The Class 10 Experience

 The most popular and sought-after hallmark of all students under the Indian Education System, Class 10 is said to propel students towards their future, at a rate which only they can amend. It is accentuated by the popular Board Examinations which mark its conclusion. It is said to test our academic prowess, our intellect, essentially a metric of how smart we are.

At least, that is what we all originally believed.

Through this post, I wish to highlight my experiences in Class 10, how it changed my mindset, what lessons I’ve learnt along the way, and how I tried to make the best of it.

The first revelation that set in was directly linked to the exams themselves. The Board Examinations weren’t just a test of intellectual ability. They cover not only your prowess in the subject, but your approach and mindset towards it as well.

‘The Board Examinations are not just an Aptitude Test, but also an Attitude Test.’

The entire experience of class 10, sitting in the classroom, learning the new topics, writing tests, comparing results and ultimately attempting the Board Examinations can be termed as a humbling experience. The fact that you can't just walk in and grab the prize, and have to fight for it is itself enough to let many people down. That is where the attitude of the student is tested.

To keep your head down, and do your work with gratitude and respect goes to show how little control one truly has over everything. One learns to become habituated to loss, despite striving for the opposite. To not dwell in that habit of loss itself is a great ordeal. 

I have never sat in a classroom quietly. I mean that in the context of always sticking my head outside the door in search of new activities. Quick to volunteer and help out in other events, and quick to grab the opportunity of turning the tides of the class if possible, up to this point there wasn't a week where I just sat in class, doing nothing but focusing. Only when the gravity of the situation struck me, "Oh damn, I have my Board Examinations this year.." did I even consider paying attention to the class for prolonged periods. 

Now I don't say that I immediately switched gears and started focusing only on studies, but the devotion towards the task certainly grew tenfold. Seldom did I ever study initially, but when I did I made sure that I was humble enough to learn from my mistakes and actually pay attention to what I am learning. It was only this change of attitude that enabled me to even survive in the initial days of class 10, without which I am sure I would've been washed away by the enormity of the whole class. 

Even the structure of the examination course seems to prioritize the dedication and devotion of the student towards the subject over the prowess they have. The question may arise, why? Why is it that a certain attitude towards a task is prioritized over the ability to actually complete the task?

That takes me to the second lesson I learnt.

‘Discipline divides.’
To quote Bruce Lee, renowned for his martial arts prowess, “I fear not the man who has practised 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practised one kick 10,000 times.”

Over time, discipline divides those with drive and those with none. Anyone can study before their examinations; anyone can study the first few months of their grade and essentially give up later on. But only those who are solemnly dedicated to their studies can top.

This lesson is one I will carry the rest of my life, because I have witnessed first-hand how discipline can transform people.

I like most others just saw this quote scattered around perhaps in family groups or random cliché advertisements;

‘Where talent fails, discipline prevails.’

But never have I ever seen it in action, until this year. I have seen people who used to struggle with arithmetic calculations in 9^th grade solve trigonometric equations with ease in 10^th. I have seen people who used to struggle with basic spelling mistakes write flawless letters with precise formats. I have also seen people who used to sit at the top of the grade, fall down just due to sheer negligence or lack of practice.  

The secret to cracking these examinations is practice—mind-numbing practice, just rigorous practice of all questions that came and might show up. If one is crazy enough, one can formulate hypothetical questions from the textbook to solve themselves. I have met many people who are extremely smart in terms of their knowledge of certain subjects or how clear they are with their concepts. But I haven’t met a single scorer who hasn’t rigorously practised all types of questions.

The transformative power of discipline is both scary and inspiring at the same time. And the most unhinged part? It adds up over time.

 

I was a sincere student. Albeit not even nearing expectations, I continued to study with dedication, with drive, but nothing seemed to fall in place. Some would say I started late, and thus need more time to catch on with my peers, and they would be right.  But nonetheless, there was always this feeling that something was missing.

