I am studying in Class IX. I scored 85 per cent in Class VIII in ICSE. But in my Class IX final exam, I scored only 70 per cent. Now I am afraid I would score less in Class X and won’t be able to fulfill my goal. My parents are sad. They say I’ve become lazy and my confidence about my ability to study has come down. Please help me raise my confidence and study well.
I understand your anxiety with respect to facing the Class X exam. You want to score well in your exams and make your parents happy. In your sentence “They say that I have become lazy and my confidence about my ability to study has come down”, I sense anger in your expression. I interpret that the root cause of your anger is based on others not understanding your struggle. It seems like you are studying to satisfy others rather than seeing it as your responsibility. At this moment you are playing the role of a student and you are the master who can design that role. Once you see studying as your responsibility, then you will have all the energy to shape the role of a student. I also see that many students limit the roles of student only to studies and marks. You can break that limitation. You can also see the role of a student as one of developing interpersonal relationships, learning self discipline and enjoying extracurricular activities and fine arts, among others. Also, as you have done well in your studies in the past, remember that capability is always with you. You just have to allow this ability of yours to become active. What is hindering you from taking charge is the self doubt seen in the sentence, “Now I am afraid that I might score less in Class X. I feel I won’t be able fulfill my goal.” Instead of predicting your future to be negative, what I would suggest is to visualise that you are achieving your set goal with joy as a present continuous experience. You have mentioned “goal” and it is not clear what your goal is. Frame your goal with positive sentences and also create pictures that will depict your goal. Paste the pictures and sentences all around your vicinity. All this will help you register your goal in your mind and help you move forward in life. I can suggest one more method to shape this role of a student. Imagine that you are the story writer and director of your life movie. In this movie, how do you want your student role to be enacted? What scene would you like to add, what would you want to avoid to your role? Who are the co-actors (friends and mentors) who will help you shape your student role? Using this theatre thinking will also give you creative ideas and steps to design your student role.