I, an Examination.

Hello,

To those who are taking an exam (or exam is taking theirs).

To whosoever this may/ may not concern, I am "The Examination." Yes, you read that correctly. I am penning down this autobiographical letter to those who encounter me at various junctures in their lives. I am not a specific type of exam but rather an exam in general, intricately woven into the fabric of your existence and serving as a pivotal element in the journeys of countless individuals.

My presence is felt at every significant turn in your journey, eliciting a range of emotions such as excitement, fear, or nervousness depending on the level of your preparation. 

But who am I? 

     (pic- a random pic of exam hall from internet) 

I am more than the culmination of print on paper or a set of questions; I am a living testament to the evolution of those who engage with me. Whether by choice or circumstance, you cannot avoid encountering me. Some exams are taken by choice, driven not just because Papa said (The JBPS category) but by the inherent necessity to prove oneself (You act because you must.)

In any case, I remain an exam, duty-bound to scrutinize, evaluate, and sometimes humble individuals before they are entrusted with responsibilities and powers. like exam assessing your driving skills before allowing you to navigate the roads—a fair and necessary measure. I exist, I guess, as a necessary evil for you.

Engaging with me is not everyone's forte, and success is not guaranteed each time. There is a myriad of factors in the checklist—understanding the demands, thorough preparation, effective practice, navigating the objectivity-subjectivity conundrum, and managing time and pressure. Depending on the level at which you engage, I evolve. Just when you think you have mastered me, I raise the bar. My existence is a narrative interwoven with the dreams, struggles, triumphs, and disasters of those who dare to face me.

I adhere to the principle of "equality before the exam" rather than "equal protection from results," although I humble everyone. No great soul has been spared by me; all the renowned figures, you have ever heard of, have faced failure in my assessments more often than they have succeeded. It was not desire that paved their way but the humble acknowledgment of their ignorance, a solemn pledge of dedication , and the perseverance that made them worthy of my blessings.

Why should you care about facing me, the exam?

This question may seem inconsequential, but it merits attention. A sage from centuries past imparted wisdom to a troubled soldier in battlefield, and I'll paraphrase to retain the essence: "No mortal has the choice of not taking an action (or an exam). You can choose a different action, but never 'no-action' because your very existence compels you to act. Wise it is to perform the right action."

I leave it to your judgment to determine what is "right." Regardless, whatever you decide, you will inevitably encounter me—a plethora of my avtars. The question of whether you should care about facing me is nonconsequential; instead, you should consider what kind of exams you should choose, as "No-exam" is never an option.

As someone once said, "Choose your battles wisely. After all, life isn't measured by how many times you stood up to fight, but by how many times you took the high road and turned the other way."

What do I expect from you?

While i can give you some points, this is not the end of it. You must, update, upgrade and refine whatever, whenever, your experience tells otherwise- 

1. Consistency- In preparation. The mindset has to be of the soldier, who takes the command at the very moment the order is passed. Don’t fool yourself by assumption that if you miss it one day, or a week or a month, you would make it up. Every moment leading to any exam is as important as the moment just before it. 
2. Casual approach- if the exam you are taking is a serious one, casual approach would throw you back to square one, every time. You have to improve each aspect every single time someone points out to you. 
3. Complete attention- if you have something that takes your time and attention other than the your targeted exam, it would be reflected in your performance. Some investments in life are zero sum. You put your currency there, you lose the outcome here and vice versa. 
4. Every aspect of any exam requires equal effort, even where you find you are well prepared. If your forte is your memory, hone up your presentation skills. If you are pro at handling crisis, work on maintaining calm. 
5. Your physical and mental status in the time leading to the exam reflect in your performance. The mind that guides you, the body that functions for you, require adequate nourishment, rest, care and exercise to perform at their best. Read this again. 
6. In any serious exam, there is a 90-99% chance of failure despite your best efforts. The stats are like that. Majority of the competitors would inevitably make part of this lot. This hits harder than simply said. And being in the majority doesn't feel good here, you certainly don't like democracy this way. 
7. There would always be distractions everywhere. They would occupy a place in your mind. While most of them you can ignore, some would just be part of your existence. You can never control them, you can never stop them. You would be lucky, if you can at best minimize the damage they cause. The resistance would backfire, it always does. Your real exam would be to remain calm and composed amidst all that chaos that you have to go through. 
8. Mistakes would be part and parcel of whole process. Its like a twin born of efforts. The more you try, the more you fault, the more you improve. They said, “ever tried, ever failed? Try better, fail better?’  
9. Most importantly you don't fail on the day of results, and probably you don't actually fail as such. You just miss the mark, as a result of a combination of various factors, comprehensible and incomprehensible. you can only learn to practice more. Nothing else. 
   
10. You tell me, is it too much to ask?

Let me wind up here for today. Major part of what I have told you is a common knowledge, yet not taken seriously and not applied properly (even by the one who is writing this letter of mine). Will write you more letters, probably. 

With this exchange of our letter, I'll meet you again at some random turn of event, or some exam hall. 

(you may respond to the letter in the comment section. )

Truly Yours, 

Examination. 

-D Ram