein. The requirements and expectations are beyond belief.

Why the need for grading in the first place? Competition.

Haven't you realised we have been just fighting amongst ourselves? The perfect deception of friendships and schoolmates masking the ugliness of competition and making the overall outlook more humanly. Unfortunately yet again, that's life.

It's all about competition. In the ecological chain, or perhaps things closer to our hearts - money, success, careers, material goods, even mating partners. Competition is part of nature's selection process, but humans brought it to a whole new level. Complexity brought next to competition and we have a formula for insanity.

You may not have memorised all or even 50% of the facts in that 200 slides of lecture notes or 500 page textbook. You may not have practised enough questions of the ten year series for your pen-holding-hand to be raring to go instinctively at a similar question. You may not have mastered the skill of writing 3000 words legibly in 3600 seconds. Or you may not have the luck, stomach, energy to survive the unbelievable stress or the preceding meal that accidentally contained chilli padi.

In short, you may not have done well for an exam. Don't be discouraged, because if you have gave it your all, it just meant that you have not mastered the art of taking examinations. It doesn't necessarily mean that you lack the knowledge, wisdom or intellect to match up to others. It simply means, your score wasn't as high in this exam. There might not be a second shot at it. But it doesn't mean that there's no 'second' shot at life. It doesn't end here. It might not have opened as many doors or any door at all. However, there are always alternative routes to take and you might just end up at the same destination. All that is required is perseverance and the immense courage to stand up again after falling from what seems to be like a skyscraper. Be brave.

Or you may have gotten straight As. It MIGHT be due to your freakish intelligence level. Or it might just be because you've memorised the answer scheme. Or perhaps it was plain hardwork that got you where you deserve to be.

But please spare a thought to those who might not have done as well, be it up to individual, peer, family or societal expectations. Instead of boasting about the distinctions, scholarships, celebrations and bright futures. Maybe you can prove that you aren't just a competitor, but a true friend who's there to lend a shoulder, an ear, a helping hand and a mere presence to those in need.

I've been through obstacles and understand how it feels. Sometimes I don't regret having to go through the hard way. Because it makes me appreciate, learn from my mistakes, and ultimately a better, and stronger person.

Up and on.