Our Schools

editorjpn / August 01, 2018 Posted by :

How often have you received a NO for one or more of these questions or requests?

Several times? What do we start feeling when the ‘door’ of ‘No’ is closed on us? Our feelings open up — embarrassment, anger, sadness, irritation..! And that’s quite natural.

And why do we feel what we do? Some of our needs are not met because of the NO. Let us look at all the four examples mentioned above.

  1. “Varun, May I skip that family function?” from wife to husband. For Varun’s wife, it was perhaps her need to rest.
  2. “Madam, May I use the washroom now?” from student to teacher. For the student, the need is to answer nature’s call.
  3. “Could I borrow the pencil from you?” from one student to the other. For this student, it was the need to finish his written work.
  4. “I need a week’s leave in December,” from one employee to the employer. The employee perhaps needed a holiday with the family or had to attend a religious ceremony.

Varun’s wife, the two students and the employee wanted to meet their own needs through a request to the other person. But they heard a NO. When their needs were not met, they might have felt one or more of the following emotions: Embarrassment, anger, sadness, irritation!!

What next, then? How can these emotions be managed? How can the underlying needs be met?

Before answers to these questions are sought, let’s pause and ask the following questions:

  1. What was Varun’s ‘need’ to say a  ‘No’ to his wife skipping the family function?
  2. What was the teacher’s need to have the student in the class rather than send her to the washroom?
  3. What was the student’s need to refuse to lend the pencil?
  4. What was the employer’s need to refuse the employee’s request for leave?

While they said ‘No’ to the requests, they said ‘Yes’ to something else. They said ‘Yes’ to their own needs.

  1. Varun probably wanted his wife to be with him; his need was perhaps for her company.
  2. The teacher probably wanted the student not to miss the class; her need was the student’s presence and hence the resultant learning.
  3. The student probably wanted to be sure the pencil did not get lost; his/her need was the  safety of the pencil
  4. The employer’s need was perhaps project completion before a deadline.

When you are able to think through the ‘Yes’ behind the ‘No’, you can work your way through situations. So what’s next… after identifying the ‘Yes’ behind the ‘No’?  What about our needs? What about our emotions?

For that, you need to wait for the sequel to this blog! Till then, keep journal-ing the “Yeses’ behind the ‘Nos’ you hear.

Mathangi R
Teacher
Ekya J P Nagar.

Credits: Subha Parthasarathy, Magichive, JP Nagar, for her course on ‘Non-violent Communication’ which opened up this perspective for me.


More from Our Teachers

Explore more

editorjpn / March 26, 2024

The Hot Garlic Soup Inspired by ‘The Last Leaf’ by O. Henry

Sue and Johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat on the third storey of an old house.
Johnsy fell ill in November. She was diagnosed with pneumonia. She would lie in her bed, gazing out of the window. Sue sent for the doctor. The doctor said to Sue, “Johnsy’s condition is not so serious yet. It seems she is unable to recover because she has lost the will to live.”
Sue became extremely worried for Johnsy’s well-being and mental health. She tried to make Johnsy interested in the things around her, but Johnsy never replied with more than a noncommittal hum.
One day, Sue was painting when she heard Johnsy counting backwards. Sue looked out of the window and saw an old ivy creeper climbing on the brick wall. The ivy was shedding its leaves in the strong gust of the wind.
“They are falling faster now,” whispered Johnsy. “Three days ago there were so many leaves. Only five are left now.”
“It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.”
“When the last leaf falls, I will die” said Johnsy with finality. “I have felt this for the last three days.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense,” replied Sue. “Why do you believe your fate is tied to those old ivy leaves?”
“Human life is fleeting, just like those ivy leaves,” said Johnsy. “I got sick just as the ivy started shedding its leaves. It must be an omen. The last leaf will fall, and I will slip into slumber forever.”
Sue sat on Johnsy’s bed, kissed her and said, “You are not going to die. Plenty of people fall sick in autumn, and they recover soon enough. Do you want some soup?”
“I don’t want any soup. My time is almost up, I’m sure of it,” murmured Johnsy.
Sue decided to change tactics. She was not going to give up on Johnsy.
“It is true that human life is somewhat fleeting, but that’s exactly what makes life valuable. Do you not want to see what life has to offer before you slip into slumber? Will you not miss the cool breeze waking you up, the warm embrace of sunlight? Do you want to give up the feeling of the paintbrush gliding over the canvas?” Sue quavered.
“Look beyond the ivy to that tree over there,” Sue continued. “Even that tree is shedding its leaves, but it is also growing new leaves. It is going to live for many more years, just like you.”
Johnsy contemplated for a while. Then, she looked out of the window and smiled.
“Perhaps I will have some hot garlic soup. You made me realise that life is worth living after all.”
Written by Aahana,
from grade 9A

