If you are a student planning or currently studying in tiertiery education center, chances are that you've been through primary school and secondary school or even a high school. My guess is that education and school defines your entire life. Being in an education center, you are expected to study, go through exams and pass them with flying colours.
Coming from parents, from friends, from teacher and even your dog...These expectations, since when were we compelled to fulfill them? Since when was it a rule to say that we must live up to them? I do not recall anyone signing a contract saying that they have to score 80+ for their exams. I do not recall anyone promising to a legal entity saying that they have to sacrifice their sleep to finish their soon-to-due assignments.
Reflect back on your past grades. Do you remember skipping 38 meals and 44 nights of sleep to study for a major exam like SPM? Maybe that kind of figure was abit of an exaggeration, but I'm pretty sure you would have sacrificed at least a night's sleep for an exam. Was the sleep deprivation worth the grade?
Think about it. A deprived sleep could impair your brain cells. And from what I heard, brain cells do not regenerate. (Yes, that is something to be afraid of)
Let look at a bigger picture. Do you care much about your past kindergarden grades, or your UPSR grades? Do you even care about the more recent ones, PMR, SPM and STPM grades? Or a more recent ones like college and university grades. Does it really matter 30 years down the road that you got a distinction for a subject?
So as long as you got the certificate at the end, does it really matter if you score a few hundred 'A's? I'd say: Intentionally killing your brain cells to trade for grades is a very bad trade. Your brain cells serve will serve you until you are six feet under but your grades can only do you good for up to a maximum of 2 years.
Chasing after perfect grades is an admirable act, but not at the expense of health. While most students chase after grades, friends, and new experiences, they often neglect the thing that is most important to them: Health.
Sleeping late, skipping meal, smoking, drinking booze... those are the stuff that damage the body more than making a mockery of this article. In fact, mocking this article and the author is healthy as it stimulates your brain cell and encourages activity in the brain.
It is an unfortunate consequence of our civilization history that Health is rarely given rational consideration by students, trapped by their perception of Health being the least important factor in their life. I'd say its time to turn the tide around. If you are reading this article 12am early in the morning, perhaps its time to skip to the credit section, read the last bit and go to bed.
Credit:This article is written by a blogger commonly known as 3POINT8. 3POINT8 is a prodigy child who graduated in the field of engineering. 3POINT8 is a former recipient of TARC scholarhip, and the highly competitive Golden Jubilee Scholarship offered by the best engineering course institute in Australia, UNSW.
This is a contest entry for Malaysia-students.com
Again, I didn't win :(
Then again, I'm proud of what I wrote. Dang, I can feel that my writing is getting better and better. I thank all my commenter who never cease to motivate me. You guys are the best!
Anyway, to bloggers: Continue writing! It'll definitely improve your writing skill.
To non-blogger: Keep on reading! It'll definitely improve your reading skill.
TeeHeee~~~~
[Top Comment by ColourfulWorld]
Never sacrifice anything for UPSR, PMR and SPM. In fact, during the examination period, I play more CS to sharpen up my reflexes.
Sad enough, it's not that I don't want to sleep. 1 cawan teh tarik during supper time will occasionally give me sleepless night. The mind is sharp even till dawn. LOL.
I have twice the experience of not sleeping for 48 hours straight. What's the feeling? You feel like floating in the water. The mind is still there but it is not synchronized with the responses from your body parts. In the end, take a good 12 hour sleep for 2 days...
Here's a tip in case you plan to burn midnight oil. Keep drinking warm water whole night long, the more the better, to flush away the toxin generated as well as keeping your mind and body cool so that you can be more focused and the memory (in case you are facing an exam) will last longer.
22 comments:
I NEVER skipped meals or burned midnight oil. Ok la, the only time I burned midnight oil was the day before my History paper where I crammed two years of reading into a whole day.
Hmm maybe thats why I did so badly.
hahahaha.
ur really love to write, dont u! and yes, improving~!
keep it up ;)
Improve our reading skills eh? LOL. Nice piece. Keep writing!
I remembered watching some dramas on TV and ran back to my room to study during the commercial breaks. My mum nagged me non stop on that. ROFL.
My record is 3 days straight...then collapsed to sleep for 12 hours straight.....
Very very unhealthy.....
i shall write and read at the same time!
Never sacrifice anything for UPSR, PMR and SPM. In fact, during the examination period, I play more CS to sharpen up my reflexes.
Sad enough, it's not that I don't want to sleep. 1 cawan teh tarik during supper time will occasionally give me sleepless night. The mind is sharp even till dawn. LOL.
