By ARPITA PRIYADARSHINI MISHRA
INTRODUCTION:-
In India, finishing school does not mean that life truly begins. For many young people, it marks the start of waiting. Waiting for exam results, waiting for cut-offs, waiting for another attempt, and waiting for the day when life finally feels stable. This long period of uncertainty, quietly accepted as “normal”, is slowly reshaping the mental health of Indian youth.
When we look at students outside coaching centres, libraries, hostels, or exam centres, one feeling stands out: exhaustion. Not just physical tiredness, but emotional fatigue. Competitive exams have changed more than career paths; they have changed how young people think about themselves, their worth, and their future.
WHEN AN EXAM BECOMES A LIFE TEST :-
Exams like UPSC, SSC, NEET, JEE, banking, and state services are no longer seen as assessments of knowledge. They have become symbols of security, dignity, and respect. In many households, especially middle-class and lower-middle-class families, there is one shared belief: “Bas ek baar nikal jaaye, phir sab theek ho jaayega.”
Parents invest their savings in coaching fees. Some families take loans; others sell land. Students carry not just their own dreams, but the expectations of the entire family. In such an environment, preparation is driven less by curiosity and more by fear — : fear of failure, fear of falling behind, fear of disappointing everyone.
PREPARATION THAT SLOWLY TURNS INTO ISOLATION :-
Competitive exam preparation often demands isolation. Students move to new cities, stay in small rented rooms, and cut down on social life. At first, this feels temporary and manageable. Over time, however, life begins to shrink around books, mock tests, and rankings.
A poor test score can ruin an entire week. Missing a cut-off creates deep self-doubt “Maybe I am not capable.” Many students experience anxiety, sleep problems, and constant overthinking, but hesitate to speak about it. They fear being judged as :—
“Serious nahi ho”,
“Mehnat kam hai”,
“Bahane bana rahe ho”.
This silence is heavy, and it hurts the most.
HEADLINES THAT WE READ AND FORGET :-
Every year, newspapers carry brief reports about students preparing for competitive exams who die by suicide. These stories appear as short headlines and disappear quickly. But behind each headline is a long story of pressure, loneliness, repeated failure, and emotional exhaustion.
Reports and expert opinions published in newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express have repeatedly pointed out that exam pressure has become a serious mental health concern. Yet, as a society, we often dismiss it as “part of the process”.
THE COACHING CULTURE AND THE COST OF HOPE :-
India’s coaching industry presents success very loudly with toppers' posters, rank celebrations, and motivational speeches. What remains unseen are the thousands who try year after year without success.
For many aspirants, preparation becomes their identity. When attempts end or age limits are crossed, they are left unsure of who they are or what to do next. This prolonged uncertainty slowly turns into sadness, loss of confidence, and depression not dramatic, but deep and quiet.
MENTAL HEALTH STILL FEELS LIKE A TABOO :-
Global organisations like the World Health Organization and the United Nations have warned that young people facing prolonged uncertainty are at high risk of anxiety and depression. In India, this risk is even higher because mental health is still surrounded by stigma.
Students often avoid counseling because they fear what others might say. Many believe they should “handle it themselves”. As a result, emotional distress remains hidden until it becomes overwhelming.
WHY HELPLINES ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH :-
Government initiatives and helplines are important steps, but they often reach students only when the situation has already become serious. What is missing is early emotional support : Teaching students how to handle failure, uncertainty, and comparison.
Students need to hear that failure does not define their worth, and that there are multiple paths to a meaningful life.
A QUIET QUESTION WE MUST ASK :-
Competitive exams are not the problem by themselves. The problem is that we have turned them into the only door to dignity and stability.
If the journey from classroom to examination queue is filled only with pressure, fear, and silence, we risk losing an entire generation’s confidence and well-being. Perhaps it is time we ask not only how many students cleared an exam, but also how many remained emotionally healthy while trying.
Because behind every roll number is a human being -: tired, hopeful, and deserving of care beyond results.
RURAL vs URBAN ASPIRANTS: SAME EXAM, VERY DIFFERENT STRUGGLE -
Although competitive exams are the same on paper, the journey looks very different for rural and urban aspirants. An urban student often has easier access to coaching centres, libraries, stable internet, peer groups, and exposure to English-language resources. Even when pressure exists, there is usually some awareness about alternative careers or mental health support.
For many rural aspirants, the struggle begins much earlier. Students travel from villages to cities carrying hopes not just for themselves, but for entire families. Language becomes the first barrier exam papers may be in Hindi or English, but quality study material, test discussions, and interviews often favour urban backgrounds. Digital access, which is taken for granted in cities, remains uneven in rural areas.
Living away from home for the first time, managing expenses, and facing cultural isolation add to the stress. When results do not come, rural students often feel they have failed not only themselves, but their parents and communities. Returning home without success is emotionally harder, because expectations are visible and constant.
Many rural aspirants hesitate to speak about anxiety or emotional distress. Mental health is rarely discussed openly, and counselling services are almost non-existent in small towns. As a result, stress remains bottled up, turning preparation into a lonely and emotionally heavy experience. The exam may be the same, but the mental load is far from equal.
CONCLUSION :-
At the end of the day, competitive exams are not wrong. What is wrong is that we have made them the only path in life. As if clearing one exam means everything is fine, and not clearing it means nothing is fine.
Behind every student there is a full story waking up early, studying till late night, avoiding family questions, and quietly fighting with their own thoughts. But society only looks at the final result, not at the effort, the struggle, or the mental pressure.
The truth is, failure is also a part of life. But in India, failure usually comes with guilt, shame, and constant comparison. Because of this pressure, many young people ignore their mental health. They tell themselves, “First the exam, then I will take care of myself.” But by the time the exam ends, they are already emotionally exhausted.
If the mind is not okay, what is the meaning of success anyway?
Maybe it is time we stop asking only about ranks and selections, and start asking how students are actually feeling. Exams are supposed to test knowledge, not break confidence and self-worth.
Life is not an answer sheet where everything is either right or wrong. Life is slow, confusing, and uncertain and that is normal. Every student deserves to feel that even if the result is not perfect, they are still enough as a person. Not just a roll number, not just a rank, but a human being who deserves understanding and respect.
REFERENCES:-
The Hindu – Reports on education and student mental health
The Indian Express – Editorials on competitive exams and youth stress
National Crime Records Bureau – Student suicide data
World Health Organization – Youth mental health reports
United Nations – Youth well-being studies
Wikipedia – Background on Indian competitive examination system
No comments:
Post a Comment