Stress levels hit a high point amidst the daily expectations of work, family, breathing… when my Art GCSE coursework deadline loomed alongside ten hours of examination. Why do we do this to our children, exactly?
I thoroughly enjoyed the projects, the enthusiasm, encouragement and camaraderie of my fellow student torture victims. I relished researching artists, exploring my responses to their work, as well as finding, developing and appreciating my own artistic style. It was a stroke of genius to engage so wholeheartedly with my link department and students, I congratulated myself; that was until deadline fear and examination nerves moved in, settled down and refused to leave!
As someone who has been through labour five times – and had very manageable labours – I can say, without fear of contradiction that there is a similarity between the experiences. It is not good! The point of similarity occurs when the pain begins and memory kicks in. Just as one says, “I remember this and I remember that I promised myself that I would never do it again…”, reality dawns that there is absolutely no going back!
If you had seen me, you would have believed that my livelihood and career depended upon my Art GCSE. I was more harassed than I had been, aged fifteen and sixteen, when I embarked upon “O” levels. University was a positive doddle in comparison. What was the problem? Had exam nerves worsened during the intervening years? No. The issue is pride; I’ll just call it by its proper name.
I will have to move to a different continent if I, as a school governor, fail to achieve the standards attained by the fourteen, fifteen and sixteen year olds with whom I have been studying. Put simply, my ego will be unable to deal with the humiliation of being surpassed by youths who are young enough to be my children!
Oh yes, the things which taking this GCSE has taught me are not merely restricted to academic study. Oh no, beyond that, I have learnt that there is still a long way for me to go in the development of my maturity, serenity and character!
I recommend that everyone takes an opportunity to be challenged likewise.
