SSC results are out. ICSE and CBSE boards have already declared their results. Over next few days, media (especially news papers and local language TV channels) will be all praise for the high scoring students. Such students, their parents, teachers and friends, all must be feeling very proud. Many schools will brag about 100% of their students clearing SSC exams and many young parents will line-up to such schools for their kids admission next year. Colleges will measure their ‘success’ based on movement of 11th admission cut-off (cut-off moving few notches up, is time to celebrate). I surely hope that you are one such proud student / parent / teacher.
But this blog is not about high scoring students. It’s about those who are on the other side of the spectrum. It’s about students who have scored less than their expectations (so less that they are worried about getting admission to their dream college); those who might have barely cleared the exam; and even those who failed. At the same time, I am no expert in various career options and hence this is also not about non-standard career options. I just want to express my feeling about the situation.
And first let me tell you my own story. I did all my schooling in Thane; appeared for SSC way back in 1983 (27 years is a long time); and scored 78% that time. Over the 10+ years of schooling, I had developed quite a few deep friendships. All of us wanted to do 11th/12th (Science) from B. N. B. College in Thane. And that year the college cut-off was at 80%. All my friends had scored more than 80% … so they got in, and I did not. That was a real shocker for me. I was never very studious, and did not care much about the quality of teachers etc.; but I really wanted to be with my friends. College admission process had singled me out. I hate that memory even now … it was one of the most humiliating experiences I ever had.
Over the years, we all still remained friends … rather very close friends. SSC marks could not separate us; and I am really happy about it. Looking back, I do not think that low score in SSC affected anything adversely in my life. But would I’ve been even better, had I got that admission in B. N. B. College? I do not know. I do know that I would have been happier then… one scar less in life.
So if you are a disappointed student / parent / teacher; don’t lose your heart. 27 years and many more exams later, I can confidently tell you: all you have lost is an insignificant battle (if life is like a war). And:
- If you are feeling bad; it’s OK to feel so.
- Study-wise, any college can be as good or as bad as you want it to be. So if you do not get admission in a particular college, go for the next best choice. Use next few days to have these choices ready … spend time in browsing though lots of data, talk to people, identify +ves and –ves of these colleges and finalize your preference list. You will be surprised to find that it is not that big a deal after all… there are many +ves in each case.
- From now on, your attitude will be very important (much more than your aptitude / skills). Learn to pay attention to it.
- No matter what you decide to do … be prepared to work very hard; and yes, perseverance always pays.
- Last but not the least: Do not have any hard feelings about your score; or about what happens in next 2~3 months.
And as I always tell students: A) Do fewer things; B) Know exactly why you are doing them; C) Do them well.
