“Just pass the 10th board with flying colors- your life will be set.” Most 90s kids (now adults) must have heard the phrase from Their Parents or elders at some point. The board exam results were, or still are, the yardstick of social status and success for many ’90s kids. Today, school and college toppers get different treatment in society. Their resumes circulate as benchmarks among budding school kids. They serve as role models. But in hindsight, one can question whether this is the case. After the 10th board, young adults were led to believe that excelling in the 12th grade guaranteed a good life. They thought this good life would be theirs forever after graduation.
This ‘good life’ reference after the board exams is still an innocent question. Or is it a cunning trick? The ’90s kids have yet to discover the truth. Marks on the board exams (both 10th and 12th) are still heavily weighted. They play a significant role in the resume when applying for a job. They also matter when seeking a study loan. Indeed, these exam marks from the ’90s set the success rate of their later careers as an early impression. In the CAT application process, IIM-A and IIM-B typically do not admit students who underperform. Yet, in achieving these grades, 90s kids have suffered socially. They experienced a lack of friendships and reduced play and free time. They also faced massive stigma for their failure. Enormous social, parental, and peer pressure demanded they excel in exams at any cost. There’s a price to be paid if you sit at the top of the academic ladder. A few 90s kids can do both the fun and the grade parts at once.
Excessive pressure to secure good marks overshadowed the innocent and teenage years. The need to shine among relatives at any extended family event contributed to this pressure. In the so-called social functions, the main topic of discussion was the marks the kids had earned in class. This was also known as a show-off. Marks from unit tests or even tuition exams were discussed. The successful, high-scoring kids would be given special privileges and praised among the boys and girls for no reason. From the beginning, we have been more concerned about numbers! Nobody cared to teach the kids the importance of sharing, caring, empathy, or character building. Kids were told to top the exams at any cost. They heard that their life would be set forever. That’s the biggest lie the ’90s kids had heard many times.
The stigma surrounding low marks was so intense. Poor-performing students would often lock themselves in their rooms. They would also keep their distance from successful students. It is not surprising that suicide cases among the ’90s kids during school days were high. This was especially true during the IIT-JEE preparation (Kota time). Sadly, this trend persists among students. Many ’90s kids lost their innocence forever. They believed life starts only after good board exam results, a good JEE score, or an IIT seat. Life is happening all the time along the way. It doesn’t depend on exam scores, all-India ranks, or high package salaries. If you want to make your Life count as meaningful, there are many ways to achieve it.
Recalling my school and college days, one question comes to mind. Why do the toppers always have a fan group among their peers? Is it someone special? Why do the girls have secret crushes on the nerdy toppers(boys) at a very young age, or vice versa? These mind-boggling questions don’t have any specific answers. A preliminary psychological evaluation of the issue suggests that a love for large numbers also influences love and attraction.
Rote learning became widespread in the education system. This happened shortly after the wish for high marks plummeted among students, parents, and teachers. Original learning and research have become overlooked topics among career seekers. Now, a few online platforms are trying to offer full-scale learning to students through e-platforms. It’s advisable to wait and watch before concluding the efficacy of these platforms’ learning impact on young kids.
Even the tendency to fear or appease God developed among the 90s kids under exam pressure. The bribes given to God for better exam results are many and, more importantly, hilarious. The Innocence of the younger kids is lost in believing in God for something in exchange. A few 90s kids offered to take me to a temple. They donated Prashad to the less fortunate. Some provided a “mannat” to the god or goddess after achieving good exam results.
In a nutshell, 90s kids felt a mix of euphoria and fear upon hearing the board results. On the one hand, the exam and the burden were gone. On the other hand, pressure built up from the after-effects of the results. This pressure greatly affected the mental health of the ’90s kids. But who will remember the mark of a 10th board history paper? People focus on advancing their careers. They face challenges in their love life or are burdened by monthly EMI payments. Real Life is different, and the board exam numbers don’t impact it. It’s just a piece of paper after much experience, that’s it!
The Witty Stride 