Yours Superstitiously

CHENNAI :As children, superstitions like seeing a black crow or a single sparrow and black cat just walking across your way were the ones that did the rounds. We wouldn’t want to encounter one of those things right before an exam as it means ‘bad luck’ or ‘sorrow’.
—Sanjjana SR, 19 , Priyadarshini Dental College and Hospital

I get blessings from my grandparents and buy pens from the money they give. And I use only those two for all the exams. Wearing black and blue is again something I follow. This has worked until architecture happened. Now I am looking for more superstitions to convince my external supervisor during viva. Nothing has worked out yet.
—Sainath VV, 19,  Mohammad Sathak A J Academy of Architecture 

I play mind games like if I finish a particular chapter in a set time, I will get good grades. I use black and blue Trimax pens. It helped me get good grades on a paper that I thought I would flunk.
—Sushma P, 20, Anand School of Architecture 

I have a belief that if I sit in my favourite place and study I will do my exam well. I also use the same brand of pen. I check the daily horoscope in the calendar during exams to know if 
I’ll do well that day.
—Nidarshini T, 20, MOP Vaishnav College for Women

I have a perfect schedule on what I should do before the exam and on the day of the exam. I ask only my dad to drop me on the day of the exam. I have a few lucky dresses that I wear. My answer sheet number should be the one after a particular friend of mine. I know it does not make any sense at all, but it kind of eases me on the exam tension.
— Sajna Gokulakrishnan,  21, SSN College of Engineering

During post-graduation,  I always bought a new pen and note for preparation even when I had hundreds of them in my room. I believed that new preparation process required new stationery. I had made fun of every friend of mine who believed in such superstitions. I realised that over these years I have many superstitions myself. 
—Oviya Balan, 22, VIT

I avoid wearing black-coloured clothes. I always buy stationery from a particular shop so that I score good marks. These superstitious beliefs have helped me a lot. I believe that studying after 10.30 pm, the night before my exam, will not help me perform well. I make sure I go to bed early. 
—Sriram Seshadri, 22, Misrimal Navajee Munoth Jain Engineering College

I use the same pouch to carry stationery, and I buy the same brand of pens before every exam. I do not carry a water bottle inside the exam hall. I visit a few temples without fail before every exam not because God will help me pass the exams but because I get good vibes and some peace of mind. I relate almost anything and everything with energy; positivity is very important. 
—Sai Saranya, 22, MOP Vaishnav College for Women

On exam days, I make it a point to only do a light revision in the morning and no more. This includes a rundown of formulae, key pointers in each chapter and diagrams. As outrageous as some people may find this, it helps me to stay cool. Music keeps me focused and relaxed before the test. I have often found David Bowie and Coldplay to be excellent exam-time companions. 
—Vikas Jangra, 20, SRM Vadapalani

I’ve always been a fan of hard rock and heavy metal. The night before exams begin, I listen to a lot of Led Zeppelin. One particular song I love is Achilles Last Stand from their album Presence. It was recorded during a really rough phase of their tenure. The epic conclusion of the song goes on to say that “the mighty arms of Atlas, hold the heavens from the earth.” That’s the adrenaline rush moment that fills up my confidence reservoir before exams. 
—Anish Bharatwaj , 21, Saveetha Medical College