📖 Introduction
Many students quietly struggle with overwhelming stress, anxiety, fear of failure, pressure to succeed, and emotional exhaustion during their school years.
Even students with good grades and strong academic ability can suffer deeply from invisible anxiety and constant pressure.
This heartfelt meditation testimonial shares the story of Yoon Y. C., who suffered from severe test anxiety throughout middle school despite consistently earning top grades.
Whenever exams approached, overwhelming fear, digestive problems, insomnia, and emotional stress made daily life feel unbearable.
But through meditation and learning how to let go of the fears, pride, pressure, and emotional “photographs” stored inside the mind, she gradually experienced profound change.
As her anxiety disappeared, studying itself became lighter, more peaceful, and even enjoyable.
At the same time, her relationships with her parents, grandparents, and younger sibling also transformed through gratitude and understanding.
This inspiring meditation testimonial beautifully shows how letting go of fear and attachment can bring peace not only to studying, but to life itself.
💬 Meditation Testimonial: “Once My Test Anxiety Disappeared, Studying Became Enjoyable”
By Yoon Y. C. | Jeonju National University of Education
During my middle school years, the greatest difficulty I faced was severe anxiety.
My test anxiety became so overwhelming that even I could not understand where it came from.
It was not because I hated studying.
And it was not because my grades were poor.
🌧 Whenever Exams Came, It Felt Like Hell
I grew up receiving tremendous love from my grandparents, with whom I lived from a young age.
At first, I never cared very much about studying or grades.
But after doing fairly well academically during fifth grade, I gradually became interested in studying seriously.
By middle school, my grades steadily improved, and eventually I was almost always ranked first in my class.
Good grades felt rewarding.
I enjoyed seeing the results of my hard work.
But strangely, around that same time, every exam period became unbearable.
For two or three weeks before every test, I could barely eat because of digestive problems.
I could hardly sleep.
Every night, I cried because of overwhelming anxiety, pressure, and fear that I could not even explain.
Whenever exams approached, it genuinely felt like living through hell.
Compared to other students, my stress felt unusually severe.
Even my family suffered watching me struggle.
I tried everything people recommended:
Meditation.
Yoga.
Various stress-relief methods.
They helped temporarily, but nothing truly solved the anxiety.
Then unexpectedly, an opportunity came.
🌱 I Began Discarding the Root of My Anxiety
One day, my mother and I attended a public lecture about this meditation through someone’s introduction.
As I listened to explanations about what the mind is and how it can be discarded, I immediately felt:
“I want to try this.”
Soon afterward, my mother and I began attending a local meditation center together.
Then during the summer vacation of my third year of middle school, I decided to fully dedicate myself to meditation.
After discussing it with my homeroom teacher, I skipped supplementary classes and attended a youth meditation camp together with my younger sibling.
Watching my mind being discarded felt fascinating and exciting.
As I reflected on my life and discarded memories one by one, I began seeing myself objectively for the first time.
Because I was physically small and weak growing up, I had unconsciously tried protecting my pride through academic achievement.
Outwardly, I treated classmates kindly.
But internally, I secretly looked down on them.
For the first time, I clearly saw that double-sided version of myself.
I also realized I carried enormous anxiety about the future.
Because I had always grown up receiving affection and approval from my grandparents, I unconsciously struggled to receive the same recognition and love from teachers as well.
Eventually, grades themselves became my pride.
And the thought of losing that pride became terrifying.
Through meditation, I realized I had been drowning inside fears and worries that did not even truly exist.
💞 My Family Relationships Changed Completely
There were also enormous changes within my family relationships.
Before meditation, I always felt some invisible discomfort inside the family.
My grandfather’s deep care and concern sometimes felt overwhelming and pressuring to me.
At the same time, I secretly resented my parents because both of them worked full-time and could not always give me attention.
I even disliked my younger sibling — who was five years younger than me — because my parents naturally spent more time caring for him.
And honestly, his playful childish behavior constantly irritated me.
But while reflecting on my life “photographs” through meditation, I finally realized something important:
My parents simply had no other choice.
They had been sacrificing themselves and working tirelessly for us the entire time.
Thinking about my grandparents, parents, and younger sibling naturally brought tears of gratitude to my eyes.
If I had never practiced meditation, how could someone trapped inside pride and anxiety ever have discovered such gratitude?
Before meditation, even when my mother returned home exhausted after long hours working at the pharmacy, I barely acknowledged her.
But afterward, whenever I saw her, I naturally wanted to hug her warmly and express affection.
The way I viewed my younger sibling changed completely too.
Before, even his normal behavior seemed childish and annoying to me.
Now, I simply see him as someone I genuinely want to love and care for deeply.
Because we practiced meditation together, he eventually became one of my closest and most understanding friends.
✨ “I Really Got My Money’s Worth”
Although I was already amazed by the changes happening inside myself, what surprised me even more was the transformation I witnessed in the friends who attended meditation camp together.
At first, some constantly focused on appearance, used rough language, and wandered around aimlessly with friends.
But gradually, they began quietly sitting down to meditate on their own.
Their expressions became softer, calmer, and brighter.
Watching that made me realize how incredible it truly is to empty the mind.
After spending one month at camp, I returned to school and faced my first exam period afterward.
And something unbelievable happened.
For the very first time in my life, I went through an entire exam period without crying once.
In fact, I spent it smiling.
Even before major standardized tests and college entrance exams, I could peacefully sleep the night before.
The version of myself who constantly worried, became physically sick from studying, and repeated endless cycles of stress had disappeared.
Now, I simply study.
I just focus on doing what needs to be done.
Before meditation, no matter how many inspirational books I read or encouraging words I heard, the changes always disappeared quickly because the anxious mind itself still remained inside me.
But as I discarded my mind, I could clearly see myself changing little by little.
And I felt deeply grateful for that transformation.
As I emptied my mind and treated people more comfortably, my family and friends also seemed to feel more comfortable around me.
Even after returning from camp, I continued visiting the meditation center whenever possible.
Honestly, if this meditation center is like a school for studying the mind, I truly feel it is a place everyone should attend.
At first, I only began meditation because I wanted to escape exam stress.
But now, it has become the greatest gift in my life.
When my mother saw how peaceful I remained even during exam periods, she smiled and joked:
“Looks like we really got our money’s worth this time.” (laughs)
What I gained through meditation is far greater than words can fully express.
No matter where I go or what I do, I feel deeply grateful that I can now live comfortably without being trapped inside endless worries and anxious thoughts.
