FROM THE EXAM HALL TO THE DANCE STAGE
“Children are not things to be moulded,
but are people to be unfolded.”
Jess Lair
I have
not played any competitive game in my life, leave alone a high-pressure game
like the one (Cricket) going on, today, between India and Pakistan… Yes, leave alone
playing such a game, I haven’t even played a competitive gully-game. But, I
know this: without experiencing pressure, there can’t be a competitive game…
And, what about
the exams – board exams, the regular school and college exams, entrance exams,
and high-profile exams? I don’t think, we can free some amount of pressure and
stress from these exams…
And, I believe,
that a reasonable amount of stress in life is a ‘good stress’… It is necessary
to keep us alert, agile and prepared…
Imagine, a
student who is just not bothered about his/her exams? Is such a stress-free
approach okay for you and me?
As
a teenager, I remember getting stressed out before my every exam. I had been an
anxious kid, always… I had high degree of self-doubts and low self-confidence
for a major part of my school and college life. So, I feared exams, and, mostly,
performed poorly in them. Mercifully, my parents had not been to school and
college. They were blissfully unaware of exam stress, Somehow, they trusted in
God, and they trusted in their children – despite the high or low marks in
exams, I think, our simple parents believed, that their kids would figure out
things for themselves…
Which, we kids
of our parents, eventually, did…
I pride myself
saying, “I am a late-bloomer”…
But, today, as a
parent and teacher myself, whenever I tend to slip into that pressure-mode, I
remind myself about my own late-blooming…
And, with that,
I regain the trust in the ways of Benevolent Universe… I remind myself, saying –
“All will be good… If I have bloomed late, my son and students, too, will”…
Yes, I regain this trust and wisdom.
Shrushti
(17), just wrote her 12th Standard Mathematics (HSC Board) exam, yesterday.
She is the daughter of my dear friends Jayaprakash and Shital, both, Chartered Accountants. Shrushti’s
elder brother, Vendant, is preparing for his Final CA. Shrushti, initially, tried
to prepare for CA; but, soon, realized, that her heart wasn’t in it. Thus, she decided
to pursue Law.
But, what is endearing
about my Chartered Accountant friends is, that they are sensible and quite
relaxed. Their trust in their children’s potential – and God’s grace - is
phenomenal. They have never tried to mould their children according to their
own (parents’) plans, but taken them as young souls to unfold themselves…
I know, it's
tough; easier said than done… especially, when you are a high academic-achiever
yourself…
But, for the
members of this family, Life’s success seems clasped in their little pursuits…
Like, going on long road-trips to remote
places in India, such as Leh-Ladakh, living in tents or inns, eating at roadside
daabas… Renting a car and driving to 5-6 European counties… annual
visits to Shabarimala and other ancient shrines in India, or regular weekends spent
with friends in family’s Karjat (Kerala-style farmhouse) and so on…
And, amidst all
these simple pursuits, the college and professional exams are scheduled to go
on… For which, each one in the family is reasonably geared up…
No stress?
Come on… My
friends and their children are not stones or logs of wood… They, certainly,
know the importance of reasonable stress – the good stress- needed to stay alert,
agile and prepared in life…
More
than a month ago, a gentleman, who had watched Shrushti perform Bharat Natyam
for the old classic ‘Que Sera Sera’ (at The Dawn Club certification function) was
so impressed, that he had approached Shrushti’s father (Jayaprakash) for her performance
on the concluding day of Professional
Speakers’ Summit (to be held at Mumbai’s Radisson Blu International hotel on 22nd
Feb., 2025). For a young girl, no doubt, it’s a great honour and much-needed confidence-booster,
But, her Board exams would be underway… Yesterday was the much-hyped Mathematics
exam. But, the family decided to say ‘Yes’ for the dance… She would slip into
her Bharat Natyam costumes and dance right after her Maths exams!
Well, when they
said ‘Yes’ for it, a month before, my friends and her daughter knew, that they
were inviting additional stress… They knew the double preparation they would
have to make… They knew about the pressure… Yes, yes, yes, they knew.
Last evening, on
their way back from the hotel, I saw this heartfelt note from young Shrushti…
Hello
Gerry uncle,
I
performed today at PSS-2025, and I am so grateful for all your kindness. You
helped me get this opportunity. Even while speaking, I used the tips I learned during
my time in your summer programme and it gave me a lot of confidence. I really
appreciate all that you have done for me. Thank you so much…
Shrushti.
Not bad for this man – once an anxious young
boy – who didn’t know what ‘Que Sera, Sera’ meant…
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic’s: Pixabay
Videos: 1 & 2 Shital Jayaprakash 3 Hitchcock Presents
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