Then comes the torturous wait for the WASSCE results, and finally, the arrival.For some students, the results are just what is needed, but for others, it isn't quite that. For some students, it will mean writing the exams again…

So the average teenager in this situation will experience disbelief, fear, guilt and shame.

Parents may experience the same; disbelief, fear that their ward will not fit into their ‘dream team’. Guilt that they might not have been ‘diligent’ enough, and shame because as we know, they want to boast about their child's grades to their peers.

The reaction, the morning after, can make or mar you and your child.

Never make decisions when you are angry. Okay so you want to beat the child. For what exactly?

Do you really think that beating a grown teenager because he failed will make him pass the next time? Seriously?

Let's not make light of the situation, though. It is a crisis. But it can also be a lesson. If you do what is right, the child will learn from you on how to handle crisis, which happens to be part of this journey called life.

What are the options available? If he didn't have a credit in Math, English or a required subject for his chosen course at the tertiary institutions, he will need to ‘re-sit’ the exams.

There is an external examination which commences in September, although it is called Nov/ Dec GCE. Your ward needs to register as soon as possible.

I suggest that after you have calmed down and get in control of your emotions, have a heart to heart talk with him/her.

Does he/she have a plan, a goal? (This is a conversation that you should have had before now, so it's not only your ward that got it wrong, it appears. Therefore, please be calm, we all miss it at one time or the other.)

I am an advocate of students writing more than one external examination; WASSCE, GCE, NECO, IGSCE, LONDON GCE… A student should write at least two. The need for it becomes obvious at times like this.

Now if your ward has to resit exams, there will be so much time of idleness, or opportunities for progress, depending on what you do. I suggest that you encourage him/her to learn ‘soft skills’.

Pick French lessons, learn data processing, how to cook, or embroidery. There is so much your wards can learn during this waiting period.

There are skills that you can even learn together, and you will be surprised at how much you have blended with them.

It all depends on the outlook, this waiting period can after all be an opportunity to bring the best out of your ward.

So, go ahead, make this ‘morning after’ a ‘happily ever after.’

Auntybspeaks.com gud to talk.