London, May 2023 — “I was up till 3 a.m. revising with cold coffee by my side, then back in class by 9,” said one Pakistani undergraduate in London, summing up the relentless rhythm of exam season. Across the UK, Pakistani students are buried in books, battling not only coursework but also the weight of expectations from families back home.
Pressure and Support
Unlike in Pakistan, universities in the UK openly provide multiple avenues of help during exams. Students can book one-to-one counselling sessions, attend study-skills workshops, or join peer mentoring groups where seniors guide juniors on managing stress. Despite this, many hesitate to reach out. “You feel like you should just cope yourself,” said a student in Luton, “but when I finally went to counselling, it helped me focus without panic.”
The Pakistan Comparison
Back home, conversations about mental health are often avoided. Students rarely discuss exam anxiety, fearing they will be labelled as weak. Campus services are limited, and support structures are thin. “In Pakistan, stress is normalised — if you say you can’t handle it, people think something is wrong with you,” one student explained. By contrast, in the UK, openness is slowly becoming part of campus culture, though stigma lingers for some.
Resilience and Reflection
For many students, coping is about finding balance. Some join group study circles after Taraweeh in Ramadan, while others take breaks in local parks to reset their minds. “You have to find small ways to keep yourself sane,” said a third-year medical student. “Otherwise exams eat you alive.”
Yet, amid the pressure, there is a sense of growth. Students say they are learning resilience — not only for exams but for life. “We manage studies, part-time work, and family expectations,” one explained. “It teaches you how to survive anywhere.”
A Note for Parents
As exams continue into June, many students quietly admit that family pressure adds to their stress. “Every phone call from home is about marks,” a London student sighed. “I just wish they’d ask how I am.”
For parents in Pakistan, students say the message is simple: be realistic, check in regularly, and avoid making grades the only measure of success. “Support is more important than scolding,” one student said softly. “That’s what keeps us going.”
اردو خلاصہ:
برطانیہ میں پاکستانی طلبہ امتحانات کے دباؤ اور ذہنی دباؤ کے بارے میں بات کر رہے ہیں۔ یونیورسٹیاں کاؤنسلنگ، ورکشاپس اور گروپ سپورٹ فراہم کرتی ہیں لیکن کئی طلبہ اب بھی مدد لینے سے ہچکچاتے ہیں۔ پاکستان کے مقابلے میں یہاں کھل کر بات کرنا آسان ہے، لیکن گھروں سے توقعات کا دباؤ برقرار ہے۔ طلبہ نے والدین سے کہا ہے کہ وہ حقیقت پسند ہوں، صرف نمبروں پر زور نہ دیں اور بچوں کی حالت دریافت کریں۔
