A few weeks ago, I remember reading in the Dear Thelma column about a student who is possibly going through depression because of school and exams.
As I read the article, I felt helpless.
I wish I could have helped that student. I want to give her hug and tell her that no matter what happens her grades do not define her.
It sucks that at that age she's been pressured to feel that way. The age where's she supposed to enjoy life and to be carefree is taken away by examination pressure and endless hours of tuition due to societal and parental expectation to achieve good grades.
I have to admit I was privileged in a way, my parents didn't pressure me to get good grades. They emphasized studying hard but even when I got bad grades, I wasn't punished,
But this girl was not lucky in that way. Her parents expected good results. To make it worse, when she complained about it to her teacher, someone who was supposed to help her. But her teacher being insensitive said she was stressed out too. I get you're stressed out, everyone is, but belittling and invalidating a teenager's feeling who might be depressed is certainly wrong.
You know why? Because they're at the age where they're growing up. They're battling with emotions and are dealing with hormonal change. Yes it's okay for them to face challenges but whatever she's facing, is something extreme which is something someone should help her with so that she doesn't believe that her future is dull rather it was a bright as the sunshine.
I remember when I was 12, sitting for UPSR when my school proposed to extend our usual extra class timing from the usual 3pm to 4pm. My mom thought it was ridiculous and since we were 12 year olds, we would be really exhausted so she was against it and voiced it out. My teacher who did not that my mom was the one who voiced it out told the whole class that 'if you're stressed, you don't think I'm stressed too? I have far more things to worry about.'
Looking back this statement made me mad because I don't think it's fair for a teacher to say that to a child who is supposed to be enjoying learning instead of being pressured to obtain good grades which honestly don't matter at the end of the day.
I hope that society will change.
I hope we will play emphasis on actually learning instead of achieving good grades.
I hope our education system will change to incorporate other aspects that will help the child grow and not every aspect will be tested or a number is put on it.
I want children to soar in whatever they do.
I want them to reach their full potential.
I don't want them to think that their grades who they are.
I don't want them to look at themselves as failures for failing or not being good at something.
I want them to the change that we all want to see in the world.
I hope they would become revolutionaries.
Parents should stop comparing their children grades. At school, while celebrating the students who have done well, find the talent of each student and help them work on it. I'm sick of schools picking the top best in the batch and focusing only on them to churn out results. School is a place of learning. Make every individual special. Don't pick and choose for your convenience. Don't exclude students just because you think they might do well. Students can surprise you like myself.
While obtaining knowledge in school, let children live their lives. Let them go out to play. Let them have a social life. Let them pursue their passions or hobbies. Let them be happy.
