Tips to help you deal with matric result anxiety

MANCOSA academic Kemel Govender offers some tips for matriculants on how to cope with the anxiety, fear and nerves while waiting for their final results.

After sleepless nights leading up to the matric final exams, compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, there is the long, excruciating wait for results.

Chances are you’re probably starting to get pretty nervous right now. You’re not alone.

This is true for thousands of students who completed their final exams in December.

While the vast majority are celebrating this amazing achievement, others are tense, concerned, and troubled as they wait for their final results to be released later this month.

This anticipation causes many learners to struggle with the idea of disappointing their family, friends, and themselves.

You need to remember that at this point, you have done everything possible to ensure victory: all the extra sessions, missed important functions, late nights and beating Covid-19.

However, the build-up to results can prove to be too much for many. In fact, this time can be even more stressful than the entire year that heralded it.

Below are some tips for both learners and parents leading up to receiving their final results:
• Talk about your fears and feelings with those you trust. As clichéd as this might sound, it is important to ‘STAY CALM’. Once you receive your results, take a deep breath, and don’t let a bad grade hold you back from pursuing your dreams.

• If your results aren’t quite what you desired, and even if it feels like the end of the world, remember that some of the world’s most successful people have experienced setbacks.

• Success appears differently for everyone, and is most definitely not defined by straight A’s. If you are focusing on your own goals and future achievements, you are on the right path. Continuing to worry and stress over an aspect of your life that is now completely out of your control sets you up for a cycle of negativity.

• Attempt to inhabit a positive mindset; catch up on lost sleep; exercise; find a new hobby, or try to get a holiday job. Have fun, and take some time to think about your future options.

In the event that the results are not as good as expected, parents must be there for their children by validating the importance of trying again or striving to do better.

We learn from our slip-ups, so:

• Create a positive environment to allow your child to share their thoughts, fears and concerns

• Support their dreams and goals

• Motivate them to turn a setback into a breakthrough

• Work together to set goals, identify areas to focus on and track future progress

Success is not always about achieving the best, but is often how you accept challenges, solve problems and continue in determination to succeed.

If things did not go the way you planned, it is not the end of the world; there are always options. Apply for remarking, write supplementary exams or redo matric via a college.