I am writing this still slightly sore, smug, and very aware that I have just done something I genuinely never thought I would do.
I went to China.
And I walked the Great Wall.
This was one of those bucket list things that always lived in the category of “other people do that”. Something which you only see in history books or documentaries. Yet there I was. Standing on the Great Wall, out of breath, legs burning, thinking two very different thoughts at the same time.
One, wow, this is incredible.
Two, why are there so many steps.
And because my brain is wired the way it is, somewhere between step number 400 and questioning my life choices, I started thinking about CIPS examsB, yes I am truly that sad
Here are three thoughts that stuck with me.
First, belief sneaks up on you.
If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever see the Great Wall in person, I would have laughed and said no chance. Too far, too complicated, too much effort.
Sound familiar?
I see this all the time with exams. People decide very early on that they are “not exam people”, or that a certain level is beyond them. That belief quietly settles in and starts running the show, this happens long before revision even begins.
Standing on the Wall was a good reminder that belief is often just a story we tell ourselves to stay comfortable. And comfort, while lovely, does not get you certificates.
Second, progress looks unimpressive up close.
From a distance, the Great Wall looks majestic and almost gentle. From up close, it is a relentless series of steep steps that make your calves scream. I have something called hypermobility that basically means I am not stable and will trip over my own feet. I was not gliding along having a cinematic moment, more desperately trying not to fall over, step by step, over and over again.
Exams are the same.
No one passes because of one heroic revision session. They pass because of lots of slightly boring, unimpressive effort. An hour here. A practice question there. Reading something twice because it didn’t land the first time.
When you are in it, it can feel like nothing is happening. But from a distance, when you look back, the progress is obvious.
Third, you do not need to see the whole thing.
Here is a fun fact. You cannot see the Great Wall end to end. It curves, it disappears into hills, it vanishes around corners. If I had stood at the start thinking about the entire length, I would still be there now, possibly crying. Fun fact it is longer than driving from London to Sydney!
Instead, you focus on the next section, the next tower, the next cat you see (because yes the wall is full of friendly cats – my dream!)
This is exactly how to approach your exams.
- You do not need to understand everything right now.
- You do not need to feel confident about every topic.
- You just need to focus on the next bit in front of you.
So if you are sitting there thinking “I could never do this”, just know that you are lying to yourself.
If nothing else, let this be proof that people do surprising things all the time. Including passing exams they once felt were impossible.
More exam thoughts soon. Possibly fewer stairs.