editorjpn / March 22, 2024

Importance of Literature in a Classroom.

"Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity" - P.T.Barnum

We as humans are social beings. We can't imagine our lives to be solitary. Literature facilitates us to understand and communicate with one another in society. It helps us explore the world around us and is a medium to express our views and experiences. So it is of vital importance that the students are introduced to literature at a young age.

Literature is necessary for students as it helps them to develop imagination, improves vocabulary and language skills and even enhances creativity. Literature helps them understand the world outside their home and school.

It is disheartening to see that literature is often not put on the same pedestal as other technical subjects like Math or Science. where it shouldn't be the case.

Literature includes different types of texts like stories and fables, myths

and legends, poetry and drama or even informational texts that help them explore other subjects. It prepares students to read and understand the real world.

There are one too many benefits of including literature at a young age. It is like an exercise for the brain, keeping an individual mentally active and stimulated.

Exposure to cultures from different countries brings in a sense of respect and tolerance, a feat possible through literature. It motivates one to appreciate different lives and their ways and also to graciously disagree with something that may not be right. The different characters the students are introduced to become a source of inspiration. They start to imagine themselves in varied situations. they learn different solutions to problems they come across.

More importantly, reading is fun and literature develops an inclination toward reading and makes them self-learners.

It can be concluded that literature is a gateway to nurturing a child’s life skills more than any assignment or task

can ever do.

Written By:

Shruthi Prakash

English Educator - Primary

Ekya Schools BTM Layout

editorjpn / March 22, 2024

A Day to Remember: Juniors Bid Goodbye to Seniors with a Spectacular Farewell Party.

As the academic year draws to a close, emotions run high at our beloved school. The time has come for the juniors to express their gratitude, love, and affection for their departing seniors.

And what better way to do this than by throwing an unforgettable farewell party?

The air was buzzing with excitement as the juniors meticulously planned every detail to make it a night that their seniors would cherish forever.

The audio-visual room was transformed into a place of nostalgia and celebration, adorned with decorations to welcome the seniors. Each performance was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and dedication. Each video played, spoke volumes about the memories shared and the bonds formed throughout their academic journey, blanketing the atmosphere with a mix of joy, laughter, and a hint of bittersweet anticipation.

Our seniors were all dressed up to the nines for the occasion with the girls in a blue and white saree and the boys in black suits.

But how did all of this come to be? I am a grade 11 student and let me take you through behind the scenes of this event and how we prepared for this event.

  • Many girls formed a group and decided to dance to “Paint It Red” and “All Is Well”. Everyone’s efforts are to be appreciated as they come up with new steps and formations. Well-coordinated teamwork led to an amazing performance that got everyone cheering.

  • Meanwhile, my batchmate, Lara,  and a few teachers were preparing to sing songs dedicated to the seniors. Lara sang a melodious rendition of “When You Believe” and the teachers sang a medley of songs which got the seniors singing along as well!

