Dear exam candidate, be confident in yourself and have faith in your abilities

Students at Stem Junior Academy in Kiambu prepare for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations on October 25, 2016. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • As you prepare for national examinations, remember to be confident, not to compare yourself to others, to avoid all forms of distraction, to study to attain knowledge and to fight the urge to cheat.

  • Do not to despair if things do not work out as you had planned.

With the national examinations on the horizon, I wish to speak to all candidates as they embark on their final push.

Undoubtedly, this is a stressful time, even for the best-prepared candidate. There is pressure from all quarters teachers, parents, friends, and fellow students all wanting you to excel. Often, this makes students anxious and at times to doubt whether they will attain the necessary pass mark.

I know that you have all worked assiduously, that your teachers have spared no effort to ensure your success, and that your parents and guardians have supported you in every way possible.

If you have done your best, then life will take you to that place where you will fulfil your inner ambitions. Therefore, you should not fear. Be confident in yourself and have faith in your abilities.

Dear students, as you prepare for the examinations, remember to be confident, not to compare yourself with others, to avoid all forms of distraction, to study to attain knowledge, to fight the urge to cheat, and not to despair if things do not work out as you had planned.

You should not be afraid of your weakness or inadequacies, for there is greatness in each one of us. When we lack confidence in ourselves we become anxious and doubt our ability. Do not doubt yourself. Prepare well and be calm and confident, for it is only with a peaceful mind that you can be efficient in your actions.

Do not waste your time comparing yourself with others. Wondering whether your fellow students will score higher marks than you is unhelpful. Just accept the reality of nature that each one of us is unique in our own way. Thus, do not try to be better than somebody else. Instead, strive to be better than the way you were yesterday by doing your best.

MUDDLE FACULTIES

Take full control of your life and avoid distractions that would muddle your faculties. Keep your mind clear. Take a break if necessary; go for a walk and spend a little time with your friends, but do not get distracted by unproductive things.

Certainly, we need good marks to get admitted to a good secondary school or university degree of our choice. But what use are good marks if we do not gain knowledge? As you study therefore, strive to absorb and retain the necessary knowledge. Make attainment of knowledge your goal and avoid shortcuts.

Oftentimes, when we are insufficiently prepared for an exam, we get anxious and the urge to cheat crops up. Fight the thought of cheating as you would the plague. Have faith in yourself. Be that person who does what is right even when no one is watching. This is called integrity.

Remain hopeful even if things do not work out as you had planned. Doing your very best might not take you to your preferred high school or earn you an admission to your first choice of university degree programme, but it will ultimately give you personal contentment.

Take every failure as a stepping stone to success for each failure teaches us something.

Even if things do not feel as if they are going as planned, I urge you to keep going, to keep pushing forward and learn everything you can along the way. You will learn more from failure than you ever will from uncompleted tasks.

BEST EFFORTS

I urge you to stay positive and make your best efforts over the next few weeks. Worry less; worrying only worsens the situation.

Take the time to celebrate all that you have accomplished throughout your academic journey. Importantly, own it and be proud of it.

I would like you to believe that you can and you will be halfway there, to do the common things uncommonly well, to strive for excellence, not perfection, and to step forward for if you do not, you will forever remain where/what you are.

At the same time, you should never allow what you cannot do to interfere with what you can do. Do not wish that it were easier; instead, wish you were better. Do not regret what you have done; rather, regret what you never did when you had the opportunity. And do not let your victories go to your head, or your failures to your heart.

You may be in distress, but do not let pressure overcome you. Keep your hope alive, stand strong, focused, and calm. Take care of yourself and believe in yourself. Hard work always pays. I am rooting hard for you all.

 

Prof Wanjohi Kibicho author, 'Sex Tourism in Africa: Kenya's Booming Industry' and 'Traditional Martial Arts: A Portrait of a Living Art'.