My first day experience
They say home is your first school. For me, school is where I felt at home. It’s been more than a decade since I graduated high school and I can easily say that the only memories from all of my educational or education years that still come to me very vividly re those from my schooling days at “Royal School” time I was introduced to this institution was back in 1993 when it was time for me to join 1st standard. The very first thing I remember about this school is a Little red car that one could peddle, parked right in front of Ms Shanti Sreekanth’s office (the then principal and one of my favorite persons till date!). The moment I entered her office I knew I was ready to dawn the white shirt-khaki shorts and sway my way into this small campus that stood majestically in Jayanagar.

What always gave me a lot of joy was the time we spent in preparing for the many events that happened round the academic year. Be it the independence day celebration, celebrating teacher’s day, bringing out the “scientist” in you through “open day”, celebrating our culture through the ever so colourful annual day or celebrating the sportsmanship spirit through “sports day”. The kind of rapport I built with the people I made friends with in school was molded around these special events that gave me the freedom to express myself. That freedom by far, has been the basis on which I’ve lived my life, till date!

Looking back at all those years of my life at Royal School, I can easily say that those were by far some of the best years of my life. I think its safe to say that Royal School has played the most crucial role in shaping the right value system for me to the person I am now. I’m forever indebted to all the wonders teachers I’ve had a privilege of learning from and to all my mates who’ve been a part of a wonderful journey that started 25 years ago! As the school celebrates its 25th year like to wish all the teachers who’ve been instilling a great of morality into the young minds that will be the future of a hearty congratulation. To all the students, all the best to a wonderful future.

Journey
The beginning of any journey starts with a need to want to learn. School comes at such an early stage in life where we wonder who we are and why we need to be here. The ease, excitement and curiosity with which we begin our first outdoor journey in life is always an experience that stays with us for a lifetime. Royal School has been one such experience filled with fun and flavor.It helps one explore possibilities that bring out the best in a person. Coming from a background of having two wonderful women who raised me, I joined grade four, a class fullof boys. It was a pleasant surprise of feeling awkward and welcomed at the same time. The support and encouragement I got from friends and teachers is something I would always cherish. I remember a time when we were playing hide and seck. For some reason, I would be given a special preference of being forgiven even if I got out. It felt special to be exclusive and not excluded!

Teachers have truly been the backbone of Royal School. We were a small school to begin with. Only a few students in a class given individual attention. All of us either needed guidance or support; help or encouragement and we could always look up to them for all our needs. Storytelling and debating have been my strong points but stage fright was a fear I found hard to overcome. When teachers make extra curricular activities compulsory, its probably for the good as I understood that fear was a preconceived notion I had about something i hadn’t even tried. I remember winning debate competitions three times in a row for three consecutive years.

As years passed by, High School was more of a journey progressing towards higher goals and responsibilities. Being the first captain of Raman House was a privilege. We failed, we succeeded, we laughed, we cried, we saw our team on top of the leader board and sometimes at the very bottom. Every experience only made us stronger as a team. Being a captain helped me find the leader in me. The badge I wore commanded respect. Captaincy meant wearing many hats. It was not an easy task. We had to be at our best to guide and help a team flourish. Was i strict? Probably I was How would I like to see my school in future? Perhaps, we could introduce a larger variety of learning methods like kinesthetic, auditory, musical, social and so on, so that it could cater to a varied range of students with different learning abilities. Story telling sessions, short field trips, creating useful products from waste material, open book exams could all help learning become a fun filled experience.

Being a part of the “Royal Family”, the journey has taught me to dream big. Its never too late to achieve anything in life. Bigger dreams just take longer time to fulfill.

The smile I remember
It was in the year 2007. I first stepped in to Royal School. Being brought up in Maharashtra, this was a completely new environment. It took 2-3 months for me to learn the language and the school conduct. Gradually I made a very good set of friends and started spending time with them. The main point that caught my attention was the good teaching skills of my teachers, their friendly SMILES and their co-operative attitude towards the students. Lot of importance was given to the extra-curricular activities. It gave us the necessary exposure to the outside world on a good platform.

Now I am pursuing my Engineering degree, but whenever go down my memory lane, 1 SMILE at those innocent fights vociferous talks during the classes, stealing glances over the notes of classmates feeling thrilled over winning volleyball matches which I can never forget.

As I stepped out into the big world, I have realized the depth in the words of advice given by my teachers with a SMILE on their faces. Right from the security guard whom we would affectionately call uncle to my teachers & my Principal, I was always received with a SMILE and with a SMILE I passed out of the school with 96%, this I am sure will ever remain in my memories of MY SCHOOL.

A Reflection
School photobombed every aspect of my childhood. Never did it let me be. While I was at a relative’s taking a bite off of a round, soft jamun trying to frame this beautiful moment there it appeared again without an invitation. I use a spoon to cut that cute, round thing in half and eat like a Victoria’s secret model with utmost dexterity (a rare skill for an eight year old I suppose) then the school was praised for imparting good manners, discipline & etiquettes. Had I used my hand to pick it straight off the cup & wipe my hand to my already dirty pants and there you again, it appears unflinchingly except this time for the exact opposite reasons. School was a safe house as far as parents were concerned. No amount of sulking over extra homework, tantrums to miss school was going to budge parents from believing otherwise. It held a high ground, like the oracle of Delphi.

School was such an integral part of our lives as we grew up. We grew up intellectually, physically, mentally emotionally and socially; all these changes embraced gracefully and not once did we need lessons in Change Management a training to that’s selling like hot cake in the corporate world.

A Home away from Home
Twenty fifth anniversary of my school and I feel privileged to be writing this today. I joined Royal School as a toddler and continued to finish my entire schooling. We belonged to the third batch of the school and it literally grew along with us. It has been a decade ever since I passed out of school. A decade!! Phew. A decade has passed and yet nothing has changed. It is said that change is the constant companion. Changes are inevitable, ain’t it? Of course, it is. The school not only taught us our lessons and text book chapters, it also helped us grow as individuals with a great value system. We live by what has been taught to us. It is because of our teachers that we have evolved into better beings, both in professional and in personal lives. The past decade has been the result of the hard work of the teachers. The real learning begins once we get out of the cocoon. A caterpillar which is built to be a butterfly, moulds itself for its life. Likewise, a teacher moulds a student. And sooner or later in life, we all realise.. We realise that the teachers were right! It is only when we live life and go through few experiences do we understand that a lot had been told to us beforehand. As an alumnus, when I returned to school after a decade as a guest to talk to the now students of tenth grade I Experienced the beauty of role reversal. Time has the power to change everything Who we are and what we do, depicts our personality. It is important that the coming generations learn to make a choice and live by it. You must build yourself in such a way that you have the power to choose and the courage to stay put. Life has given us love, relationships, memories, taught us lessons of courage, morality and humbleness. Let me tell you, these are the gifts that one can endure from failures. So it becomes necessary to accept failures in order to accept great success. It is roots that matter. And it is roots that we must hold on to. What you build forever matters more than what comes presently

School was home away from home for me. I grew up in a secured atmosphere. The best gift one can get is to be comfortable in their own skin and that’s what was given to us. Hundred different students and the freedom to be yourself, is priceless!! I am glad to be a part of the formative years of the school. I shall forever be a part of it. I can’t be thankful enough to my teachers who were as good as my parents. Twenty-five to the school. Many more to go.