Look at exams as a challenge

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Do I really need to write exams? I mean, how is the stupid “valency” useful to my life? I challenge my dad to write even a Class VII chemistry exam. When he can be successful in life even after forgetting all his science, why should I be punished to learn it now?
A teenage school boy (who seems to have failed his chemistry exam)

I used to hate exams as much as you do. I still remember how on exam day my mouth would dry up, a fever of sorts would burn my body; how I had to drag myself reluctantly to school. I can never forget that missed heart beat when the question paper was slapped down on the desk — full of tricky unfathomable statements, and how a sweat would break out on reading it.
I also appreciate your logic fully. Yes, I am sure your dad has forgotten all the science he once studied; yet he is very successful in whatever he does. That being the case, why on earth should you attempt to learn something that you are bound to forget, that’s not useful to your career, and a major irritant in your life now?
Educationists? Academicians? Hello? Anyone wants to answer my young friend here? Please don’t tell him that exams are a way to sharpen his skills and hone his competitive spirit. He is asking about why he needs to study something that he is not interested in studying. I am sure there are dozens of subjects he would be interested in learning. Why aren’t we offering those subjects to him?
I think as a society we must overcome our manic obsession with math and science. Hardly one per cent of people who study them actually use them in their career. Plus, there are so many branches of learning out there which we ignore, and have to learn the hard way later. For instance, I have been frequently interviewing graduates of mass communication to work in my own media corporation. In most cases I find they have learnt courses which are not useful at all, and they need to undergo a few months of “unlearning” first before we teach them skills which will be of help.
My young friend, all my sympathies are with you. Unfortunately you can’t change the system, nor can I. The exam protocol is merciless and brutal. Take it as a challenge, rise, and master all the subjects you dislike. Be sure millions of youngsters before you have done the same. Once you set your heart to it, you’ll find that there is nothing so tough about any subject.