A video shared on social media that quickly reached many users shows a conversation between a girl student who took the LGS exam and her mother after the test. Only the mother's voice is heard in the video, where she harshly criticizes her daughter for making 5 mistakes on the exam.
The mother expresses her disappointment by saying, "You embarrassed me," and asks her daughter, "If you had 5 mistakes, why did you say it went well?" She continues with remarks implying that the child did not put in enough effort and has embarrassed the family.
Following the spread of the video, the pressure children face due to exam results and how families should behave during this process have been discussed again. The footage also intensified the debate that similar conversations may occur in many households after the LGS.
Exam Success or Mental Health?
Prof. Dr. Ali Eryılmaz from Yıldız Technical University stated that in this example, the mother bases her self-worth on her child's success. Eryılmaz explained that the need for social approval is prominent in society, and when the expected recognition is not received, it can turn into feelings of worthlessness.
According to Eryılmaz, the first step for parents after the LGS should be to sit down with their children and ask how they feel. Then, they should calmly share their own feelings and frequently remind their children that it is just an exam and not the end of the world.
Three-Step Approach Recommendation
Eryılmaz emphasized the importance of families evaluating such situations within an acceptable framework. He suggested that parents could approach the outcome with perspectives like "One million children are competing, and of course, not all can get good scores" or "The questions were really difficult."
The expert also noted that comparing this result with more severe possibilities could provide families with perspective. For example, the child might have developed depression due to intense anxiety during preparation or could have answered all questions incorrectly, resulting in a worse outcome.
Eryılmaz's third point was that these experiences could become an observation opportunity for the family. He said this process allows a better understanding of how the child behaves and reacts under pressure.
Mental Health Should Take Priority Over Success
Prof. Dr. Nurten Sargın from Necmettin Erbakan University also stated that the mother in the video did not consider the child's mental state and failed to grasp the importance of the post-exam period. Sargın reminded that not every child can achieve the same success and that it is unrealistic to expect all answers to be correct.
According to Sargın, although parents care about their children's academic success, mental health is a more critical issue. She emphasized that the effort to raise successful children should not turn into a perspective that alienates children from their values.
The expert added that children are sometimes seen as a showcase for their parents, which makes the pressure after exams more visible. The debate sparked by the video brought the question of how exam success affects family relationships back into focus.
