The Best School Memory

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MEMOIRS OF SCHOOL 🏫


I was suggested to write about my best school memory. A piece of cake I thought. But as I sit down to pen that one particular moment, I realize I am at a loss. Looking back, each day had threads of gold stitched into it. Be it being caned by teachers in class or receiving a certificate in the assembly, every moment had its charm. Some of you must disagree, for I haven’t lived the life for others and generalization is foolish. Yet, there is an intuition which tells me that school days are what all of us wish to live once again, to wear that uniform and sit in our old classroom, if given a chance.

Can you recollect the day you set foot on the grounds of your alma mater, teary eyed and anxious, the place where you befriended AB..CD…EFG and numbers? On the first day, was it you or your mom who suddenly felt a gush of separation anxiety and deliberately delayed the act of finding the belt or tie…even shoes that complete the uniform? For me, it was mutual.
I presume, at school you were introduced to the Principal first, to hand you over with complete trust. The eligible hand did assure your parents with a calm smile that you would be safe with them. And you were. Did you spend your first day crying your eyes out, panicked by strangers around, wondering why your best humans at home left you in that new ‘building’ all alone? As for me, I remember watching some cry at the top of their lungs. I also remember the myriad coloured walls with paintings to allure kids and my tall, kind teacher.
Don’t you think our sense of smell is the one that triggers our memory the best? The temptation to smell the books for a new academic year is one thing I don’t fight. This act takes you straight to the memory of revelling in the scent of fresh pages as a student. Will you disagree if I say that Camlin fountain pen ink has a scent of its own, the one we blindly trusted to fetch that A grade in copy writing work? Did your name slips have a unique smell? How about water bottles and those Action shoes?

There were days we all smiled a little less. Realizing the fact that from grade 1, I must enter instructions in school diary all by myself made me cry in terror. How did you react while leafing through the pages of the text book to copy cursive writing for the first time? The running letters, the dots to write over and learn made it all look impossible. Was it scary to face questions in class when you were least prepared? It was embarrassing to stand helpless and to look foolish. But all of that is now water under the bridge.

What was more thrilling while the teacher announced the events for school youth festival? The knowledge that you won’t have classes for a whole day or the confusing excitement about which event to participate? Have you tried hands at events you have no clue about? I have confidently walked into painting and light music competitions, assuming I could hit the right notes and make the perfect strokes. I believe our parents were kind enough to not stop us in our expeditions like Dora.

If there is something which lights up our face and keeps us moving as we take this walk down the memory lane, it is the friendships we have made back at school. Some of us were fortunate enough to have souls whom we could count on…people who always had our back. They made tours merrier, sharing of secrets extra alluring, back bench heaven and worries bearable. I wish to caress the school wall and place my ears against it. Because that wall was the sole witness to the million giggles, dreams, heartaches and promises shared. Will you join me?

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