Exams are an important component of learning. It gives you a chance to assess yourself and to learn and grow from your mistakes. However, it can also be a very stressful and competitive time for students.

Exams are an important component of learning. It gives you a chance to assess yourself and to learn and grow from your mistakes. However, it can also be a very stressful and competitive time for students. Competition is natural among friends and students. Healthy competition can be beneficial. It can push one to be better and give their hundred percent. However, it can harm students and their friendship with their friends. 

 

In a Nepali school system, your success in exams can determine your success in school and your overall grades. This can lead to a lot of pressure from teachers and parents and even immense competition. This can be compared to sports as well. In sports like swimming, if you don’t have someone to compete against, you might never reach your full potential. A rival can push you to get better and be on top of your game at all times. A highly competitive environment has pros but also a few cons. Competition during exams can motivate students to work harder and be more focused. At the same time, it can also damage relationships and put pressure on students which can cause other side effects like anxiety and poor mental health. 

 

Different people react to the same situation in different ways. I asked some of my friends their opinions on the competition during exams. Competing with friends is natural so according to Pali, one of my friends, “being competitive is okay unless you compare too much and say mean things which can cause someone to get hurt.” It's important to know the right balance of competitiveness; enough to push yourself but also not over the top as you can put too much pressure on yourself and damage your relationship with those around you. Balance is crucial but depending on the person, competition could be used as motivation. While it might not be for everyone, Khushi mentioned, “having people better than I pushes me to do better. That type of environment can be toxic but I thrive in that type of environment.” This is a great example of how competition if handled the right way, can be advantageous. 

 

While being competitive is acceptable, you shouldn’t compare yourself to those around you too much. When I asked Yatra if she felt pressure to do better than her friends during exams, she replied “I could frankly not care because I’m smart for myself.” This type of attitude is key as it is necessary to understand your value and not degrade yourself by comparing yourself to other people. 

 

Exams and competition go hand in hand. Having that competition can be both helpful and unfortunate. The results often depend on the person, the degree of competition, and the attitude towards competition. It can either improve your grades or destroy relationships. It’s up to you!