Yes! It’s June! The beginning of
every school academic year is special and eagerly looked forward to by everyone. Students
are eager to meet up with their friends, start classes, read their new books,
get their fresh set of uniforms, begin their extracurricular activities etc. Teachers
and other staff members are keen to commence their new sessions, incorporate
new learning styles and meet their new batch of students. In all, it is a
completely charged up and exciting time, heralding a new set of opportunities,
challenges and experiences.
For me, this year, it is extra
special. Heading Billabong High International School, Santacruz as the
Principal is an incredible privilege. The last nine months as principal itself
has been an amazing learning experience. And if I am certain of any thing is
that my students will continue to amaze me. And so, as I look forward to the unfolding of
another academic year with them, I humbly pen time-tested ten testaments that
should hold them in good stead –
1. Be
Present – Not just attendance wise! No matter what it is that you do, be
‘present’ in that task. Give it your best shot. Do it with all the wakefulness
and mindfulness that you ought to accord it. For, not doing so would mean you
do not respect your time enough. And anyone who does that is one’s own worst
enemy.
2. Work
towards a goal – Be outcome-oriented. Always think of the goal. Be committed to
it with a zeal that should be unparalleled. This includes from doing the
smallest tasks to the biggest assignments. Being mindful of working towards a
set goal persistently, on a daily basis, gives amazing results. If the goal or
outcome is too huge, break it down into smaller steps and results; work towards
it conscientiously.
3. Results
don’t define you – Remember that while results at best are the closest
measurable indicator of the level of skills you have mastered and are yet to;
it doesn’t define you. Nor can it ever do. So, don’t let that limit your own
expectations of yourself or let it define your self-worth. There are ample
number of real-time success stories of brilliant successful individuals who ‘made
it’ even when they failed earlier on, in their academic or early professional
years.
4. Work
hard but have fun - There is hardly any substitute for hard (and smart) work. But
there is no panacea like having fun in what you do, so it doesn’t feel like
hard work. Studies have proved that individuals who enjoyed their time didn’t
feel the work to be ‘hard’. Work too doesn’t seem like work then. Join
extracurricular activities apart from just focussing on studies.
5. Know
whom to let in- Select you circle carefully and take time to know whom you
include in your circle. Be discerning. Understand that real friendships take
time to form and that if you even have 5 friends in your lifetime whom you can
count as among your true friends, you are wealthy.
6. Receive
and give with equal tenacity – Both are two sides of the same coin. Unless you
learn how to receive you won’t learn to give; and unless you give you won’t be
able to learn.
7. Always
question - Even the answers given to
you.. Seek them yourself. And allow others around you the same liberty.
8. Freedom
comes with responsibility – While we all crave for freedom, it comes with a
huge responsibility – to use the freedom wisely, conscientiously. Remember, often
the consequences of one’s actions can have far reaching effects, and not just
on an individual basis but collectively too.
9. Do
one new thing every week – It could be the simplest of tasks to commencing your
poetry journal or tasting/making an exotic recipie, always learn and do
something new.
10. Celebrate
your uniqueness; believe in it – Saved this for the last! Always remember, there
is no one quite like you. So celebrate it and be around people who will
celebrate it. Believe in your capabilities and know the areas you want to work upon.
Be your own biggest competition.
