As is traditional, practice (or 'mock') exams have certainly left an impression on us.

Whether it be emotionally or physically scarring, our exam experiences may leave us perpetually scared of Constance Hall for the next six months, but shouldn’t define us. Just like I said after mid-year exams (if you’ve read that particular article – which, I dare say, was very good), the best thing exams offer us isn’t a superficial grade, but is instead the lessons we learn concerning our study habits, ability to handle stress and our strengths and weaknesses both academically and mentally. It is important we give our best efforts; but what is more important is that we gain the ability to come out of a particularly unsavoury exam, brush it off, and move on with our lives with a happy attitude. Our schooling success is not defined by a single unsatisfactory grade and, similarly, not defined by a particularly stellar grade. Good or bad grades alike, there is always room for improvement with the mentality that each exam is just a way for us to test out new ways of preparing for exams.

The biggest lesson learnt from mocks for me personally? Don’t sacrifice your normal routine for studying and keep exercising. Thanks to impeccable study habits (not really) and an innate hatred for physical activity (mostly this), I have now developed mild to severe back problems that are usually found, and should only be found, in 85-year-old people. So, my lesson learnt from these past exams is that, yes, my grades made me happy, but any level of superficial success is not worth anything if basic health cannot be maintained.

Yes, credits do matter and we should try, but as long as we have given our 100% effort, there are no regrets and we should be satisfied. Maybe not happy all the time, but satisfied. In the long scheme of things, high school success and credit counts do not warrant a life of riches, but they do foreshadow our attitude to life and our successes as they show our dedication and respect to what we do. As a result, I encourage everyone to try their best for their exams and externals alike, not just as the Academic Prefect, but as someone who is about to leave all of her high school successes and failures, credits and awards behind as she graduates and moves on.