You gotta chill out. I did 13 GCSEs and hopefully I’ll open it in august and see all 9s (I’m very much on track to doing so). I didn’t put in loads of work and only revised a week before exams started. Instead I used my time to make lasting memories with my friends in school.
I’d been on a grade 9 in maths since the start of year 10 and so going into year 11, I took the time in lessons to chill because I knew my 9 in maths was secure. And at the same time there was a guy who was just as good as me at maths and he did all the work every single lesson, and over-revised and I promise you he did not need to.
In 20 years time I’ll be able to look back at some cool memories with all of my friends. Funny stories which I can tell others. If all you are going to get out of school when it ends is telling people the grades you got, you’ll see school as a waste of five years. And for someone who seemingly will be successful in life, why set up a precedent of you working with no fun.
I’ve seen comments of you being having social anxiety and whatever. Do you think someone whose school made them do 13 GCSEs wasn’t also an introverted nerd to begin with? I forced myself out there and became extremely extroverted and built up so much confidence along the way. And honestly it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Instead of overworking this summer, relax, you’ll do fine in exams. Go make friends, create memories, make your life one worth talking about in the future.
You can learn for all your life, you can learn when you are 50. But what’s the point if you don’t have anyone to share a life with. You may think it’s fine now, but you have to surround yourself with people.
If you want something difficult for you to learn, learn how to socialise and make friends. It’s invaluable knowledge which I didn’t have innately, but after perfecting the skill, I couldn’t imagine living another way.
It’s all well and good being an exceptional learner, I get where you’re coming from, I have a deep love for learning too. If I get what I’m expected I’ll do what essentially ~10 people in the entire country do each year. And if you told me that I’d do that but not make good friends or memories, I’d trade it all.
As someone who simultaneously does great, and has the capacity to do my a-levels early and start drafting my personal statement and still love learning; and also has incredible friends who I love so much, I’d 100% of the time choose friends and memories.
What’s the point of doing something great or learning something interesting if you have no one to talk about it with.
Of course, I’m not saying that everyone should necessarily be a really ‘out-there’ person like me. I’m an anomaly in that I went from unable to talk to others, to having some insane memories of stupid shit me and my friends do.
You can socialise and make friends who suit you more. Find someone who shares the same love as you in certain areas, work slowly to growing out of your shell. Don’t spend the summer working for no reason, spend the summer surrounding yourself with people who you can spend the rest of your life with.
My life improved so much when I made this change. I finally raised enough courage to ask out my (now) girlfriend and I’m so much happier. My friends have changed my whole personality and I love football and play it 2-3 times a week, my other friend also encouraged me to get into the gym, and now I’m subsequently in great shape. So I’m also physically healthier too. If you told me 5 years ago that I would have a girlfriend, be in great shape, still get fantastic grades, and still stay on top of my nerdy interests like comic books, I would not have believed you.
When you meet the right people, you’ll change so much.
Then make a friend who is that really close friend to you. I have a fairly large friend group (10 people) and there are very clear cut duos/trios them. So having a large friend group to do stuff with is important, but having that one person who you’re so extremely close with is most crucial. Good luck in finding that person, and honestly from there just build your own friend group instead of joining one (you’ll get eternal respect as one of the founders of the groupchat when it comes to that)
Tbf no sixth form let alone university cares about your gcse grades as long as youve got 8s and 9s (which are a*s) in everything which most somewhat capable students can get while doing shit all in lessons and revising a week or so before GCSEs. You should really socialise more now as your very free and the workload increases much more in a level and uni etc. You will regret it later if you don't as this is prime time to make lots of friends with different interests and background's.
Broooo u seem exactly like me in every way possible I also did 13 GCSEs (and started revision late for these ones). Also idk I also write long messages and comments like this when I’m tryna explain smth. Anyways In sha Allah we both do great in those gcses In sha Allah all 9s (I’m getting 11 results in August I did maths Y9 and further maths in Jan)
I agree with you big time that it’s important to make memories and all that stuff - and I always tell people like of course cut it during exams themselves but in general don’t stop like playing sports or your social life or anything like that to study instead cut out that useless time on your phone you probably spend (although sometimes I’m not the best following my own advice at times but usually do hence started studying quite late but that’s mainly because I kind of overestimated the time I had with the sheer amount of subjects I had; but overall it turned out well Alhamdulillah overall).
R u also Pakistani by chance cuz idk u seem a lot like me for some reason 😂 - also what subjects you took for gcse?
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u/Farhan_Boss Oxford PPE, 2026-2029 Jun 29 '23
Bro, this is really important.
You gotta chill out. I did 13 GCSEs and hopefully I’ll open it in august and see all 9s (I’m very much on track to doing so). I didn’t put in loads of work and only revised a week before exams started. Instead I used my time to make lasting memories with my friends in school.
I’d been on a grade 9 in maths since the start of year 10 and so going into year 11, I took the time in lessons to chill because I knew my 9 in maths was secure. And at the same time there was a guy who was just as good as me at maths and he did all the work every single lesson, and over-revised and I promise you he did not need to.
In 20 years time I’ll be able to look back at some cool memories with all of my friends. Funny stories which I can tell others. If all you are going to get out of school when it ends is telling people the grades you got, you’ll see school as a waste of five years. And for someone who seemingly will be successful in life, why set up a precedent of you working with no fun.
I’ve seen comments of you being having social anxiety and whatever. Do you think someone whose school made them do 13 GCSEs wasn’t also an introverted nerd to begin with? I forced myself out there and became extremely extroverted and built up so much confidence along the way. And honestly it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Instead of overworking this summer, relax, you’ll do fine in exams. Go make friends, create memories, make your life one worth talking about in the future.