Ahh… the last days of exams and the result looming over. This heavy feeling, it’s too much for any student. But you know, most of us adults can feel it with you, because we went through the same thing years back.

I remember having a few last exams left, and the winter holidays were like a soothing cloud I so much wanted to jump over and enjoy. However, it felt like the exams would never finish. And just when I started thinking, okay, two more left and I’ll be floating on the winter holidays cloud, my mind reminded me, “Wait, you still have to cross one more hurdle — the results.”

Yeah, that whole extra stress waiting at the end. It wasn’t just about finishing the papers; it was about facing whatever comes after. One sheet of paper that will show all my efforts, all my panic and all those late nights.

But chill! Everyone is going through the same feeling. Do you notice your friends, classmates and school fellows walking around with this half-tired, half-relieved face? Some kids smile more, but still have a question mark hiding behind their smile. Others pretend everything to be fine, but you can tell from the way they check their notes again and again that they are still stuck in exam mode.

Teachers also seem tired these days. You can see it on their faces, too! They are done with explaining everything, done with repeating the same instructions, done with students panicking and done with reminding students to do this or that. It’s like everyone is ready for this chapter to end. But the ending always feels incomplete until the final marks come out. That’s the weird circle of academic life. You finish the paper, but the chapter doesn’t close until you see a number or a grade printed on a sheet.

One weird, yet funny, thing about the last week of exams is that you can’t even tell if time is moving fast or slow, can you? Sometimes it feels like exams lasts forever, and the next moment you realise, wait, how did we reach the final paper?

Your bedroom shows a scene of a warzone, as if you fought with your notes, books and copies, while the broken parts of your stationery items serve as your used arsenal. Even though you know most of the papers are done, you still have flashbacks or nightmares of some questions you answered strangely. That one MCQ still haunts you. That one calculation you redid three times, but remained unsatisfied with.

So it’s like you just exist in the mix: relieved, but anxious too. You’re joking with friends and then suddenly you open your notes to check an answer. One moment you’re daydreaming about freedom, the next you’re imagining the result report in your hand. So the last week is always stressful and chaotic. Somehow, that’s exactly how your mind feels, too.

Trust me, most of the kids you see relaxed are not really relaxed, but they are not completely stressed either. I guess that makes it a little easier, somehow, that you are all sailing in the same boat. Waiting to know if you have actually survived all of it.

And the moment the last paper finishes, some kids walk out like soldiers returning home. Others walk out still thinking about the questions. Some rush to their friends to discuss answers. Some forget about everything and just chill out. While some stay quiet as they fight their result anxiety inside and try to stay calm. So everyone deals with it differently, but the ending is the same for all: a slow exhale.

You start imagining possible marks, daydreaming a little, panicking a little, then calming down again. You keep reminding yourself that the break is close. Maybe this winter will feel nicer. Maybe the results won’t be as scary as your mind makes them. Maybe you’ll laugh at this later.

For now, this in-between feeling stays. Heavy but hopeful. Exams are almost closing, winter break is about to start, and that small window of uncertainty is holding all of us in one place.

But it’s okay. This will pass too, and soon you’ll be stepping into the holidays with a lighter heart, knowing you did your best. And sometimes, that really is enough.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 13th, 2025

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Published in Dawn, Young World, December 13th, 2025

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Dear friends, we are living in an age where technology has changed our way of thinking, behaving and connecting with people. Gadgets have taken over our lives so completely that, at times, we find them more important than our family or friends. This has created a loneliness that you may not realise right now, but it will grow silently and make you feel isolated.

Will you agree with me if I say that, in spite of luxuries and comfortable lifestyles. The majority of people seem to be unhappy or not content with their lives and circumstances? If you think about it deeply, you will surely say that I am right.

Before coming to my point, let me tell you a little about myself. Blessed with a great-grandson about a year ago, I am thankful to the Almighty for a long and productive life. I have seen six generations in my 70-plus years: my grandparents’, parents’, my own, my children’s, my grandchildren’s and now a great-grandson. My childhood was spent in a small, cosy home with strong family bonds. Although my parents were well-off, my siblings and I led a simple life. But we were happy and content.

The world has contracted into a global village during the last few decades, and life has changed at a breakneck speed. I sometimes feel dizzy from the swift changes I have witnessed. At your age, you may not fully comprehend how society has evolved but, with time, you will understand my feelings.

You are blessed with more luxuries and ease than I could have dreamt of. Most of you belong to affluent families, live comfortably, study in prestigious schools and wear expensive branded clothes. But deep down, there is a sense of hollowness in many hearts, as if we are walking on a road to nowhere.