I have twice the experience of not sleeping for 48 hours straight. What's the feeling? You feel like floating in the water. The mind is still there but it is not synchronized with the responses from your body parts. In the end, take a good 12 hour sleep for 2 days...
Here's a tip in case you plan to burn midnight oil. Keep drinking warm water whole night long, the more the better, to flush away the toxin generated as well as keeping your mind and body cool so that you can be more focused and the memory (in case you are facing an exam) will last longer.
Ola 3Point8!!!
To tell you the truth I have never done any of the above. I figured that life wasn't worth throwing away for just a couple of figures that people use to judge how "good" you really are! I guessed that must have something to do with why I hated high school so much!
At any rate it's rather different in Uni. I love my course! There's not much need to study as everything pretty much is hands on and I do enjoy a very personal approach to things!
But I completely understand where you're coming from. My parents and my twin cannot seem to fathom how it is possible for me to do so well without even picking up the book! They cannot seem to comprehend how it is possible to do good and not kill yourself doing it at the same time. But it's pretty understandable seeing as they all grew up with the British academic system while I did American.
But seriously to see the way people study themselves (literally) to the brink of sanity really saddens me! Kinda feel bad for that person...after all study so hard for a grade that really isn't going to matter in the end . I remember consoling all those dudes who cried of stress while studying for SPM...specially since we don't even use our SPM results.
Great post though!!! Raises an interesting question in the minds of kids these days! Though...I doubt their parenst would approve! LOL!
PEACE OUT
Great blog! I remember during my student days burning the midnite oil was the norm especially just b4 exams. At that time i don't remember paying too much mind to health or what shit i dumped into my system. LOL! But i saw some students getting breakdowns in the 3rd finals though! Crazy days! Cheers!
Honestly... I'm a kind of person who will skip meals and sleep..
I shall listen to you and sleep right now..
:(
*sob*
Thank 'daddy' for reminding me.. :P
P/s: Btw, you've improved a lot and never forget your dream si fu!
:D
It's a pretty interesting article. I can't understand why is there so much emphasis in getting an A when you're actually taking a toll on your health.
Yup, keep up writing! :D
Study SMART prevails.
Read the post five, six times, but still couldn't get through the first paragraph to read the rest of the article. Probably didn't skip enough meals or sleeps, or kill enough brain cells. :)
I think there's nothing wrong with burning midnight oil once in a while, when under pressure during schooling days. But not all the times though.
It'll probably prepare you well for the kinds of "burning" that comes with your future jobs, if you're ever so unfortunate enough to get this kind of jobs.
I always try to cram my studies the night before the exam ... but always end up falling asleep.
In the end ... er ... results ... not bad lah =x
i remember all those ridiculous "healthy" tips like eating this and drinking funny potions to help them study better. but what most people forgot was a good nite's sleep would do the trick. health for superb results... hhmmm... i dont think so.
i shall write and read more.. but ermm, soon.. now no got time to read, no time to write.. how come? coz i'm reading txtbooks.. *sigh*
i wish i could do the "drinking booze" part.. I rarely do that... Ahh.. mayb that's why i'm not motivated.. LOL!
thx for reminding about health.. *winks*
unless is needed, or else i will try best not to skip sleep or meal.
Sleep is important, not only affect the brain, but the growth process & liver too.
Well, sometime we can expect that those babies who sleep very less the whole day (seem over active)will have a small body size when they growth up in the future.
not enough rest or sleep late, can harm the liver too, as all the detox in liver happen during we sleep (11pm-3am), so if u miss this gold period, and drink alcohol somemore, u will die of liver cirrhosis and cancer soon!
ooo i just found out ur from TARC. i graduated from there too.
actually i didn't sacrifice any brain cells. be it in SPM or college hahaha. I study the last week before exam and ZzZZzZz alot hahaha healthy eh?
Student days!! studing overnight and all, but it was fun i guess, specially after it was over,
Hope u r doing fine, its sometime since i have visited you
3Point, don't give up. I think what you wrote is good. Keep it up.
yoish! good post!!!
nvm, i believe one day, you'll really win one writing contest!!and it'll be a big one!!
nice one man. pity it din win the contest. perhaps that reflects the Malaysian mentality too =.=
Heya 3POINT8
Ahax, i've finally found you (in truth, never noticed your comment bout my essay until a few minutes ago) Thank you so much for giving the reply and truthfully, your essay ain't half bad as well.
True enough, all those staying up and burning the midnight oil will take major toll on the brain itself. Ugh... enough death alwedy... It's great to see the connection of health and the emotional factors associated with exams. Thanx a bunch for your wonderful perspective. All the best for the next competition (^,^)
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