New Horizon, new skies

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 Hi!

Remember me?

I am the father of two daughters.

In the period since my last post, the world has been repeatedly battered with Covid – 19 pandemic and has decided to spice things up by adding a war to its list of problems, I have changed my place of residence, my daughters have changed their school and have already earned name for themselves in their respective classes.

Aadya moved mid – session in her class 9. We were really worried about the impact it would have on her academic performance and her outlook towards life in general. When she told one of her new classmates that she had already seen eight schools, she was thought to be a joker. Later, the classmate realised that she was not joking, and they became friends. Aadya went on to make more friends, now has a small group of her own. She is not the epicentre of activities, or even the most popular child in the class, but she has accepted, and has been accepted in the new surrounding as one of their own. She now calls herself a proud eaglet – after the mascot of their school which is a “Shaheen”.

Shaivi, too, moved mid – session in class 5, and traded one set of online classes with another. While, schools were more ready to experiment with the senior classes, the approach for the primary classes was one of no risk. So, Shaivi continued to pour over her tablet when her sister was attending physical classes. When time came for resumption of physical classes, she was a little apprehensive. My wife had a nice talk with her, reminding her about how she used to enjoy classes earlier, and how she would again become the favourite of the teachers once they got to know her.

Shaivi, too, made some friends. She is very talkative around one of them, but otherwise has started developing a penchant for being quiet and attentive girl. Her teachers have started knowing her as the girl who does not talk, with the exception of one teacher who got so fed up of her constant talking with her new friend that she made them sit separately in her class.

For both Aadya and Shaivi, examinations were challenging times. Their performance throughout the year fluctuated wildly in different subjects. The teachers were quick to realise the potential, and paid special attention to the areas requiring greater focus. Their performances during the final examinations were less wild, and closer to what they had been doing in their previous schools, with a few exceptions; and they both are looking forward to their new session, which will, hopefully, be entirely in physical mode.

The girls have moved on, and are looking at new grounds. The city is a new one, the people are different, the style of studying and social interaction are different, and yet the rules of engagement remain the same.

Tu Shaheen Hai, Parvaz hai kaam tera

Tere samne aasman aur bhi hai

(You are the eagle; it is your job to soar high and explore the worlds the lie beyond the skies.)

-          Iqbal

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