Hubballi recently reported on a tragic incident in which an 18-year-old student committed suicide out of distress over the examination results. The incident was a reminder of the strong stress that students put themselves under during the examination period.
The deceased is Shravani Maruti Kale, who had been living at Siddhakalayan Nagar in the Unkal area. She was a commerce learner studying at Kanakadas College, Vidyanagar who had presented this year for the 2nd year Pre-University Course (PUC) examinations. On face value, Shravani had high expectations for her academics. She said she had hoped for some 85% in her exams.
But when the results came out, she earned 71%, a fair feat, but nowhere close to living up to her personal expectations. She appeared really distraught to family, the media said, after seeing her results. As they tried to console her, she still was distressed. For now, she was reported to have committed suicide at her home.
The community is appalled, horrified and heartbroken. Shravani was described by neighbors and family as a dedicated student, having a passion for her studies. Her sudden death has affected her family, friends and teachers. Officers opened a probe and registered a case.
The police, too, are trying to piece together the chain of events; was there anything else that caused her death? This case once again brought attention to students’ mental health concerns especially in results season. As important as it is, academics cannot determine a student’s worth or one’s future, experts note; in the end, they view the numbers.
But they urge parents, teachers and society more broadly to create a soothing environment where young people feel safe speaking up about their fears and disappointments. Counsellors highlight the importance of open communication and emotional support for young people struggling with academic pressure.
They also advise students not to just keep it low and encourage young people in general to ask for help if they encounter any feelings of anxiety and remind each other to ask for help. They tell them that setbacks are part of life and they can overcome them. In the public domain and university campuses, the education department and faculty alike have asked students and parents to place mental health ahead of marks and not judge results from a general attitude toward the result of education.
