By Nazakat Aslam

Classes 10 and 12 board results are out, and the valley is alive with celebration and comparison. Families cheer top scorers with sweets and applause, social media fills with congratulations, and everyone wants to see how students measure up.

Amid the excitement, one question stands out: do marks truly reflect a student’s potential, or have they come to define a young person’s worth?

Board exam scores have long acted as society’s shortcut for achievement. High marks open doors, win praise, and promise opportunities, while lower marks often bring disappointment and leave students feeling they have failed.

Parents play a big role in this system. Rewards, expectations, and subtle messages link performance to self-esteem. Hard work matters, but assuming that effort must always produce perfect results puts enormous pressure on students and shapes how they see themselves.

Every year, reports emerge of students taking their own lives after failing an exam or falling short of expectations. These tragedies show a culture........

© Kashmir Observer