From illumination to light

 Schools are not just places of learning; they are communities shaped by the people who guide, inspire, and support them every day. While celebrations often highlight students and teachers, it is equally important to recognise the one who stands behind every achievement, every event, and every milestone. Principal’s Day is a reminder to honour the guiding force who leads the school with dedication, compassion, and vision.

This week has been filled with practices, artwork, and many preparations. With Principal’s Day approaching, everyone was busy and active. Every year, we celebrate Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day, Annual Day, and many other events. But we often forget to honour the person who makes all of these celebrations run smoothly and successfully. Principal’s Day is a moment to appreciate the one who guides the entire school family, reminding them that they are cared for and valued. This year, the week was dedicated to them under the theme “From Illumination to Light.”

The hard work of the students and teachers shone brightly on this special day. Their smiles and heartfelt words expressed everything they felt. The decorations and the performances, practised, rehearsed, and re-rehearsed, came together beautifully. Watching the little ones dance joyfully to the music was truly heartwarming. Every small step they learned brought excitement, and the teachers who trained them showed their dedication through the children’s confident performance.

The programme included performances by both the primary section and the high school students. The high school skit introduced the significance of the day in a meaningful way. This was followed by touching speeches from the students and a vibrant Garba dance that filled the hall with festive energy. The celebration concluded with a special choir song, written and composed on the theme “Lighthouse.” The lighthouse represented the Principal, the guiding light who helps others stay on the right path and not lose direction.

The entire event was a beautiful expression of gratitude, unity, and respect. It reflected how much the school community values the leadership and care of the person who leads them with wisdom and strength.

When teachers became children again

This week was celebrated as Children’s Day, a reminder that we were once children ourselves, completely dependent on our parents and filled with innocence and wonder. Throughout the week, the teachers stayed back after school to practise their performances for the celebration. Watching them rehearse was a delight. For a short while, they let go of their roles as adults and allowed the child within them to come alive. Their faces lit up with excitement as they tried out different dance steps to retro-style music, laughing and enjoying every moment.

I was reminded of my own school days, when I would eagerly watch my teachers perform various programmes for us. This past week, I witnessed the dedication behind those performances. The teachers worked with genuine enthusiasm, wanting to give the students a joyful and memorable Children’s Day. Their hard work reflected how deeply they cared for their students.

On the day of the celebration, my teachers wished me “Happy Children’s Day!”, and for a moment, it took me back to the time when I was the one sitting among the students. Standing there as a teacher in the very same school where I once studied felt surreal. Even though I am here only for a short period, the experience is special and difficult to put into words. It’s a beautiful reminder of how life comes full circle, turning students into teachers and memories into new experiences.

Day 4 of teaching practise

 Day 5 began with the start of a new week, a lazy Monday morning when you simply don’t feel like stepping out after a short weekend. As I stepped outside, I was greeted not by the freshness of a new day but by a thick blanket of smog hanging low in the air. It stung my eyes and made it slightly difficult to breathe. The once-clear morning sky now looked dull and lifeless, as if covered in a grey filter.

Because of the rising pollution levels, the outdoor assembly was cancelled, and we had to gather indoors instead. It felt strange not to stand in the open ground like we usually do, but at the same time, it was a relief to be in a safer environment. During the assembly, the thought for the day was a quote by Jawaharlal Nehru:

“Failure comes only when we forget our ideals, objectives, and principles.” 

The quote stayed with me for a while. It reminded me that true success isn’t measured by fame or achievements, but by the integrity behind them. A person might appear successful to the world, but if that success comes through dishonest means, then it is nothing more than a hidden failure. This message felt especially powerful to start the week with a reminder to stay grounded in values even when the world seems to rush past them.

As the day went on, time moved faster than I expected. The classes went smoothly, and despite the dull weather, there was a quiet sense of peace in the air. It could be because the indoor setting made everything feel more focused and calm. Students seemed as usual, without having the effect of Monday mood that follows after the weekend's freedom.

The environment surely causes a negative effect on people. It’s concerning how each year the situation seems to get worse around this time. The sunlight barely filters through, and the city looks as though it’s lost its brightness under a smoky haze.

Still, there’s always hope, hope that things will get better with time and awareness. Small steps like reducing firecrackers, using public transport, or planting more trees might seem insignificant individually, but together they can bring change.

By the end of the day, even though my eyes still felt irritated and my throat a bit dry, I felt grateful, grateful for health, for shelter, and for another day to experience and learn. As I packed up to head home, I silently wished for clearer skies and cleaner air in the days ahead.

