In the context of the effort of the 4th GE.L. of Rhodes to have an active role in social life and to function as a cell of society that listens to and acts upon the needs of students, on Saturday, February 4th, 2023, a very successful event was held in the school’s lecture hall: ‘The triptych: Soul, body, spirit in exams. The attendance of the parents and pupils was remarkable, which confirms their anxiety, to discover mechanisms that could work in support of everyone’s effort to face the challenge of the exams.
The event was addressed to the family and social environment of the pupils and concerned the supporting framework that is necessary for them, during the in-school and Nationwide Examinations. Initially, the director of the school Vasilis Karagiannis addressed a greeting and presented the speakers, Mr. Zervanos Ioannis, Psychiatrist — Psychotherapist and Mrs. Karagianni Chryssa, Biologist, Clinical Dietitian — Nutritionist. Mr. Karagiannis pointed out that the period of the nationwide examinations creates a special emotional burden on the Greek family and often takes on dimensions of great impending destruction. He then referred to the need that led the Teachers’ Association to organise this event, trying to rationalise and dedramatise this particular situation for students and their families.
Right after this, Mr. I. Zervanos gave a speech entitled: “Anxiety in Nationwide Examinations: An unusual view” in which he explained to the attendees how the expectations of the close environment of students are largely responsible for the anxiety of the students. He pointed out that it is important for parents to make it clear to children that they are free to choose whatever path they want. Only through such a process of free choice — free from expectations, projections and social imperatives — will students begin to enjoy the process of acquiring knowledge and, consequently, of any examinations and subsequent studies.
Mrs. Karagianni followed with the speech “Nutrition: An ally in the exams” in which she analyzed in detail how proper nutrition can be an ally in every aspect of our lives and more specifically in the exams. Mrs. Karagianni presented in detail what the appropriate ingredients of a balanced diet that will help the body and the students’ brain to perform the most are.
During the discussion that followed, Mrs. Lydia Zervanou’s intervention was immersive with the recounting of her own experience. At this point, it is necessary to congratulate our students Charterou Maria, Tselepi Michalis, Bousios Konstantinos, Hadjikonstantis Michelangelo and Violeta Katsikantai who undertook the presentation of the event and succeeded perfectly in a moving way! The spontaneous participation of parents, teachers and students is an incentive to follow other events that will focus on the student and his needs!