  • The boys planned on dancing to the song “Galti Se Mistake” and their performance was full of creativity and humour. The choreography was inspired by the original music video of the song and they worked hard together and taught each other the steps. This performance got everyone giggling and cheering so loud!

  • It did not end with the students, even the teachers chose to step into this grand celebration. They danced on a variety of songs and each song made the seniors hoot louder. Even though they had a very busy schedule they would still take time and dedicate it to the dance practice during after-school hours. Huge kudos for their coordination and effort!

  • Mohana and Arshia came up with a very engaging script which had the attention of the audience. A small game was organised for the students where they had to write something good about one of their batchmates. Everybody put their hands together and made 32 crowns of appreciation for their seniors. A video of the seniors was made including photos and videos of their dearest memories. Last but not least, our teachers also prepared a video message for the seniors bidding farewell and wishing them the best for their future endeavours.

The day finally came. The 10th of February came. It was the day - the day for which we had been preparing for days. The graduation.

The place was set, the background screen was ready, the mic was ready and the sound system was ready. Our seniors came one by one and the auditorium was filled with chatter until the anchors came in and the event started.

After a few minutes, the head boy gave a heartfelt speech, followed by the chit game of affirmations then Lara’s beautiful performance.

The girls donned black kurtis and sunglasses and danced to “Paint It Red”, which got a round of applause. The seniors loved the “Galti Se Mistake” dance by the boys for its creativity and comedic execution and what made it better was the shorts with shirt and tie combination. The dance finale was to the song “All Is Well” which got the audience cheering for the dancers with lots of enthusiasm.

Then a video filled with the memories of the seniors was shown which made most of them emotional. The dance which everybody was eagerly anticipating started - it was our beloved teachers who completely rocked the stage with their amazing performance.

Then a few teachers gave a very emotional message followed by songs dedicated to their students. The event came to an end with video messages by the teachers,  a crowning ceremony and high tea.

In conclusion, the event was successful, and enjoyed by all the students - juniors, seniors and teachers. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s contribution and teamwork. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone and a day which will never be forgotten.

Written By:

Stutee Samantray

(Grade 11, Ekya BTM)

Leave a Comment

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Completing the Grueling Everest Marathon – Expert Talk by Taher Merchant, at Ekya School ITPL

Long distance running is a very taxing sport for most individuals who have tried it. For an average human, running even one kilometre is like a workout, and running five kilometres or ten kilometres may seem like an insurmountable task. And then, there are people who run marathons. These people have to train regularly and run long distances very often in order to gain such stamina. Such activity builds discipline and trains our body to utilize less energy in order to do more work. On the 23rd of July, 2018, the students of Ekya School ITPL had the privilege of meeting an individual who had passed the limits of running, that most would not dare to do. Mr. Taher Merchant was the first Indian man to complete the 60km Extreme Ultra – Everest Marathon. The marathon is the hardest stamina based running event in the Olympics, which spans 42.195 kilometres in length. Many fail to complete marathons, as they often get exhausted and famished. An Ultra Marathon is a running event where the distance is longer than 42 km, these can go up to hundred km in length and are the most gruelling running events in the world. These require years and years of training and dedication to even complete. The Everest Extreme Ultra Marathon is no simple task. It is the world’s highest ultra-running event, and it is a perilous journey that begins from the Everest base camp and ends at Namche Bazar, situated in Nepal. This is no mere marathon. It is an extremely adventurous ultra running event, where the participants have to cross rocky terrain, steep inclines and run across icy landscapes. This involved trekking, running and climbing. Moreover, the entire event is self-dependent, which means that all contestants have to bring their own food and drink to fuel themselves throughout the event. There were high chances of death, and the odds were against everyone. Mr. Merchant showed us how to pursue our most ambitious dreams successfully using his accomplishment as an example. 1 - Eliminate all distractions. Mr. Merchant told us about the struggles he had to go through in order to train for and complete the ultra marathon. He told us that he was already a long distance runner before he heard of the event. He had secretly been training for the marathon for some time, and then he decided to disclose it later so that his family and his coach would not try to demotivate him from going for the event. He knew what would happen if he broke the news early so he kept mum about the event until it was the right time to do so. 2 - Have a schedule. Mr. Merchant had to manage his job and also train for three entire months. He set up a schedule and worked exactly based on that. He would wake up at 3:00 am to start his training, finishing by 9:00 am in order to go to work. 3 - Be proactive. Mr. Merchant had to mentally prepare himself for the run, and he needed to plan out his marathon carefully before doing anything that would compromise his situation. The temperatures at Everest reached -5 degrees centigrade, and the elevation of 5,356 meters made this a much harder task. You wouldn't be able to move even ten steps without having to take a breath, due to low oxygen percentage in the air. At a point, Merchant had to decide whether he should stay in a lodge or continue his journey. Although this costed him four hours of time, he was able to finish the marathon without collapsing or fainting. This educated us in taking calculated risks. A few seconds can end up costing you an entire year’s worth of training. Merchant’s decision gave him the energy he needed to finish the perilous run. Without it, he might not have finished the marathon. And so, on May 30th, 2018, Merchant became the first Indian to finish the Everest Extreme Ultra Marathon 19 hours, 15 minutes and 10 seconds. He had accomplished a feat of endurance no other Indian had matched yet. Taher Merchant is a great inspiration for all of us, and he has shown us that discipline, dedication and smart work can take you a long way. He showed us what good ethics and learning can get you in life. He has shown us his “experience of a lifetime”, and we as students hope to accomplish something equally as great in the future. By Raghu Ranganathan XII-A Ekya, ITPL

