Nostalgic Memories -- School Visit

 

Last Sunday ( Feb 28 ) was a super charged up afternoon/ evening .  The reason was simple . Plan was to go to  the school where I did my Higher secondary schooling and the visit was after 38 years !.

 

Every year , some of us who are part of the school class WhatsApp group contribute a tidy sum to the school . The school is an aided school and so help is always welcome . For the past years , we have been just transferring the sum to the Coordinator ( this guy not only keeps us going but also finds classmates and adds them to the group ) who would then go to the school and handover .

But this time , someone proposed that we get to the school and handover .  Some were skeptical because of the pandemic but finally nine of us said we will make it. And all of us will follow safety protocols .The coordinator said we could be in at around 3:30 Pm and he will ensure that the current Headmaster and our Accounting teacher would be there.

 

When I went , I struggled to get in to the school . The main entrance that I was used to had  been changed and a new entrance with a Arch had been created. The school campus had changed . More buildings , better sports facility was clearly visible.  But one thing did not change . The classroom where we finished our schooling. And the whole locality looked so different . Gone were the open spaces and trees .. More buildings had come up.

 

There were already three guys ahead of me – I could recognize none and with masks , it made it all the more difficult.  Re introductions and then we were able to recognize . I could recognize the balance as we had met an year and half back.

We had some lovely interactions with the current Headmaster. He was so pleased with the support that he was getting from us and the rest of the Alumni groups. Everyone also talked about themselves in a brief way. We had in our group , a very good singer from those days . He belted out a number . One another guy recited our prayer song ( it was stunning that he remembered it ) . We then, walked around , going to our favourite nooks and corners and hung out spots..  We then requested that our class room be opened. It had not changed one bit except for the tables and chairs. Some things do not change. Then we had the icing on the cake.

 

We requested our Accounting teacher to take the class. He did that  just spontaneously ..  Everyone of us sat in the same desk where we sat 38  years back.  Our teacher started with this : Education is the only asset in the Balance Sheet of your life  and you need to be Aspirational , Perspirational ( meaning hard work ) and Inspirational to be successful n life. He then took on the basics of Accounting for close to ten minutes.  It was overwhelming to hear him. He was the same sir that we knew.  There was thunderous clapping as he completed the principles of Double Accounting. He is retired now and does classes in schools for free ! ( I sat in the last row , my usual place 😊 )

 

We did not realise that nearly two and half hours had gone by . All of us thanked the Headmaster , our Accounting teacher and to each of us .

 

It was such joy to get back and connect. It was a privilege and boon to get to what we did !