As exam season begins in earnest, LWC Headmaster, Adam Williams has some wise words for those being tested in every sense of the word….
Dear All,
Coming to the end of your exam revision is a bit like free-falling with a parachute.
The landscape of the ‘real world’ below looks miles away and doesn’t change for ages. Then, suddenly, in the last few seconds, the Earth comes rushing towards you.
Fortunately, your time at LWC has meant you have been well-trained to reach calmly for the ripcord, as you float serenely to the ground. You’re able to savour those precious last few feet before touching down in the ‘brave new world’ of public exams.
As someone who has watched from the sidelines (sometimes clutching a coffee and at other times, offering words of encouragement that – in hindsight – may have been more baffling than useful), I feel compelled to say this: thank you.
This year, you’ve been nothing short of remarkable in balancing (what the old Mars advert would have described as) work, rest and play. Something that I wish more schools (and people) would do.
Let’s start with resilience. It’s easy to overlook, amidst the mountain of notes and colour-coded revision, just how well you’ve stuck at it. You’ve turned up, put in the hours, wrestled with tricky concepts and (crucially) kept going. This is even when your brain would have much preferred to wander off and think about lunch. That kind of persistence will serve you well, not just in exams, but in life.
Then there’s perspective. Now, let’s be clear – exams matter. They open doors, create opportunities and they’re an excellent way of proving that you did, in fact, absorb a great many things (even in the deepest darkest months of February). But exams don’t define you. You are not a grade. You are the sum of your experiences, your friendships, your talents, your kindness and your curiosity. In short, the things that make you, you. That’s what really counts.
And finally, balance. If this were a sport, this would be the part where we talk about rest and recovery. No one sprints for 90 minutes straight. There’s always a moment to pause, breathe and go again. The same applies here. Step away from the books when you need to. Go for a walk. Play your instrument. Watch a TV show. Do something that reminds you that life is still happening beyond the walls of your revision cave. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day. You’ll return sharper, fresher and (dare I say it) more effective than if you’d spent another hour staring blankly at your notes late into the night, willing them to make sense.
So, again, thank you. For your dedication, your commitment and the way that you’ve supported each other. You’ve made us incredibly proud.
I have no doubt that you’ll also find a moment to thank those who have been supporting you; your teachers, your family and the people who have patiently quizzed you on things they don’t quite understand themselves. They’ve been on this journey with you, every step of the way and still are.
As the exams line up, take a deep breath. Trust yourself. Walk in, knowing that you have done everything you can. When it’s all over, whatever the outcome, remember this: the most interesting, successful and fulfilled people in life are not the ones who got full marks on every test. They’re the ones who threw themselves into every opportunity, inside and outside the classroom. Good luck! Not that you need it…
Yours,
Mr Williams
