I started this blog intending to always be around, writing atleast once every two days. quite an easily achievable feat, but then there is this concept of examinations. They take us away from our other commitments, rob us of our sleep and unfortunately they still find a way to trample on our esteems and personal confidence at times (especially when you refuse to heed to their commandeering demands). So by now I guess you have already figured out why I have been absent from what is supposed to be my new love. Examinations!!
The subject of examinations is something every one has an opinion about depending on who they are and what they do in the society at large. Let me try and give you what some of the various categories of people of interest may think or have to say concerning examinations.
Firstly, lets take a students perspective, obviously because I am a student. To a student, the reaction without a doubt is, 'why examinations?' They may be construed to be nothing more than a punishment for who knows what (being a student?) Why would lecturers and our professors teach us and not believe that we understood them? Is it that they have that little faith in us or that they doubt their teaching skills? One more thing, why do they use materials while teaching and then go ahead to prohibit us from referring to ours while answering questions they had to refer to materials before asking? What happened to being fair?
Secondly, lets try and fit into the teacher's shoes. In their capacity as scholars they believe examinations are the only way they can be able to tell whether we, as students, have the capacity to grasp the concepts taught and apply them accordingly. Flash that crap!! As teachers they only try to intimidate us, make us believe them the heroes, that they still know more than we do. They are out to punish the instances we missed lectures because we were cool enough to know that the hottest artists were performing in town or that hollywood was at its best again. Since when did being cool become an offence?
Finally enters the parents and guardians. To them examinations are to show and prove how good kids we make, how we are attentive, respectful and on the verge of achieving the very best in the society. They want what is best for us, and how else can this be achieved than by getting the straight As? You must be the dumbest person in that examination room if you believe that, and your lecturer knows it and is probably already celebrating. What your parents want is self satisfaction that they did their part and did it well, and for you to leave their house and stop asking for allowances and there is no better way of solving this for the long term than having you pass your exams, get a good job and fend for yourself. It is also an additional source of retirement benefits. So when you graduate and you see your parents happy and all, try and find out the root reason.
Now that you know the real reasons behind examinations like I do, I am not asking you to rebel against exams, ensure you pass them, for the right reasons though. It is not an offence to be cool, but it will not be cool when you still ask for allowances from your old retired parents when you are 35 years old. Another thing, prove the teacher wrong, show that you are equally good if not better. As for you parents they deserve their own-time, so find yourself out of their house even before graduation if you can. Plus, they deserve atleast a treat to a holiday trip from you and even better a comfortable retirement life.
Three papers down, four to go for me in this semester's examinations for me. All the best of luck for those who are in it with me, currently or at any other time.
