An examinee’s ode to the New Year

As 2022 firms its grip around the world, the O Levels, for so long a source of fantasy, intrigue and curiosity for my younger self, stands right in my horizon. Despite having an apparent decade to prepare for these fabled exams, the life-defining magnitude of the potential repercussions is still enough to unnerve my otherwise assured self.

As I come to terms with the complicated and unforgiving reality of the exams, and life, I realised one important thing – you truly appreciate what you have after you lose it. The warmth of my childish enthusiasm has now made way for the cold, piercing fingers of subdued fear to ping my mind.

Ever since I had first heard of the exams from seniors and teachers, I have been impatient. The countless stories served to fuel my burning desire to be done with my exams right away, which wasn't possible as I realised later. Seeing my seniors sit for the O Levels and hear their tales, the exams became the stuff of legends we only hear, but don't realise.

However, that turned out to be no more than our wishful thinking, trying to dodge the inevitable. As I stand with the imposing shadow of the "dreaded" O Levels as company, it now feels unreal. After seeing our seniors write their own chapter, it is now our turn to contribute to our school's legacy, while also getting results to improve our future prospects and make our parents proud.

The time lost due to the pandemic certainly did not make things easier. The challenge to cope with academic losses and still perform well was exceptional, exuberated by the less-than-perfect state of my mental health. The stakes are truly immense. It is something which can only be realized if you have been through it.

Being a meritorious student from the start, my teachers always had big expectations from me. Conversely, I set my bar too high. Even though I initially wanted to get excellent grades, subsequent realisations have led me to realise that it may not be possible. However, my obsession with getting straight As still burns bright as the sun. Hearing the success stories of seniors from my teachers, my fire becomes even stronger, encouraging me to write my own odyssey in my school's folklore.

Appearing in our lives' first public exam is a mixture of fear and hope. The Covid-19 gap only makes things trickier. As we continue with our preparations, the hope is to perform according to the expectations to make everyone proud and make 2022 a memorable moment in our lives.

That, of course, is easier said than done. Amidst all the hectic last-minute preparation and mocks, drawbacks still remain. But mountains are there to be climbed, aren't they?

Inqiad Bin Ali has 'got a pain in his heart and a love in his soul' to put it in an artistic way. He is found deep in thoughts at inqiadali007@gmail.com