Friday 31 August 2018

A Student’s Life - Misses and Balances by Archana Narula, Content Writer, New Delhi


A Student’s Life - Misses and Balances…

I feel each one of us, no matter at what stage in our life, do remember and love to go back to our school days. Some memories make us smile while others make us repentant. 
Surely those prime 14-16 years of our life leave an impression which is so influential on our entire lives. So it is indeed important that these initial enthusiastic years of our life are happy, rightly directed and lay a sound foundation for the rest of our lives. 
A student’s life is so full of vigour and enthusiasm. We just want to do anything and everything. To achieve high grades, to increase the friend list, to be the star in whatever way we can. 
The energy we hold at this age is so tremendous to overcome anything and achieve what we determine to. This age crosses all emotional and mental barriers to achieve whatever we aspire for. 
What we need to ask ourselves is a simple question - Are we running at a right pace? Is it crumbling and overcoming others or is it walking, treading, enjoying and being together?  
At the end of the day, this succeeding, surpassing and wining might get you an appreciation but is that all what you desire or is there more to it? 
Tomorrow you may end up becoming a doctor, banker, engineer or a highest level professional but will you be a happy person? What matters the most is – Are you Happy today and tomorrow? 

Before we try to find answers, we need to understand a simple fact that: 
Karma + Destiny = You. 

Here both the factors are important. Be it Karma that is your thoughts/ actions or destiny that is Fate – what life has in store for you. 


Life comes with so many choices and opportunities. Which path you tread on is important when at the crossroads in your life. 
And here comes the importance of your Imbed Value system which helps you make right choices at the right time.  
It is this value system which helps us distinguish between right and wrong.  
Being young students we have an independent life to lead, a future in the process of designing; here it is important for us to individually abide ourselves  
by values and ethics and proceed at a pace walking along with others; helping those who need help. 
Don’t forget that its man’s efforts that a make hell lot of difference but its that subtle value system that make the decisive difference in what you are today and where you land up tomorrow. 

Friday 6 July 2018

What Really Counts in Assessment by Twinkle Khanna, Teacher, Sunbeam School Annapurna, Varanasi



What Really Counts in Assessment???

Assessment- the word which gives jitters not just to the students but also to the teachers. The question which keeps everybody confused is “what really counts in assessment?” Assessment literally means judging or evaluating someone’s ability but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. Every child is unique. If we start judging every child on the same parameter, we will perhaps be unjust with the students as it will not be a true reflection of their calibre. This is the biggest concern related to the assessment pattern of the education system. Every school aims to achieve holistic development of a child. Then is it not necessary to assess a child holistically? In the present scenario a child is assessed on the basis of his performance in the written examination. A child scoring 90% is considered to be intelligent and a child scoring 60% is considered to be an average child. But is it always true? Does this give us the true and actual evaluation of a child’s ability? I don’t think so.
A child may score well in the exams but he/she might lack the skills or deeper understanding required to deal with the practical real life situations. On the contrary a child may not fare well in the exams but might have the skills required in the long-run. To be precise the written examination cannot be taken as a true reflection of a child’s abilities. While assessing a child emphasis should be laid on more complex capabilities like conceptual understanding and long-term transfer skills. As educators we also need to think of some ways to help students understand and reflect their own learning progress. This will make them self-sufficient. So, next time before judging a child we first need to ensure whether we are able to see the hidden part of the ice-berg or we are still looking at the surface.

Wednesday 6 June 2018

The Values That Make Us Human by Garima Chaudhary, B.Sc. (Hotel Management) IHM Pusa, Delhi



The Values That Make Us Human

Do you know what is 'common' between us and the saints?
That, we all are the 'creatures of the god'.
Do you know that is 'uncommon' between us and the saints?
The 'sacredness' of the saints.
Do you know what 'should be common' between us and the saints?
'The values of life that make us a human'.
"Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values".
— Dalai Lama


Today's generation is moving at a very fast rate. As a parent, spouse or business professional, we encounter several circumstances each day which test our patience, character and the peace of mind. During such times, our values guide us and shape our priorities and reactions.
Here, I am going to emphasize the importance of three values which. I believe are the basic values to be a human and to live peacefully in today's scenario.

(i) Character
"Reputation is what others think of you. Character is what you know yourself to be".
— Helen Keller

Character means that you take pride in being the absolute best that you can be, regardless of whether anyone else is paying attention. Character is what you owe to yourself; your dignity, integrity, effort and self-respect.
If one has to choose between 'character' and "Reputation'; one should always choose "Character" because reputation can be earned for the second time but character can't.


(ii) Forgiveness
"The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naïve forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget".
—Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

We live, we fight, we forgive, we forget. It is cycle of life which goes on. It is natural to feel bad, to feel hitting back after a fight. But what makes us stable in such condition is the ability to go let it go. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong, it makes us at peace and give us an upper hand. One should forgive, but never forget the lesson learnt from pain.


(iii) Tolerance
"Tolerance is about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you".
—Mahatma Gandhi

Lack of tolerance in today's society is leading to, matricide, patricide, fratricide etc. And 'suicide'. If we wish to have peace and harmony in our societies and personal lives, we need to develop and imbibe the value of tolerance within ourselves. Tolerance  comes by from learning to forgive.


So, a value system can keep people moving along in life making good choices and  being proud of who they are. When our actions and words are aligned with our values, life is generally good and we feel content, confident and satisfied and proud of ourselves.




A Mother's Message to Her Son Before She Leaves Him Forever by Kiran Goel, Student, Class 11(Medical) MGN Urban Estate Phase 2 School, Jalandhar


A Mother's Message to Her Son Before She Leaves Him Forever

A wait prolongs my dear
Let's welcome let's welcome it with a new dear
Don't feel alone my heart is with you anyway
Whatever words you hid just say
I am gonna be away too long a day
I know paler would the sunlight get
Less darker would be the night over our head
For some time now you will open your arms for me
But nothing like me would you see
Don't this hearten yourself my dear
Just hug your own self then and you feel near
I love you tiniest parts
My life longs for your smile every second
But for now you won't feel my palm when you extend your hand
It's just a little long lovely lifeless lonely wait
Just have faith I promise I won't be late
Let your soul be strengthened by my memories
You wont find me in celebrities
I will always be inside your heart so feel
Keep your hand on your chest
Close your eyes and speak my name when you need
Remember my son,
Stars change places every night,
BUT HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE MOON DEEP?


       











Mirror by Neha Goyal, Teacher, Sacred Heart Convent Sr. Sec. School, Khanna (Distt. Ludhiana), Punjab


Mirror


Spending hours infront of thee
To refashion the natural order ,
Spending hours infront of thee
To refashion the natural order,
Anxious about the reflection of the ephemeral,
Turning every stone to be presentable,
  
Unnerved by a glance at the divine version of thee inside 
Horrified even at the thought of the ugly reflection
Unable to veil it with the artificial correction
  
But can not do without glancing at it 
For to be presentable to ultimate source of reflection,
I look for the cleansing of the dark soul,
I need to bleach it with confession n admission,
I need to nourish it with acceptance and forgiveness
After cleansing, bleaching and nourishing the dark soul 
I can feel presentable to the whole...