From other side of desk: Day 3 and 4

The third day at school was quite relaxing since I had fewer classes. A short break truly helps to refresh both body and mind before beginning a new day. The morning started, as usual, with the assembly, where the thought for the day was, “Learning happens at all times, so we need to keep our minds open.”

A short break in between classes really helps to regain lost energy, which is much needed for a teacher’s daily routine. It’s quite a busy schedule for teachers who are constantly on the move throughout the day. One of my teachers asked me, “How do you feel about the transition from being a student to becoming a teacher?” That question made me smile; it reminded me of my childhood curiosity about what it would feel like to be on the other side of the classroom. I now realise how challenging it truly is to grab students’ attention and keep them quiet and engaged.

By the end of the day, I felt exhausted, even though I had been energetic throughout. As soon as I reached home, the tiredness caught up with me completely, making me feel lethargic but still looking forward to the next day.

The fourth day began with a chilly morning, the first real touch of winter. The breeze was cold, and my hands and feet felt numb. As soon as I reached the staffroom, the warmth there was a welcome relief. The morning assembly went by smoothly and ended with a quote by Albert Einstein:

“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.”

As the day progressed, it became more engaging and enjoyable. Time seemed to pass quickly when interacting with students, compared to sitting idle. During my free period, I spent most of my time in the library, my favourite spot since my own school days. The library has always been a peaceful place for me. Back then, our librarian used to keep a book ready for me to read, and that’s where my love for reading truly began.

The day ended quickly, leaving little time for other activities, and it grew dark earlier because of the approaching winter. As the weekend drew near, the first week of my teaching practice came to an end, a week full of learning, experiences, and small moments to remember, while awaiting a fresh start filled with new activities in the coming week.  

Day 2 of teaching practise

 

The second day was not easy at all. The first day had been all about getting to know the place, even though my assigned task was mistakenly given to someone else. But the next day, I was given substitution classes, my first real experience handling a large number of students. It was stressful and quite challenging.

The day began with the usual assembly, which was longer than the previous day because there was a prize distribution that took quite some time. After the assembly, I went to the staffroom, as I had the day before, and there I received my first class assignment.

It was the first period, so I had to take attendance as well. The class was Grade Seven, which meant the students were a bit older and more energetic. As soon as I entered, they were excited to see a new teacher and immediately asked for a free period. Convincing them wasn’t easy, but somehow, I managed to make a deal with them, and they quietened down for a while. It was difficult to grab their attention, but I’d say I handled it fairly well.

Later, I was asked to take another class with a younger group, and it turned out to be even more challenging. The students were restless throughout the period, and it took all my patience to manage them. At some point, I felt completely exhausted and kept waiting for the bell to ring. When it finally did, I let out a sigh of relief.

I also received a substitute for the games period, which was much easier since the students were outside playing. After a lot of walking around the school, the day finally came to an end. I was truly tired and could feel the fatigue in every part of my body.

It was, however, an eventful day. I had the chance to talk with other teachers, and they shared some valuable tips and tricks for managing a class. I hope the coming days will be different as I slowly adapt to my new role as a teacher.

Day 1 of back to school

 

School has always been an emotion for me. I often find myself missing my days as a student there. I have a vivid picture of how my school used to look because I spent fourteen years within its walls, a long and unforgettable time. The corridors, library, playground, classrooms, and every corner have a clear route in my mind.

After returning to school after many years, everything seemed to have changed. When my brother mentioned it earlier, I didn’t believe him. I assumed it would just be a small, barely noticeable change. However, as I walked inside the school premises, I realised how wrong I had been. The transformation was huge, almost unrecognisable. It made me miss the old surroundings even more, yet I felt genuinely happy seeing how beautifully things had evolved.

Stepping into my school again, this time as an intern teacher, brought a rush of mixed emotions. I had always wished to teach in the very same school where I once studied, though I never imagined it would actually happen. On my first day as an intern, the school felt completely new to me. I met several of my former teachers, to my surprise, many of them still remembered me, and some even recalled my name. Their warm smiles and encouraging words made me feel truly welcome.

Though I missed seeing a few teachers who had retired, meeting the ones who were still there filled me with immense joy. They had been a significant part of my journey, and seeing them again brought back many memories. This journey has been long and meaningful, and as it now nears its end, I feel both a quiet sense of loss and the excitement of stepping into a new beginning.