One night, as I was revising for my upcoming pre-board examinations, I glanced at my wall, where I saw a sheet of paper taped, hanging there since the day of the previous year’s Scholars Felicitation Ceremony, 4^th of July 2024.  Inspired by the speech given by my senior, who topped our school the year before, I went home and drafted my own speech. I planned to deliver that exact speech the next year during the Investiture Ceremony, when I top.

A bold plan indeed, I taped that speech onto the wall, hoping to draw inspiration from it on a daily basis. With the intent to top the school, I felt that I was already a few steps ahead of my peers. It was only during that night when I was preparing for my pre-boards that I realised, that most of this time, I have been just dwelling on the fact that I’ll top, and never took any actionable steps in that front.  I delivered many newer and renewed renditions of the same speech in front of the mirror, in the shower and before sleeping. My obsession grew with topping, and not the subject responsible. There was a time when I was primarily focused on gaining a higher percentage than actually understanding the subject.

And thus, that night, I took the harder decision and tore that speech from the wall. I felt responsible for all the time I could’ve utilised better, and decided to just focus on what I was supposed to do all along, study.

And that was the night that changed me. From a delusional kid with a staunch dream, I became a student. From that point onwards I just did my job, avoided discussions regarding ranks, and let my love for the subject take over. It was only then that I realised that my senior had the essence of that very lesson hidden in his speech, just that I perceived it in the wrong way;

“Burn yourself in your passion, dedicate yourself towards your purpose. Let the brightness of your flame do the talking for you, while you bask at its brilliance.”

Looking back at it after my board exams have elapsed, I am forever grateful for that one thing I did. Sure, I might not be the topper of the school I once hoped I would be, but I’m stuck with something better, genuine love for the subject. At this point I will learn, because I want to, not because I am supposed to.

I shared the above story to highlight the perhaps most important lesson I’ve learnt during my time in 10^th class;
‘There is no greater motivator than love.’
I try my best to avoid craving fame or to be the best at what I do. I love what I do, and that’s enough for me.

Sure, when I write competitive exams – the power of love won’t magically land me a seat at my desired college, but it sure as hell will help me get there.

 

The next thing I’ve learnt is, to say no.

My main interest has always been science, yet throughout the last few years, I’ve branched out and have taken various other activities. I joined the basketball team of my school, started writing poetry, started participating in MUNs (Model United Nation conferences), anchoring, and joined the school’s student council, on multiple occasions.

And while all of these activities have helped me diversify my learning and definitely grow as a person, there reached a level of obligation within me to participate in such events, as a mandate. I felt obliged to do my part in all of these branches, leaving basically no time for myself and my studies.

Despite constantly being in battle with teachers’ expectations and my own, I was forced to squeeze in time for other activities. Being the Director-General of our school’s MUN conference came with the responsibility to oversee the smooth functioning of the entire event – and all the work which led up to it. Being the vice-captain of our house came with the responsibility of truly motivating all the members, despite me wanting to go study. I had to literally inspire myself – to inspire others to win. We won :). But no matter how exhilarating and fun these activities were, I knew deep inside that I had to actually prioritize my time and energy.  

The ability to say no is naturally occurring to some. But for me, and for sure some of the people I know, it’s a skill we must learn. To say no is to have some level of integrity. To say no is to understand your limitations. To say no is to understand yourself. And above all, to say no is to prioritise for yourself. 

‘Sometimes you have to say no to others, to say yes to yourself.’

For some, it offers a dull prospect of the future, to just sit there in your house, go to the classroom, and try not to do anything out of what you are supposed to. But when someone gets comfortable exploring and diversifying their fields of interest, they get uncomfortable mastering one field in particular. And only with that discomfort of intensifying the learnings of one field, comes growth. 

The idea that this post can change someone's life is dubious, seeing that one must live their own experiences. Well, these have been my experiences, which have undoubtedly helped shape the way I am today. Whether someone gains insights from the spiels of a fifteen-year-old or not, I wish that those who read this just take some time to just lay back, and reminisce about the learnings you've had along the way without even noticing them.