I was invited by the school counsellor of SMK La Salle Petaling Jaya to conduct a 1 hour and 30‑minute motivational session for SPM students, focusing on a question many of them quietly struggle with:
“are examinations stressful, or are they necessary?”
during the session, I explained that examinations themselves are not meant to be stressful, but they often become stressful because of how students perceive, prepare for, and emotionally respond to them... stress usually arises when students feel unprepared, compare themselves excessively with others, or believe that an exam defines their entire worth and future... I emphasized that stress is often a signal, not an enemy - it tells us that something matters and that preparation or mindset needs adjustment...
at the same time, I highlighted that examinations are necessary, especially in an academic system like SPM... exams serve as a structured measurement tool to assess understanding, discipline, consistency, and problem‑solving skills... more importantly, they train students for real‑life situations where deadlines, pressure, decision‑making, and accountability are unavoidable... in this sense, exams are not just about grades, but about building mental resilience and responsibility...
students were encouraged to reframe exams - not as punishment or fear‑based events, but as checkpoints in their learning journey... I shared practical strategies, such as separating effort from outcome, focusing on controllable actions (revision, rest, attitude), and accepting that doing one’s best does not mean being perfect... I also stressed that failing an exam does not mean failing at life; rather, it provides feedback for growth...
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