We live in a world of competition. There is no exception. Your grades drive your success. And this is true to get into a college admission. We run after a future that resonates in today. People, specially students do not realize this reality. Convoluted dreams and aspiring ambitions without focus and determination is rocket without fuel. It doesn’t work at all. It cannot. It has been tested to fail and fail each moment around. As a psychologist, I see the gap. O level and A level students are running after the prize. They are cramming the content and trying to adapt to the mechanism of getting great grades. However, the missing link is the mindset of a champion. You need to prepare miles before the journey, and this is unknown to the students. They are working on a goal without a roadmap. This is the recipe for disaster anywhere around the world. The larger issue is the physiological ailment and pain of the students and parents as they aspire to take the children to new heights. There is pain and shame. Students are competing and it matters. It takes a great toll on them. Are the kids aligned to understand the mindset of champions? Do they erode and wash away since they could not achieve the goals? Have people wondered why? It is not a mystery but an illusion. Anxiety is created during exams. Stress is the state quo. This is all manageable. You need to have a framework of reference to create the magic. Consult and get connected. Let me take you on a recent journey where I took up some students. I am working on figuring out the equation to success for O level and A level students. It has many dimensions, but the real essence are 6 core skills. They can be divided into two parts. One is mindset and the other is framework. Mindset is the fuel and the driving factor. It needs to be filled every moment. Your belief system drives this experience. There are no exceptional to the rule. You need to see the end goal before the first step. It is hard and it takes coaches and experts to lead you there. Second is the framework. How do you consider the data set, storage, retrieval and the state in which you deliver the results? You need to learn the way to answer questions. Simple? Not really. Many students struggle with this all their lives and do not know how to take it up. Parents do not know how to keep the kids motivated and focus too much during the last months. Never works. The other dilemma is the DNA of the person. Not everyone is a champion and can’t be. It takes heart. It is a matter of pride. I guess everyone wants to finish the race, but no one wants to work on the hours that need to come into play. We can change that. I have been working closely with students to adapt and focus on their core values. It is a possibility and a venture that can be taken. As a psychologist, we need to bring prosperity through diligence and foster a focused process flow. It is all about adaptability and getting to the place for the right reasons. Pakistan misses out on this and needs the strategies to win. Why is it that only a hand full of students can take up the challenge? You need to work with the students and break things down into actions and deliverables. They need to see the roadmap and how to get there. There is no substitute for excellence. And can never be. You need to be adaptive and approachable to life. Teach your kids a method that can work for a lifetime. Seamlessly build an equation of faith. The results are astonishing. Why have the kids gone and suffer when they can learn the art form of evolution and become champions and they thrive towards their goals. As family members and parents, you need to ensure their mental wellbeing and give them the energy and essence to keep moving along. In a world of change, keeping the kids motivated and thoroughly engaged in a long-term goal. It pays dividends The writer is a highly accomplished psychologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in wellness, positive psychology, mindfulness, and depression management. His expertise extends to training police, corporations, institutions, and government agencies in leadership, management skills, and coping with various psychological challenges.