The hostel diaries:- the power of peer learning how we survived exam session

Hey guys!

      It's been so long meeting you people! I hope this is the right time to talk about this topic. Whatever I am sharing here is straight from my life- the moments I've gone through or am still going through. The same goes for this topic because I have just wrapped up my 2nd year exams and what I'm about to share is something that helped me during those tough time. So here we go- through the journey, the chaos, and the lessons I've learned. The things you take are up to you, but I am just here to share my thoughts and experience. 

      So..! The exam time is the ultimate stress factory. We've all been there- feeling like we need to outdo everyone else in class just to prove ourselves, the endless pressure of exams, the constant competition and the last minute mugging up of notes. For a long time, I believed that studying was a solo journey, where success meant being better than everyone else. But Let me tell you, that mindset only made things harder. 

       And let's be honest like most of us - I am also a classic last minute racers, cramming as much as we can just hours before the exam. 

       Second year was tough, no lies. Mugging up those thick books was like trying to memorize an alien language. We are a group of 5-6 friends in the hostel who joined together just before the exam all of them sailing in the same boat~ struggling to figure out how to survive the exams without losing our minds. And trust me, that's the best thing about hostel Life. No matter how tough things get, you never feel alone. 

        

         At first, we thought can this even work?  But we had no better plans so we gave shot.One night before a particularly terrifying exam we hit Rock bottom.None of us had studied properly and panic was real. That's when someone (probably out of sheer desperation) said "Let's just sit together and teach whatever we know to eachother" At first, it sounded ridiculous. I mean, how can five clueless people help each? But what did we have to lose, right?

       

        Instead of sitting alone and drowning in our books and panicking, we gathered in one room, snacks and water bottles in tow and began.In just 10 minutes, we had a clear idea of who knew what. surprisingly,each of us knew at least something- even if it was just a vague idea of topic. From there, we split up the remaining topics that none of us were familiar with. Then we sat down to teach.

  And guess what? It wasn't a disaster! It was the exact opposite. It was the first time I saw how powerful teamwork could be.

     When I explained a topic, I realised I was understanding it better myself.It's like saying out loud made the concept stick. And when someone else taught me, their perspective made it easier to grasp. Sure, there were moments of confusion and laughter ("wait, isn't that totally wrong?"), but we corrected each other without any ego. No one was trying to outdo the other or show off - they just wanted to help.

Honestly it wasn't just a study session it was therapy. We were laughing at our own mistakes, teaching and teasing each other and turning one of the scariest night into a memory I'll never  forget.

     I don't think I've ever laughed so much during an exam preparation session. Sure, there was stress, but there was also this bond we shared. If you think this sounds too good to be true let me assure you, it worked teaching each other cleared up so many doubts. Those topics I taught my friends? they were the ones I remembered best during the exam. The parts we didn't know? We split the load and figured it out together. It wasn't perfect but it was better than panicking alone in our room. It wasn't just about studying- it was about supporting each other during one of the stressful times.

   

   And here's the thing-helping your friends doesn't take away from your own success. People think if they teach others, their own marks might suffer. That's not how it works! In fact, teaching reinforces your knowledge. Marks? they depend on how much effort you put in, not on how much you share.

    Looking back I feel bad for those toppers who keep everything to themselves. Sure they might score well, but do they know what it feels like to share that "aha!" moment with a friend? Do they know the joy of turning a stressful night into one filled with laughter and teamwork? I'm not saying all toppers are like this, but some miss out on the best part of learning: the bonding. I even started pulling in Friends who were struggling especially during those last minutes prep session. They felt more confident and honestly, so did I. And honestly isn't that the kind of support we all need?

    So if you are someone who studies alone give this a try. call up your friends split the topics and teach each other. Trust me its not just about preparing for exams it's about building memories. You will feel less stressed, more confidence and surprisingly even enjoy studying (okay, maybe "enjoy" is pushing it but you get the point).

   For me that one night changed everything. It showed me that learning doesn't have to be a solo fight. It can be a group adventure filled with laughs, mistakes and moments of realisation and honestly it's one of my most favourite hostel memories.

   So the next time you are freaking about an exam don't go into "lone wolf" mode.Grab your crew make some chai and tackle it together. You might just find that studying isn't so bad when you got friends by your side.

   Because in the end marks fade. But the laughter,the bonding and those late-night study marathons? That's the stuff that stays with you forever.