From Stress to Success: A Pakistani Student's Journey to Scoring 90% in Board Exams

In the bustling city of Lahore, amid the noise of rickshaws, honking cars, and chai stalls echoing with gossip, lived Ali, a 17-year-old student in his final year of matriculation. Like thousands of others across Pakistan, Ali was preparing for his board exams—an academic milestone that carries immense pressure, expectations, and sleepless nights.

Ali was an average student, neither a topper nor someone who was expected to fail. He studied at a local government school and belonged to a middle-class family where education was seen not just as a means to a career, but as a ticket to a better life. His parents, supportive but firm, wanted him to secure good marks to apply for a reputable college.

As the final year began, the weight of the syllabus started to feel overwhelming. The books looked thicker than ever, the teachers seemed more rushed than usual, and Ali's internal panic grew with each passing month. He had eleven subjects, and the curriculum seemed endless—chapters upon chapters of Science, long mathematical derivations, historical dates in Pakistan Studies, and the dreaded English essays that never seemed to come out right.

Ali tried to stay organized. He made timetables, stuck post-its on his wall, and even avoided his favorite pastime—playing cricket with his neighborhood friends. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to keep up. “Every day, I felt like I was falling further behind,” he recalls. “The more I tried to catch up, the more behind I felt.”

The pressure mounted in January, just a few months before the exams. His classmates started joining academies for extra coaching. Some even hired personal tutors. But for Ali, whose family could barely make ends meet, expensive coaching was not an option. He relied heavily on YouTube tutorials, past papers, and free online resources. He stayed up late at night with red eyes, tired hands, and a cluttered desk filled with notes.

“I had this constant fear—what if I fail? What if I disappoint my parents? What if I waste a whole year?” he says. He even considered giving up at one point. But a heartfelt conversation with his mother changed everything. “She told me she didn’t care about the marks as much as the effort I was putting in. That was a turning point.”

Motivated by her words, Ali decided to focus on consistency over perfection. He stopped trying to finish everything at once and instead broke his study schedule into smaller, more manageable goals. He started revising topics he was confident in and built his confidence slowly. He prioritized quality over quantity, understanding concepts rather than rote memorization. He used past papers smartly, not just to practice but to understand the examiners’ patterns.

When the exams finally arrived in April, Ali walked into the examination hall with mixed emotions—nervous but determined. The papers were tough, but he stayed calm, applying every technique he had learned in the past few months. “I didn’t know if I was going to get amazing marks, but I knew I had given it my all,” he says.

Three months later, results were announced. Ali logged in to the board's website, heart pounding, hands shaking. When he saw the number on the screen—90%—he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I refreshed the page three times just to be sure,” he laughs. “I was expecting 70s at best. Never 90.”

His parents were overjoyed. His father, who rarely showed emotion, had tears in his eyes. His teachers called him an inspiration. Friends who used to mock his "late-night studies" now asked him for advice.

Ali’s story quickly spread through his school and neighborhood, becoming a tale of hope for many struggling students. His message is clear: "You don’t have to be the smartest. You just have to keep going. Even when the syllabus feels impossible. Even when you're scared. Especially then."

Now a first-year college student, Ali hopes to pursue Computer Science and one day work in technology. He mentors junior students in his free time and often shares his notes and strategies with anyone who needs help.

Ali’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and hard work. In a system where students are often pushed to their limits, his story reminds us that success isn’t just about marks—it’s about not giving up, even when the odds are stacked against you.