How Classroom Jokes Led to 79% Exam Succes

A girl's parent called me at 6 in the morning, saying,.....

"Sir, we got your number because you visited her school once for a session. My child doesn't want to take her chemistry exam, and I am very worried."

At that early hour, I asked to speak with her daughter. We talked for an hour, and I managed to convince her to take the exam. Remarkably, she scored 79%.

Before discussing how I helped her, I want to share a few important points about what to avoid when interacting with children:

1. Never Compare Children

2. Avoid Using Children for Humor

3. Never Underestimate Any Child

What happened in this case was that one day, her chemistry teacher, for fun, compared her to a top-performing student, and everyone laughed. The intention of the teacher was not to hurt her but to lighten the mood. However, this comparison lingered in her mind, making her believe she was poor in chemistry and contributing to her reluctance to take the exam.

Here’s how I helped her using three simple strategies:

Talk, compassionately talk, and talk like a friend

1. Compassionate Communication: I spoke with her compassionately and like a friend. I started by telling her, "Forget about the exam for now. What’s the worst that could happen? Everything is going to be fine." This helped to reduce her immediate anxiety.

2. Understanding and Encouragement: I asked her what she had been doing the previous days. She mentioned studying, which showed she was prepared. It became clear that her reluctance was due to anxiety rather than a lack of preparation. I cracked some jokes to lighten the mood, and she eventually opened up about her struggles. She admitted she loved chemistry but had difficulty with numerical problems, which affected her test performance.

3. Strategic Advice: I advised her to approach the exam confidently and to attempt all questions except those involving numerical, which she found challenging. She followed this advice and ended up scoring 79% on her exam.

After conducting a career assessment, I discovered that she had a strong aptitude for investigative work. However, her foundational math skills were lacking, which created stress and anxiety around numerical problems. This insight helped us address the underlying issue.

In summary, every child is special and has unique potential. Sometimes external factors may overshadow this potential, but they can overcome challenges and shine with the right support and understanding.

Feel free to subscribe for more case studies and insights. If you'd like to discuss further or have any questions, don't hesitate to DM me!