Survivor
For our Year 11 & 12 students, the examination period is halfway through. Our Year 10 students have just one more examination to go.
At this point, many students will be experiencing different emotions. For some, they may be feeling confident because they have finished or because they believe they went well. Some may also be feeling a sense of frustration. They might be feeling anxious about the examinations still to come or just feeling drained from the emotional and mental fatigue the examination period creates.
These feeling are all normal. Examinations require preparation, sustained concentration, and resilience. By halfway through, it is normal for students to be battling fatigue as much as the content itself. The challenge is no longer what they know but how they continue to persevere.
“We know that examinations are not the biggest challenge our students will face in life but they do provide a chance to practise the Godly quality of endurance.”
From a Biblical perspective, perseverance is a character trait the God develops within His people. Our lives as Christians can often be referred to as race that requires endurance. In the second part of Hebrews 12:1 we are encouraged to:
“run with perseverance the race marked out for us”.
We know that examinations are not the biggest challenge our students will face in life but they do provide a chance to practise the Godly quality of endurance.
A temptation that our students will face at this time is to dwell on the completed examinations. It is easy for them to replay questions in their minds, compare their answers with peers, or worry about the mistakes they may have made. Being reflective is good and valuable, however, once an examination is complete, there is actually little value in looking backwards at what might have gone wrong. Instead, their attention should shift to what they can learn from the experience and the opportunities still in front of them. Each new examination is a fresh chance to apply themselves faithfully.
The Bible also reminds us in Colossians 3:23:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
“A temptation that our students will face at this time is to dwell on the completed examinations.”
This verse is an encouragement for our students. They need to look at their studies not as a pathway to grades or the future, but as an act of stewardship. God has given each of our students a unique set of abilities and examinations are one way that they can honour Him through a diligent and faithful effort.
As parents and teachers, we too play a pivotal role to keep our young people on track. We need to encourage them to remain focused and resilient. We can do this by helping them to maintain healthy routines, get adequate sleep, exercise regularly and eat nutritious food. They can also take breaks from study, pray and spend time in the Word to find peace during what can be a stressful season.
As the second half of examinations comes round, I would like to encourage our senior students to keep pressing forward, focus on the task immediately at hand and continue to give their best effort. But ultimately, our students need to remember that their worth is not determined by an examination grade, but their identity is found first and foremost in Christ.
Drew Roberts - Head of Secondary
