BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: YOUR GCSEs, A-LEVELS, YOUR EXPECTATIONS
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
- Proverbs 22:29.
- Abraham Lincoln, one of the most determined persons in the history of mankind.
In case, you do not yet know or are not yet aware or observant, preparing for any form of competitive event, venture or exercise is likely to put you under unprecedented pressure, tension, and you might become nervous and tensed up too, forcing your blood pressure to rise sharply.
Arguably, competitive events/ventures and such as the underlisted are likely to put you under pressure, tension and could raise your blood level, albeit temporarily. These competitive ventures and activities include preparing for a class test, exams, sporting tournaments/competitions, marathon race, arts competition, debating and quiz competitions, going for auditioning, talents show, etc, etc.
Personally, I did experience this type of health state during my college days at Aladura Comprehensive High School, Anthony Village, Lagos in Nigeria, but to a containable and less worrisome level.
But by the time I progressed to uni – the famous and prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Ife in the present Osun State of Nigeria, it became a thing of great concern to me during the time of my preparation for my first time ever exam at uni – the first semester exam.
At this time, I was passing through an unprecedented level of pressure and tension such that I had no choice, but to seek medical advice at the University Health Centre. I wanted to know what was happening to me that I had become so tensed up and under a seemingly unbearable tension and pressure.
But on arrival at the Health Centre, and after I had been ushered in to see the GP, who sat opposite me as I took my seat, he made me look stupid by the cavalier manner he had taken my health state, a situation which to me I had considered to be very serious as to warrant my going for medical consultation.
After he had listened to me patiently, he chuckled and said to me: “Mr Aduma, nothing is wrong with you.”
And thinking he did not quite get my explanation regarding what I had told him was happening to me, I adjusted my seat and moved closer to further explain myself and my state, but he laughed and repeated what he had already told me.
“It’s just exam tension. Nothing is wrong with you,” said he.
“We have all been through it”, he added. “I was a student in this university at a time, just as you are now, so I know what you are talking about. We have all been through it. This is your exam period. It is that tension – energy that is building up in you that will give you the sustaining power throughout your exam period.”
Just as I was about to tell him I wasn’t sleeping properly, the GP discharged me and said thus to me: “Go, Mr Aduma and prepare for your next papers.”
Reluctantly, I stood up, but not satisfied, I asked him: “Aren’t you going to prescribe any medication for me?
And he replied: “None whatsoever. Go and get ready for your other papers, Mr Aduma.”
The truth is that getting that expert medical advice was the real medication as I looked back today after about 36 years, for ever since, I have been well equipped to handle tensions, pressures, and nervousness any time I am about to embark on any competitive activities, events, ventures, including public speaking.
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