More Stories from Our Schools

Best Friends – Ananya Milak, Grade X, Ekya JP Nagar

A best friend is someone who makes you laugh... even when you think you will never smile again.
There are many people who come into your life but only a special few make a place in your heart. They leave their imprints deep within you and make memories that last forever. They create special moments with you and paradoxically make fun of you like no one else. They are your one-point source for honest opinions and advice… even when you don’t ask for it! Unfortunately, you still can’t imagine life without them. They are ‘God’s gift that annoys you ad infinitum’ aka best friends. Best friends are the ones closest to you. They know every single thing about you whether it’s bad, good or silly. They always support you and are the most amazing cheerleaders that you can ever find. The best part is that they are completely FREE! I’m joking, they are the most valuable people you could ever find in your life. Just their presence can light up your day.     I feel best friends are like yarn: together they create the warmest space and even when they are far apart, they are still connected to you. It isn’t about how well off the person is or how good they look, it’s about the connection you make with them after spending time together. It is about how they make you feel… happy, relevant, strong and enough for this disheartening world. Their love and support is what gets you through the hardest times in your life. They are your favourite “Hello” and your hardest “Goodbye”! They are a part of you and the chosen family you thank God for every single day. There isn’t a single exchange that goes by without an extraordinary memory being made. From all the inside jokes to all the madness, they make life slightly more bearable. And this isn’t a phase-only experienced in school, it is one thing that will last your entire life. No matter what age you are at, you always have that one person you share EVERY SINGLE thing with. Best friends don’t have a perfect age, time or place; they are always there, thankfully. Many a time, while conversing with my best friend, I realise that we sound completely crazy. We talk about everything and nothing. We start with a simple topic and end up talking about something completely different. But there is something that always happens, we lose track of time and solve all our problems. There is no end to our conversations. None of us stop to think about topics, it just flows out effortlessly and that is the best thing in the entire world. Lastly, I would like to say that no matter what happens, keep such people close to you. They are like your personal sounding board… one that listens, gives advice if required and stops you from doing things you will regret. Not only do you need them, they too need you. We often don’t realise their value until we lose them. They are the ones who celebrate when you are at your best and are still there with you during your worst times. They are the treasures of life; NEVER EVER LET THEM GO…  

Find A World Beyond Boundaries

Enquire Now