First let us try to understand what it means to be happy. Happiness is a broad feeling that varies from person to person. Broadly speaking, we can describe it as a state of contentment nurtured by positive emotions, being satisfied with yourself, your surroundings and the people who matter to you. Let me discuss some reasons behind the unhappiness or discontent that seems to have gripped so many hearts.

Decreased interaction with people

This is the foremost reason that has changed our lives today. With huge leaps in technology, easy access to the internet and easily affordable gadgets to use, we have become more and more disconnected from family and friends. Most of the time when parents are talking to you, you usually have your eyes on the cell phone screen, hearing only half of what they are saying and responding with an absent-minded nod.

During my childhood, and even when my children were growing up, mealtimes were the most looked-forward-to part of the day. There was much to share, and we were often reluctant to leave the table. Company mattered more than the menu. Now, eating together has become rare. Many prefer television, video games or chatting with friends while eating, sometimes alone in their rooms. But the feelings you get from gadgets are far less satisfying than the personal touch. Your phone cannot hug you like a parent or tease you like a sibling. This personal element has decreased sharply in our lives.

Lack of positive hobbies

Hobbies like reading, gardening, cycling or letter writing have become a part of the past. The joy derived from reading a good book, the satisfaction when you find the seeds you have planted bloom into flowers or vegetables, and writing letters to dear ones and enjoying their replies are all sources of happiness lost to technology.

Bird watching, collecting stamps and coins or simply going out in the open to enjoy nature, were all deep sources of contentment in my childhood. Even seeing a butterfly fluttering on the flowers in our tiny garden gave my siblings and me immense pleasure.

The child of today has no experience of these simple joys. No one seems to have time to read nowadays, and quick messages on phones have totally replaced hand-written letters. The excitement of seeing the postman cycling into your lane and the disappointment when there was no letter for you, are feelings you never witness now.

We seek happiness in material things

In the age of consumerism, quantity has taken over the importance of quality. We think that the more we have of material things, the happier we will be. Shopping for things we seldom use or do not need has become the norm of society. This is simply a race that has no finishing line, so the harder we run to outdo our peers, the more exhausted we become.

To be content with what we can comfortably afford gives us a sense of happiness, but the majority of us do not understand this basic truth.

Simple tips to find happiness

The reasons for being unhappy or not content with life may be many, but the road to happiness is really simple. Instead of nurturing negative feelings, let us find some easy ways to lead a happy life. According to experts, success doesn’t lead to happiness; it is happiness that leads to success, so if you want to lead a successful life, practice these simple steps to be happier.

Practise gratitude

Your parents may not be as rich as those of your friends, and you may lack material belongings, but instead of nurturing envy or resentment, count your blessings. Your parents may spend more quality time with you, you may have a higher IQ and get better grades than your peers, or your physical and emotional health may be better than your friends.

Be thankful for everything positive in your life and never forget to be thankful to the Creator and your family for all the blessings you have.

Take care of your health

When you are sick or lead an unhealthy lifestyle, you are bound to be moody and irritable. Eating a simple and healthy diet, exercising every day and taking care of personal hygiene will help you to stay healthy.

A healthy body nurtures a healthy brain, which in turn leads a person towards contentment.

Create strong social bonds

I am sure most of my young friends have strong emotional bonds with your parents and siblings. Often, in the fast-paced life we are leading, we forget to express our feelings or feel awkward in doing so.

A word of praise for a sibling, a warm hug for your parents before you retire to bed, or a quickly scribbled thank-you note to them will make both parties happy.

Improve your bonds with your grandparents and extended family, neighbours and friends. Our positive qualities thrive when we connect with people. Leading an isolated life centred on gadgets will only bring loneliness.

Create positive memories

Time spent with our family is pure joy. Mealtimes should bring everyone together, free from gadgets. Taking an interest in discussions during meals, sharing experiences and offering solutions to issues will create happy memories that you will cherish later on in life. Going out together for a drive, or a simple treat of ice cream will make you happier than dining out in expensive restaurants.

Often in nostalgic moments, I remember Daddy or Ammi talking about their childhood pranks, an interesting story about their siblings/family members or simple experiences from their past. These anecdotes brought a visible sparkle to their eyes and a happy smile to their lips. Apart from the positive feelings, these shared moments created a strong bond between us. These beautiful memories still bring a sense of happiness to my heart.

In the end, I would like to tell my dear friends that happiness is an infectious feeling. If you are happy, you will spread this positive vibe to people around you.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 13th, 2025

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