03/06/2020
Dear Grade 12 Students
The Grade 12 year is challenging even under normal conditions; the pressure of your parents, the expectations of your teachers and your own plans for the future weigh heavily on your shoulders.
Then along comes this novel coronavirus that makes a high-pressure situation potentially worse. At least that’s how it feels when facing the most important school examination of your lives.
Here’s some advice on how to not only cope but excel in this year of the pandemic.
First of all, take big deep breaths, relax and try to see this viral threat in perspective. Unlike any other students of your generation, you are literally facing a battle between life and death.
If school and society had stayed open, we would be burying many more people than the number who have died so far.
I am sure you agree that staying at home to save your life and those of so many others around you is a much better choice. Enjoy this moment, because in it you can celebrate life.
Second, if you find yourself anxious and stressed, try to do something about it. Do not read or watch the news for more than an hour a day because what you will find is wall-to-wall coverage of infections, hospitalisations and deaths. It can be quite depressing and frightening.
Tune in to some late-night comedy, read a book or watch Netflix (not pandemic movies like Contagion and I am Legend!) or walk around the house 10 times a day.
Third, create opportunities for laughter.
Fourth, establish a study routine. In other words, prepare yourself for the final examinations as if nothing has changed. Get up early, set a plan for the day (and week and month) so that you cover geography from, say, 8-10, then a 30-minute break after which you solve some mathematics problems for two hours and then another break, and so on.
It might help you to do this with a friend in your class or grade (hint, preferably someone smarter than you on subject X or Y) and solve problems or examination questions together.
Fifth, do something completely new.
Sixth, whatever you do, please do not fret about what will happen to the school year.
Seventh, never doubt that this crisis will end.
