The academic calendar this year is far from conventional. Like everything else, we adjusted to the new normal. As everyone altered their lifestyles, students accommodated the pandemic into their plans. Wearing a mask, sanitizing, and frequent changes to the academic calendar became customary in our lives. I like to think I came out stronger. 

Starting the academic year from home was a golden opportunity for me to work on myself. I exercised daily, ate healthy, and was overjoyed because I got to spend time with my family. However, after a few weeks, I missed going to school, seeing my friends, and interacting with my teachers. 

In April, everyone was sure that the pandemic wouldn’t continue into 2021 and that all would be normal in a month. Then CBSE announced that it had reduced 30% of the syllabus! We could not be more ecstatic. I was even convinced the Boards would NOT happen. CBSE quickly shut down that thought by announcing the Boards would take place in May instead of the usual March. The pre-Board exams were postponed several times, and instead of the usual three rounds of testing, we only had two this year. 

I tried to be optimistic about the extra months of study time, but after a few weeks, that optimism turned into frustration. Studying the same material we had been covering for the past year or so became monotonous and redundant. My mind started playing games with me. I became convinced I already knew the material because of the number of times I had studied the same paragraphs. However, when I quizzed myself, my mind blanked. This became a never-ending cycle of learning and forgetting due to the long intervals between exams. 

Lo and behold: on April 14, CBSE announced that the Board Exams for Grade 10 would be canceled and the exams for Grade 12 would be postponed again. At this point, all I can do is throw my hands up in frustration. 

But while this academic year has been challenging, it’s also helped me grow as a student. The challenges I faced academically are like none I have experienced before. The frustration and anxiety I faced because of the frequent changes made me realize I need to be ready for the worst. Being isolated from others for most of this year taught me that my real competition is with myself and not with others.