Opportunities abound, the world is your oyster

It is that time of the year again. Early morning classes, revisions, sample papers, speed tests, last minute preparations, and for me, that same sinking feeling.

I look at the 10 and 12 year olds, laboriously poring over sheets of paper, listening intently to me while I give tips on how to attempt the examination, their innocent faces gazing at me in complete concentration and I remember my own kids at that age and my heart turns over.

My son at 10 was raring to go to a boarding school because his sister and other cousins were already there. I remember his first day, when I woke with a hollow pit in my stomach but there he was, smartly turned out in his new uniform, cheerily packing the trunk and suitcases, bidding a smiling goodbye to his grandparents.

During the journey, he was bright eyed, merrily humming the latest songs with not a care in the world, while my husband and I exchanged anxious, knowing looks, aware from experience that the toughest time was yet to come, for him and for us. We unpacked, made his bed and settled his locker while he went around the dormitory making friends with the other boys, seemingly oblivious to the fact that we would soon have to leave.

Sure enough as dusk fell, the bell rang and one by one other parents began leaving. As the dormitory cleared slowly, he turned towards us all of a sudden, wrapped his arms around my legs tightly, looked up into my face beseechingly while silent tears started rolling down his cheeks. Shakily, trying to put up a brave front, I tried to detangle myself gently but he held me tighter and continued to sob, his little shoulders heaving in grief.

Even today, the memory evokes a lump in my throat and I have to make a conscious effort to will it away. Of course, over a period of time, he settled down and was quite happy there, but when I see young, excited mothers and their wards, shyly putting their heads in my classroom door for the first time, it is instant flashback to my enthusiastic and nervous self, eagerly looking forward to the new phase in my child’s life but apprehensive too at the thought of leaving him, all alone in a strange environment.

Leave-taking always tugs at my heartstrings, but as I brace myself once again to bid goodbye to this batch of children too, wishing them success in the intensely competitive exam, I also advise and caution the parents not to stress over the result or make the outcome an all-important goal in their lives. Life is long and every new day is an occasion for new prospects and hope.

From the bottom of my heart, I want all the children to perform well but for the a few disappointed students, I always maintain: “You are the chosen ones. Another, better opportunity is on its way. You can do anything you want to; the world is your oyster.

AS I BRACE MYSELF TO BID GOODBYE TO THIS BATCH OF CHILDREN, I ADVISE PARENTS NOT TO STRESS OVER THE RESULT OR MAKE THE OUTCOME AN ALLIMPORTANT GOAL IN THEIR LIVES