I love Louis, but who’s going to tell him? Abbie McGuckin, St Catherine’s, Twickenham

Being a seventeen year old, first year A Level student, I think I can sympathise with most students across the UK, who are feeling that there is absolutely no time, as exam season is no longer around the corner, but on our doorstep.

The Italians have a well-known saying: “Il Dolce Far Niente” which means ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’. Now this doesn’t mean spending hours playing video games or scrolling through ‘Tik Tok’, trapped in a constricting virtual reality. Rather it is about understanding that we don’t know how to enjoy life, because we work too hard. While we feel that we have to earn a break, it’s said that Italians understand that they deserve one. 

I would absolutely love to indulge in that way of living right now, but unfortunately hours of revision for end of year exams await! This ‘dolce far niente’ provokes the question: should we be demanding a reform in examinations pre higher education? I think we should question whether the pressure and expectations on young students from examinations is detrimental to young people’s ability to enjoy childhood.

As French moralist Joseph Joubert put it, “Children need models rather than critics”. Children are being tested and graded from too early an age (five years old) when we should be teaching them the importance of interests, hobbies and passions rather than strict academic performance. Or perhaps the problem lies between focusing on sustaining children’s intellect rather than developing their intelligence. Should students’ ‘models’ really be good grades rather than good experiences?

Student Aisan Sadeghipour said, “while I feel exams can be useful and a good way to assess one’s knowledge and understanding, I think the pressure can affect certain students’ performances. I also think other skills are not assessed under the narrow focus of examinations.” 

Einstein said, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” Need I say more?

As I am sure all students know, preparation for exams can be challenging. So during exam season, not to be dramatic, I urge you to follow Princess Diana’s words: “Hugs can do great amounts of good, especially for children”, I think she made a good point, as time really is fleeting.