I'm reminiscing about school after reading Pretty Woman's blog about childhood. I'm not in the mood to write much, but I'd like to put this email that I sent to my school's mailing group a couple of years ago.
In my 12 years at school, I always was part of something during each annual day. I sang every year as part of the group song team that would perform when the stage was being prepared for the next drama/event. I was in the primary school play in the 5th standard...I was to play Cinderella, and the teachers were unable to find a Prince who was taller than I was. So my classmate, Anju, took that role and I became a step sister. (This incident stands out in memory because today I'm not considered "tall" by any measure :-)))
I also played the role of Mahishi in a classical dance based drama "Markandeya". I remember going up on stage to receive the general proficiency prize with black paint on my face that year. But what I do remember most is the excitement and the preparation that went in each year. Reaching school at an early hour in the afternoon. Having Mrs. Lalitha put on make up for us. Then collecting snack coupons and attempting to eat biscuits and bananas without getting the lipstick off.
I learnt music for almost 10 years privately. But I learnt music for12 years from our music teacher too. If my music teacher at home taught me to sing with my open voice, Mrs. Lalitha taught me to use my "false" voice. At a recent get together, someone commented on my ability to sing in two voices. I think I spent so much more time singing at school that today I cannot sing in my real voice for very long. And that training in school got me on to the college choir and is now contributing to local Hyderabad entertainment at Planet M.
I think I feel pretty much the same way about art, craft, SUPW, CCA, Scouts and Guides, and sports. They're important...and we had the good fortune to learn all that in school. I still come across people who cannot thread a needle or change a light bulb, have never played a game, haven't gone to camp, haven't painted, sung, quizzed or debated, haven't read a book outside of their textbooks...and I cannot help but think...was it because they didn't go to our school?
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8 comments:
totally agree with you...studying in the same school, I feel I have learnt so much and am far more confident, thanks to our teachers and the school that we went to...hats off!!
Can't agree more with both of you!
Do you remember me being the markandeya thozhi???? hahaha. I remember being part of annual day every year and it was SO much fun!
And I SO remember running away from Mrs.Lalitha because we were scared of the loads of make up she used to put on!!
Have you guys been following the alumni mails? There's a discussion going on about improving the school standards. I am in the process of composing a looong mail with all my crazy ideas ofcourse. Hope to see you guys' mail there too.
Ah it feels so nice to read something about school on a friday morning.
aaahhh! enga school la idalam undam..
naanum music, speech, drama, scouts, sports ellam participate panniruken..
:P
romba thaan peethikaraye.. :)
@G'man:
"I still come across people who cannot thread a needle or change a light bulb, have never played a game, haven't gone to camp, haven't painted, sung, quizzed or debated, haven't read a book outside of their textbooks...and I cannot help but think...was it because they didn't go to our school?"
I am only talking about these people... not you... I'll remember to hve a needle and thread ready for our next meeting :-)
@Janani
I think the ONLY real memory I have of you from school relates to an annual day practice session.
@Sunanda
As long as I can remember, I developed a morbid fear of "rouge"... in fact refused to use it at my wedding... until a friend taught me the real way to apply it... and not the 2 blobs of lipstick on the 2 cheeks... that kind of make you look like a clown.
I remember taking you for annual day make up one year... when you were very little :)
But these are the things memories are made of.
Can't agree more :) I absolutely owe most of what I am today to KVIIT.
I remember a lot of things about you, ur aalilai Krishna pendant, short curly hair on a face with perennial grin, expressive face esp.lly when angry, ur constant companion Radhika, etc.
@Revathi: That's a lot to remember about a person :) I lost that pendant though... and also have to a great extent lost touch with Radhika.
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