- KCSE and KPSEA candidates should focus on discipline, guidance and healthy habits in their remaining days before national examinations.
- Candidates are advised to avoid panic, guard their social circles, maintain healthy sleep and diet, and anchor their preparation in prayer.
When examinations approach, candidates, teachers, parents and the general public show concern because this marks a major milestone for the affected students. At such a time, they ought to remind candidates of one thing: first things first.
Time does not walk when exams approach; it runs. For thousands of candidates in schools countrywide, the calendar has suddenly become very fast. Only a few days remain before KCSE, KPSEA and university final papers begin, and many candidates feel panic, as if they have not done enough. This is when wisdom teaches us that when time runs fast, first things must be done first.
The story of the thief on the cross offers a clear lesson. He realised his time on earth was almost finished. He was not going to climb down from the cross to build a home or farm; his next stop was the tomb. Because his time was short, he did not waste it abusing people or complaining about the nails. Instead, he did the most important thing at the most important time: he confessed his sin to Jesus and asked for mercy. In that instant, his eternal destiny was changed, and he received the promise of salvation. He teaches us that even in the last minutes, a focused decision can change a whole life.
What does this mean for a candidate today? It means coherence between time, choice and destiny. Like that thief, a candidate cannot add more days to the timetable, but can add more focus to the remaining days. A candidate’s own cross may be fear, past failures, broken friendships or fee balances, but the tomb need not be failure; paradise can still be success for those who choose what matters now. To confess, in this case, is to admit where one is weak and seek help, to turn away from noise and toward what saves, namely books, teachers, discipline and prayer. The promise remains the same: whoever does the right thing at the right time with a sincere heart will find mercy, and mercy in examinations is clarity, confidence and good results.
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Candidates can borrow that wisdom. Even if the remaining days are few, they are enough to change a destiny if used well. It begins with trusting oneself and refusing to panic. Panic leads candidates to read ten subjects in one night and remember none. Candidates have been in the system for years, and the knowledge is already within them; revision is only polishing it. What others from the same school have achieved, candidates can achieve too.
Closely related to this is seeking guidance and remaining steady. This is not the time to fear the teacher. Candidates should approach teachers with their weak areas, ask for guidance, and follow a simple, workable timetable. It is better to master two topics a day than to rush through the whole syllabus without understanding.
At the same time, candidates should respect school rules and let go of past challenges. The last days are not for rebellion; rules keep the environment calm and the mind focused. Candidates should forgive themselves for past poor performance, fee problems, or any disappointment, and avoid carrying old baggage into the exam room.
Another critical step is guarding one’s circle and conversations. Candidates should keep away from unhealthy talk about exam leakages, endless complaints and rumours that kill morale, and avoid groups that pull them into towns, phones and noise. Instead, they should walk with a small circle of serious friends who discuss questions and challenge each other positively.
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Equally important is keeping a healthy mind and a clean body. Candidates should sleep for at least seven hours, eat well, drink water, wash and take short walks. They should not use drugs or substances to stay awake, since a tired body makes a dull mind, and a dull mind cannot answer well.
Finally, everything should be anchored in divine power. In whatever faith a candidate belongs to, committing one’s work to God through prayer can bring peace and confidence, a reminder that one is not alone in the exam room. Doing one’s part faithfully now gives reason to give thanks after success.
By Enock Okong’o
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