Meet in North and West

Author: Beijing Broadcasting Institute Press
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: I believe the most important thing when facing the college entrance exam is to maintain a good mindset, whether during the review process, the exam itself, or after the exam. A good mindset is half of success. A positive attitude often helps you achieve twice the result with half the effort during review. First, you need to have a comprehensive and objective understanding of yourself. What are your interests? What direction do you hope to pursue in the future? Use this to determine your goals. For example, students who want to pursue art-related fields should prepare for early exams in advance, while those who want to take foreign language exams should pay attention to preparing for oral interviews. Additionally, it’s important to learn more about the universities of interest in your field. Many students make the mistake of only studying hard before the exam and then filling out their applications based on scores afterward. This often leads to restrictions, such as being unable to apply to certain foreign language or architecture programs because they didn’t take required additional exams, severely limiting their options. Alternatively, some students choose majors based on scores without a clear direction, ending up in fields they don’t enjoy. Others blindly choose popular majors, only to find themselves in a competition and ultimately failing to get admitted, which is truly regrettable. The college entrance exam is not just a test—it’s a way for the country to select talent and also an opportunity for us to choose our own path. In most cases, your performance in the exam determines your future career, though many of us didn’t realize this at the time. Interest is the best teacher. For example, with computer science, students who enjoy it find learning much easier and more effective, and they enjoy the process. However, some students struggle no matter how hard they try, with little to show for their efforts. This can greatly impact their future career prospects. Therefore, I hope everyone makes the most of this opportunity to choose their path. Once you have a goal, you have something to work toward. Planning for your future, striving for your goals, and working hard for your aspirations—this is the proactive attitude we should pursue. After setting your goals, you should also have a clear understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. During senior year, there are numerous mock exams that can help you identify your weaknesses, such as knowledge gaps, unfamiliar question types, and areas that need attention. Pay close attention to summarizing these findings so you can target your review more effectively. Focus on identifying and filling gaps during review to avoid redundant efforts. You can still achieve good results with a lighter load. During review, maintain a relaxed mindset. This doesn’t mean slacking off—review should still be taken seriously, and effort should be put in. A study plan is necessary, but it should be realistic and achievable. There’s no need to be overly stressed every day or put too much pressure on yourself. The saying goes, "Rome wasn’t built in a day." Many students start feeling anxious in the second semester of senior year, leading to constant stress and poor review results, even severe cases of nervous breakdowns, which is harmful to both the exam and your health. It’s better to relax and approach things with a calm, yet diligent mindset. As long as you manage your study time effectively, you’ll achieve good results without needing to sacrifice spare time or even sleep. Good rest ensures better review, and engaging in activities during spare time helps both your physical and mental well-being. After a break, your mind becomes sharper. I’m sure you all know the 7+1 formula: one hour of rest plus seven hours of study is better than eight hours of continuous study. Therefore, it’s best to create a review schedule that suits your situation, ensuring you meet the requirements before the exam while aligning with your learning pace. The schedule should also include time for rest and exercise, and it’s crucial to follow it diligently. Encourage yourself every day, reward yourself after completing tasks, and build confidence. Be fully prepared, ready to excel in the final three days of intense preparation.
Mindset during the exam is also important. Many students suffer from insomnia before the exam, leading to fatigue and poor performance the next day, which is truly a shame. I’ve even met students who suddenly couldn’t focus on studying before the exam, causing their parents and teachers great anxiety. These issues stem from excessive psychological stress. Therefore, as mentioned earlier, giving yourself confidence daily is crucial. At this stage, communication with parents and teachers is also important, and seeking psychological help when needed is advisable. My parents, for example, rarely put pressure on me, even though they were also nervous during my exam. They never let me see it. They paid close attention to my mindset and often talked with me. Many students feel pressure from their parents, thinking they’d be letting them down if they don’t perform well. I shared this sentiment too, but my parents made it clear that taking the exam was about competing for my own future. My success or failure would affect me the most. The 10 years of study I’d already put in were enough, whether they were sufficient or not. Regardless of the outcome, I was responsible for myself and the path I chose. Therefore, as long as you’re prepared to take responsibility for yourself, there’s no need to be overly anxious. I also had a few good friends who studied together, helping and supporting each other during review. Understanding their perspectives helped me realize that I wasn’t alone in feeling stressed—everyone was in a similar situation. This made me feel less anxious. Moreover, sharing worries and anxieties with friends helped stabilize my mindset. However, during the exam, you shouldn’t be too relaxed either. After enduring the relentless barrage of books and exercises, some students may feel too relaxed during the actual exam, leading to careless mistakes and lost points. A small difference in scores can make filling out applications very difficult. Therefore, stay focused during the exam, maintain a sense of urgency, and stay alert to avoid errors. Secure every point you deserve and leave no room for regrets.
"Rome wasn’t built in a day," and I believe that effort always yields rewards. After 10 years of hard work, there will be a time when you achieve success. However, entering university doesn’t mean the end of the journey, especially when you’re just starting out. Paying attention to mindset adjustment is crucial. When you first enter university, you’re likely excited and overwhelmed, especially since you’re no longer under your parents’ control and professors are far less involved in every detail compared to high school teachers. It’s like a bird breaking free from a cage, ready to fly but sometimes losing focus. Some get addicted to games, others rush to make friends, and often by the end of the semester, they realize they’ve wasted precious time. Many students fail courses in their first year, and some even face retention. For those who’ve already endured the "black July" of the college entrance exam, isn’t it ironic to fail in such minor challenges? No matter how well you performed in high school, university is a new beginning. As the banner at Beijing Broadcasting Institute reads when welcoming new students, "This is the end, but also the start." You can’t rest on your high school achievements and sleep through your university years. Four years may seem long or short, but if you waste them, they’ll pass in a blink, leaving nothing behind. Adjusting to university life can be challenging, as the pressure of senior year contrasts sharply with the freedom of university. However, don’t forget the purpose of your education: to further your studies and continue learning. If you don’t take your studies seriously, what’s the point of being in university? Moreover, university isn’t just about academic knowledge. To excel in university, the first skills you need to develop are self-learning and self-control. Professors won’t hold your hand, and the knowledge won’t be as rigid as in high school. For example, in our field, simply mastering textbook knowledge isn’t enough—we also need to focus on practical experience and market trends. What university teaches you isn’t just knowledge but the ability to keep learning. Knowledge evolves, but this skill ensures you won’t be left behind. Without strong self-control, you risk wasting your time. University gives you more freedom and space to grow, but if used wisely, it can greatly benefit your life. If misused, it can leave you with regrets.
Every university has its unique characteristics, reflected in its atmosphere. Each school has a different vibe. Some say you become the person the university shapes you to be. Perhaps Tsinghua has an academic atmosphere, Peking University is free-spirited, and Beijing Broadcasting Institute is artistic. Here, there are plenty of activities, a lively atmosphere, and a variety of lectures to enrich yourself. In addition to studying, you can attend lectures to broaden your horizons and participate in activities to enrich your experiences. Adjust your mindset, prepare to face challenges, accumulate and persevere—there will always be a day of.