Talk about the mischiefs of adolescence, they used to top the category with the best of creativity. Talk about a kid, restless and being found with a football in hand in the playground, I feared it was my 10B. Or let’s say, certain kids have gone down to the CC Coordinator to plead for a PE period and there is a noise in the compound regarding the same, who else would have thought of risking their impressions and be as crystal clear as water when it comes to intent, I somehow knew it could be these bunch of un-putdownable dreamers, fearing they have failed their Captain, ’cause, they knew a Captain is as good as his class.
Not even a single day I reckon when I and my students had failed to be on the same page. And on days as good as grit, we made sure we argued staying honest to ourselves. From discussing Sir Robin Williams to the background score of Dunkirk, it has been a journey of an engaging perspective, a journey that made me more patient as an observer, a journey that made me realise the subtle difference between “teaching” and “facilitating”.
And, since the Board Examination is on the cards, here’s wishing hope & courage to my thirty-one brilliant dreamers (& others as well) for the new experience and before the curtain falls have a close look at your mark sheet-s, let’s do our usual Ice-Breaker,
“O Captain! My Captain!”
Remember to not forget.
Remember the claps have just begun.
From getting smileys drawn on our hands to receiving our graduation certificate, Today we walked into school as students of Ekya ITPL and today we are going to walk out as Alumni of Ekya ITPL.
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, parents who still wonder how we made it through, and my fellow graduates – the Class of 23! Standing before you today as the valedictorian of this exceptional class, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and pride.
I would like to extend a vote of thanks to our teachers, who taught us how to spell our names and then stood by us as we found our identities finally letting go of our hands as we graduate today. To the teachers who taught us that life is not just about finding x; it's about navigating through challenges and still managing to smile. To the teachers who shaped our minds and tolerated our questionable dance moves during school events. Thank you for everything, and may your future students be as entertaining as we were.
To our parents, who have been our personal emotional support helplines, thank you for pretending to understand the quadratic equation drama and for refraining from saying, "When I was your age..." too often. We appreciate your unwavering belief that we were studying every time you walked into our rooms.
To the admin, security, housekeeping, medical, IT and transport staff, thank you for greeting us with a smile every time you saw us. Last but not least, to Ekya,for the knowledge important,friendship forged and the memories that will forever be etched in our hearts. You've been more than just a building, you've been a home, a place where we not only found education but also a sense of belongingness.
What my 10 year old mind found interesting was the symbol of ekya. The way I saw it, The large fish represented Ekya and the tiny fishes within it were us, the students of ekya.Today, 8 years later i can’t help but feel overwhelmed from the epiphany that each tiny fish will now have to part ways with the rest of the school. Each fish has its own destiny. They weren't just swimming randomly; they were on a path, a unique journey that would lead them to different corners of the vast underwater world. But Ekya's symbol also whispered a promise – that no matter where we end up, we'll always carry a piece of that magic with us.
Whether we’ve spent 12, 8 , 5 or 2 years here, how do we say goodbye to the homes that fundamentally made us who we are? To the place that forms the first line of introductions for ourselves, to our childhood.Will our bonds remain strong? Are we ready? Is it finally time? It's scary. Yes..But so was walking into this school for the first time. We made it through that we’ll make it through this too. It is finally time and yes,we are ready!
So class of ‘23, here’s to the future, to endless possibilities and to each and every one of us making an impact in this world! May the force be with you.
I love to read, don’t you? Books are like a constant companion who can entertain you anytime, anywhere! They just transport you into a different world where your imagination takes the lead. But, something I have wondered is… does reading really affect our brain or is it just mind-numbing nonsense? Well, I have your answers.
Bibliotherapy is one of my new favourite words, let me tell you why. In today’s world, so many people are dealing with mental health which sometimes people aren’t even aware of. Bibliotherapy uses the magic of books. While reading certain books, someone suffering from mental health can find people in books who they may not see in real life who are going through situations similar to theirs and see how they cope with it. Books in the same way may also act as a guide for how to deal with situations. Last but not least, bibliotherapy helps readers to develop self-awareness and problem-solving skills.
Let’s get out of the mental world and now focus on how reading can help our bodies. Studies by Mental Health First Aid, England show that when people read, their stress levels are reduced by 60% since heart rate and muscle tension are at ease and their state of mind is calmer. Nuvance Health, New York says that reading can also lower blood pressure and improve sleep quality. (No wonder people love to read before they sleep, I do too!)
An MRI test done in 2018 states that when a brain scan was taken of people who began to read for 2-3 weeks, their brain connectivities improved immensely, especially in the area which is responsible for touch, sense and pain (Somatosensory Cortex).
Reading helps social interaction and the feeling that there are people in this world like you. It can help deal with depression and anxiety. It also gives us a more holistic sense of our world. Hope and optimism can also be fostered while reading.
Wow! I knew reading wasn’t useless, but I didn’t know that it was this useful too. I may be protecting myself from so many mental health issues by just reading Percy Jackson every night! Well, my point is now proven! Whenever anybody tells me to stop reading now, I’ll have the perfect comeback and you would too!-By Zoe Akhtar, 7A Ekya School, JP Nagar
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