So, my dad recently returned to school to get another certification in his field. My dad has always been an advocate for education. He loves learning, which I got from him; learning is one of my favourite things. However, back to my dad, he was so excited about this course that he undertook it for months, even though it often interfered with his work schedule and was hectic.

Fast forward to the time for the exam, and he had so much confidence because he wasn’t nervous about having to write exams. However, lo and behold, he forgot absolutely everything he had read for his first paper. He was upset because it was so unlike him, so when he got home, I talked with him about it, and we tried to identify things he could have done better.

We realised that he did everything right, including creating a study schedule, finding a quiet study environment, testing himself regularly, and taking effective notes to break down the material. Still, he forgot the most important thing: prioritising sleep and staying hydrated. Due to his busy schedule, he was so focused on reading whenever he could, and his brain was exhausted.

So to my fellow students, in as much as you have to burn the midnight oil, always remember to rest enough so your brain doesn't fall asleep on you in the exam hall.