The Advantage of Exams

Advantage...psh! The advantage is when they're over!

It's exam time again. Stress on again. Why do we have to write exams anyway? It's quite hypocritical to say that literature and art is subjective, then write an exam on it. Even if we write an exam on it, we shouldn't fail. It's subjective!

But I say this all out of frustration. It's exam stress. Sigh pie.

Anyway, this post is regarding exam stress. I know I've posted earlier on about exams and what I do instead of studying (click here to read about my sad life). Well now here's a list to motivate you to study!

1. Exams go by quickly. I'm not even kidding. You think you've time during an exam and before you know it, those three hours went by like three seconds!

Image Source: Google

2. After exams, you are permitted one day to sleep like for 24 hours straight if needed!
3. All that exam stress weight you gain (by eating junk food and whatnot) will be lost when you go partying and all that jazz.
4. Think of all the series you have given up! You can watch them all at one go!
5. You can finally waste time without feeling guilty...then again, we do that anyway.

All I can say is, it's almost over!

Good luck peeps!

2014

A little too late, so obviously my New Year's Resolution has nothing to do with my time management. Meh. What the hell?

Which is why I say, the whole "new year, new me" concept never works. You cannot change just because it's the start of a new year. You change when you feel like. When you think you need to start exercising, start! Don't wait for the new year.

New Year Resolutions are nothing but a back up...something that makes us feel better. Something that makes us feel like we've been given another chance. A new start.

Nope. I'm still same old me. I eat chocolates. I watch Friends (the TV show). I procrastinate. Oh but I did give up coffee...but on 28th December! So HAH!

Anyway. Point is, it's a new year. But we have exams okay? I have an issue with that by the way. How can we go home, where tis all warm and nice and stuff, and then come back to this depressing weather, and on top of that, write exams?! (<-- such a long sentence that hardly makes sense in terms of grammar and/or syntax but pfft!)

Having ranted it all out, HAPPY NEW YEAR folks! I shall be doing some new things this year. But I'll blog about all that later on...after exams, that is.

Peace be with you.

It's that time of the year again!

It's exam season again! Oh joy. Sense the tone bro.

Anyhu. It's that time of the year where we don't care what we look like, what we eat, when we eat, when we sleep, if we sleep and so on. It's that time of the year when all you can think about is "Am I going to pass?" "Will I fail?" "Submissions" "Reading" "Studying"...grr...so many things!

Why are exams always so stressful? I mean, I'm not one to speak. I've one exam. But I'm speaking for students in general. Why is it such a big deal?! Is this pass or fail going to determine who you are? Define your personality? Create your future?

Deadlines!
Photograph by Author

Then again, to a certain extent, it does define who you are. After all, you are studying your course because you like it. Unless you're being forced to do it. In which case I would advice you to actually do what you like and not do something to impress or satisfy people. But what you study defines you. I study Media and English Literature and that does define me. I love art. I love media. I love writing. Everything I like is related to my course, which is a huge part of my personality. Furthermore, I am eventually going to head for a career that is related to what I study. So I guess it matters. Darn it!

There's really no point in this post really. If you're a regular reader, you'll understand that this is my stress buster. For all those with exams coming up, good luck! Just keep calm and go ace those papers! Peace! 

Express Yourself

So I haven’t blogged in a while. I was on holiday. And then exams came in the way (they still are in the way but it’s a good stress buster to blog. There are other ways too but for that you can refer to my other blogpost, 10 Things I did Last Night Instead of Studying).

First of all, Happy New Year! It’s 2013 and we can finally get over the whole “The world is ending” crap. The world will never end. Period.

So this post is an inspiration from the recent trip to Zambia. It was a rather short one but it was eventful. Lots of ups and downs, realisations, responsibilities, advice sprees, catching up with old friends, realising who your friends really are, hanging out with kids and realising they’re not kids anymore and so on.

But the most important lesson I learned when I was there is that priorities change. Yes. They do. As you mature, so do your priorities. 4 years back, my priority was to make the guy that I am in love with realise that I am in love with him. And for some reason, I wanted him to love me back. Today, I look back at that 16 year old and laugh. What kind of shitty priority is that for a 16 year old girl? I didn’t even understand what love was at that age.

Today, my priority is to do well in my exams. I have to do well. Why? Because I finally realise the amount of efforts my parents are putting in to educate me. I mean, some people out there do not even have the opportunity to be educated. Why should I throw my opportunity down the drain? Plus, my second (and main) reason is that I LOVE MY COURSE. I know what I want to do when I am done. Which is why I cannot wait till I am done!

But who knows, tomorrow my priority could change. I may be married and my priority would be to make breakfast for my husband. Gosh. To even think of that is not a good feeling. No. My husband shall make his own breakfast.

Anyway, point being, even though your priorities do change, just remember that you shouldn’t change. If you want to do well in your exams, do well – study hard, work hard but keep time for some relaxation too. Let the information sink in. Remember, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” On the same lines, if you get married or get a girlfriend/boyfriend, spend time with them – make them feel special, treat them like they deserve to be treated; but keep time for your family and friends too…your parents, siblings, good friends, etc.

Life is too short to sit and prioritise all the time. Don’t let maturity or age affect your priorities. Sometimes, let go, live life and be spontaneous. Friends come and go, girlfriends come and go, boyfriends come and go, exams come and go, jobs come and go but relationships? Family? Good friends? They’re here to stay forever. If you’re reading this, take out our phone or open Facebook. Message your mom or dad or best friend and just tell them that you love them. Life is too short to wait. Express yourself. 

10 things I did last night instead of studying

1. Thought about France and spoke in French to myself.
2. Stared at my blank purple wall and wondered why it never looked so interesting before.

Refer to Point Number 3

3. Searched for myself on Twitter (and also misspelled my name while doing so).
4. Played Taboo with myself.
5. Played Free cell and Solitaire on my laptop.
6. Stalked myself on Facebook.
7. Google searched whether the next day would be a holiday or not.
8. Cried because the next day is not a holiday.
9. Stared at my purple wall more.
10. Went to sleep because that's all am good at.

The Queen of Procrastination

It's 13:43pm; 

And am writing a poem!

What a way to distract myself,

From a fat book on my shelf.

It's the exam season now;

1 down, 4 more to go.

But how? 

How do I study?

With distractions;

Oh! So many!

Distractions that were never;

Never! So interesting;

During the summer...

It's sad, you may think;

And yes it is,

Because my grades will sink!

But what do I care?

I'll get my revenge!

Many years down the lane,

When am long dead and gone.

My great-great-great grand kids,

Will kill their memories of me,

With a stone!

Why, you ask?

I'll tell you why!

This very poem, 

They will all read!

All because of my boredom;

They perform a bad deed.

I don't regret;

And I will never!

It's all a cycle-

A cycle of life;

From generation to generation;

I'll remain forever,

The Queen of Procrastination.

© Anupama Subramaniyam