Participation is important
RUHANI PAUL,
The most unforgettable incident in my life was getting a scholarship when I was in Class 5. One day, an announcement was made that an essay-writing competition was being organised.
My interest grew after the announcement and I told my parents about the same. They encouraged me to participate.
Few days later, my father received a call that I had been shortlisted for an interview. Then I started preparing for it. This was the first time I was appearing for an interview. A few weeks later, my 150 students (30 students from each standard) will be shortlisted for interviews by a team of experts. parents were told that I had won the scholarship. After hearing the news, I was ecstatic. After some days, my family and I were invited to receive the award and attend the award function at in Mohali.
The scholarship award encouraged me to take part in such type of competitions to always learn something new. As wining is not imporparticipating tant but is important. It improves social skills, increases confidence and helps in widening
horizons. A panel of senior editors will interview the 150 shortlisted students and select 50 winners. August 29, 2014 was a big day in my life. Former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was visiting our school. I was standing with other kids to shower rose petals on him. As he crossed me, I saw that petals were only reaching his shoulders. Later we went back to our classes. The people’s president became my ideal.
I went back home and kept on telling my mother about him. She asked me to write about him. As a student of Class 2, I wrote about my memories and my mother mailed the same to Dr Kalam and to our surprise, he replied. He wished me luck and called my letter a beautiful greeting. It was indeed an unforgettable incident. I realised that I can write my feelings and emotions can reach the other side.
My email to Dr Kalam gave me ‘Wings of Fire’. I started writing a diary on important occasions —my cricket camp, when I won a prize and so I wrote an essay on ‘social media’ and emerged victorious.
So, August 29, 2014 was indeed an important incident in my life which taught me that yes, I can do this too. Yes, I can...yes, I can. Being from an army background, I have experienced many adventures, but the most memorable event was when I visited Kargil in 2014. We were to visit the Kargil war memorial. When we reached there, I saw the museum, which had photos and letters written by soldiers to their families during this war.
We also saw the memorial where names of soldiers martyred during the war were mentioned. A soldier came to guide us and it was visible that he was happy to see my father. I didn’t know why till he told other tourists that my dad was a part of Operation Vijay.
My mom’s eyes were full of tears as I found her lost in her thoughts. I became curious and then dad told us everything — how some died for the motherland.
The feeling of patriotism only reaches to us on Republic Day and Independence Day. We don’t find enough reasons to be patriotic on other days, but a soldier stands guard us 24/7. They don’t do it for a piece of land, but for us.
And that day, I learnt why every day is Independence Day, because someone at the border continues to protect our freedom every single day.