Evangelene: Lift your heads, take a deep breath, and keep moving forward.
WITH the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations drawing near, Form Five students across the nation – the first batch to experience the cancellation of both the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and the Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) – must be feeling anxious.
My friends and I constantly feel the weight on our shoulders. From the start of the year, we have had countless people reminding us that this is the most important chapter of our lives.
I still remember one gloomy morning when my English language teacher walked into class and noticed our tired faces. She asked softly, “Why the long faces?”
Most of us smiled weakly, weighed down by long study hours, lack of sleep, pressure to perform and self-doubt, as we shared our worries about the upcoming “battle”.
She paused before saying something that has stayed with me ever since: “SPM is not the end of your life, but the beginning of it.”
Her words reminded me that SPM isn’t meant to define us; it’s meant to shape us. It’s a chance to prove how far we have come and how strong we can be when faced with challenges.
So, to all my fellow SPM batchmates, here are a few thoughts as you give your final push.
1. Be strategic
As my Biology teacher says, study smart, not just hard! Focus more on doing trial questions – they can help you understand the pattern of questions that may appear. Even reviewing the answer schemes can make a big difference.
2. Look after yourself
Take care of your physical and mental health. Rest well, eat healthily and take short breaks. Go for a walk or peek at what your mother is doing in the kitchen – it’s a simple way to take your mind off your books. Remember, a tired brain can’t process new information.
3. Stay positive
When you are feeling overwhelmed, do something that makes you happy. For me, playing the guitar for a few minutes helps me relax. It reminds me of what makes me happy, and why I’m working so hard in the first place.
4. Have faith
You have worked hard, and now it’s time to trust yourself and God’s plan. Keep doing your best, knowing that sincere effort is always blessed.
Despite the limited time we had to complete the syllabus this year, I truly believe we can do this. So lift your heads, take a deep breath, and keep moving forward.
And in these final days of high school, don’t forget to cherish the moments with the people who make school feel special. All the best!
Evangelene, 17, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
