As board exam pressure mounts, former HCL CEO Vineet Nayar shared his own marksheet and a powerful message on X, reminding students that exams test memory, not courage. Recalling his teenage panic and mindset shift, he urged students to stay calm, sleep well and not treat exams as life-or-death
Former HCL CEO Vineet Nayar also shared the picture of his old marksheet from the year 1979
As board exam season grips students across the country, they are under immense pressure. To help motivate students appearing for exams, former HCL CEO Vineet Nayar has shared a candid and comforting message for them on his official social media handle on X.
While posting a picture of his marks sheet when he appeared for the board exam, Nayar wrote, “If board exams decided life, half the CEOs would be unemployed.”
While not many try to calm down the nerves of the students appearing for the exams. Some leaders take out time and share their story to motivate and uplift the tensed students.
IF BOARD EXAMS DECIDED LIFE, HALF THE CEOs WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED
— Vineet Nayar (@vineetnayar) February 13, 2026
Let that sink in.
Boards are important.
But they are not your destiny.
At 17, I walked out of my Chemistry exam knowing I had messed it up.
Full panic mode.
A cousin looked at me and asked,
“Will you die if you… pic.twitter.com/FED0Cmi90q
Nayar’s post is a perfect blend of motivation for the children and also enlightening them that their future depends on a lot of other aspects apart from the board exams.
Sharing a personal anecdote from his teenage years, Nayar recalled walking out of a chemistry exam when he was 17 years old convinced he had “messed it up". Panic had set in, he said, until a cousin posed a simple but piercing question: “Will you die if you fail?”
When Nayar replied "no", the follow-up hit harder: “Then why are you treating it as a life-and-death situation?”
Nayar, in that particular moment, shifted his mindset. Two days later, he approached his Mathematics exam with calm focus, studied steadily, and performed far better. The lesson stayed with him and helped him grow professionally in a way that is helping him even today.
In an extremely inspiring post, Nayar further wrote, “Exams test memory. Life tests courage.”
Through his post, he underlined that board exams are merely a few yards in a cross-country marathon. He further urged students to sleep well, study sincerely, give their best effort, and then accept the result without fear.
HCL CEO's post for children appearing for board exams win hearts
Earlier, Nayar while trying to lighten up the moment for children appearing for the board exams a lot more calm and relaxed, he added humour to his post, advising students to occasionally shout, “Dad, omelette please… and don’t forget the mango shake!" Reminding families that while parents may worry, a student’s primary job is to prepare and remain steady without overthinking and ruining their mental health.
Concluding his hearty post on X and spreading the words of encouragement, Nayar described stress as the “Board Exam Bully” that feeds on fear.
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