How Supportive Teachers Change the Way We See Challenges

- Asher Hansie D’souza, XII B

School – what does one think of, when one says school? Some think of it as a place of only study, others think of it as a place where children are disciplined and their behaviour and appearance is monitored. For me, school is a second home. What is home? Is it the people? Place? Or the memories associated with that place? I have been studying at The Kalyani School, one of the best CBSE schools in Pune , since I was a little boy in first grade and was part of the founding batch. My admission number is 169. Back then, there were few grades, and even fewer classrooms and school houses (Sahyadri and Krishna). I remember before I joined The Kalyani School, my parents had almost finalized another well-known school in the vicinity. All the paperwork was ready, and I had already visited the school. But then, my mom got a phone call from my best friend’s mom, and she told my mom about this wonderful new school she was sending him to. My mom immediately changed plans after consulting me and I have to say, that was the best decision of my life. Since my dad works in the Merchant Navy, I had to travel with him a lot during the summer break, and hence would take long leaves extending till mid or even end June, and The Kalyani School was the only school willing to support us through that time. They were even happy that I had such opportunities and believed that real learning happens outside the classroom, and I would learn a lot more by travelling and interacting with new people. Whenever I missed school, my teachers always made sure that I was receiving all the study materials so that I could catch up. Many of my firsts have been in this very school. My first speech, my first standing ovation, even my first fracture and many more things that have made me stronger. Growing up, I had a lot of allergies but for some reason, whenever I came to school they would disappear. Apart from that, right from my artistic and public speaking skills to my well applauded performances in acting, the school also nurtured my qualities, encouraged them and gave them platforms to flourish. It gave me a voice to stand up for myself and for what’s right, and shaped my ideals and beliefs. It isn’t burdensome to wake up early in the morning for school, but a new purpose and adventure to look forward to.

With those good experiences also came some hardships which I had to overcome. Though annoyingly but rightfully strict with the IU and other discipline policies, my teachers and friends at school always let me know that I was never alone in my struggle, and help was always available. So yes, this is the place where I was truly born, born of truth and righteousness, with a strong zeal for learning and writing, born to live and succeed in everything I did. Here, dead were my unruly and broken mindsets and habits – they were washed away; dead were my fears and tears of ambiguity, and finally I was reborn – reborn to try, fail and succeed; reborn to be better than I was before in mind, body and spirit. So yes, this has been, is, and always will be my home.