The other day I was watching a clip of Leonardo Di Caprio from the OSCARS and it got me thinking. No, not about how relieved and happy he must be to finally and deservedly have won. After five or six nominations, was it? Anyways. And neither was it about how funny Chris Rock was. My mind actually took a completely different detour.
Seeing those folks nervous and excited on their big night took me back to my school days. Actually, more specifically to the days when the final results were announced after each term. The day of the year when all our hard work was rewarded in the presence of every student in the school and all the parents too.
Oh! I can feel every heartbeat and still take a whiff of that pleasant nervousness from those days with my eyes closed. The excitement, the butterflies in the stomach and the apprehension, all the trademarks for that sole winter day, year after year. Maybe, there is a reason why OSCARS led me to this part of my memory palace and left me there to relive, reignite and feel alive all over again.
Our term ran from February to November end every year and the final results were always announced a week before Christmas, on a beautiful sunny winter day. I cannot even begin to tell you how eagerly I waited for that result day at that point in time. Every single year. I don’t know what it was. Maybe because that day summed up the efforts of the entire year beautifully for me? And also because somewhere in my mind once that day was over, I could actually start enjoying my winter break, knowing that I deserve every bit of it. I probably sound like a nerd to you right now? Well, maybe I was one but I loved it.
True joys lie in the smallest and silliest of things
My sister and I studied in the same school. So, we along with our parents would wake up bright and early, get dressed and drive to the school every result day. There the parents would meet up with each other and the students would form circles discussing the results and their vacation plans. Oh! I loved every bit of it.
The anticipation would grow as the time drew close. And eventually, on the dot, at 9 am the bell would ring signaling the start of the event of the year. Well, for us students and maybe the parents too. The latter would then move to one side while us, the students, would line up class-wise on the playground. The Headmistress would then come to the podium, give a speech, her way of inspiring us and thanking us for another wonderful year.
Then it would start, the results, all class wise. The moment every student waited and worked hard for. The happy walk up to the podium or the joy of hearing the class teacher call out my name was something that I cannot quite explain.
The pure, adulterated joy of being a student which made it even more special!
Sometimes I wonder how something so simple could bring so much joy to me. But I guess it’s true what they say, true joys lie in the smallest and silliest of things. Mine certainly was in doing well and getting called up to the podium before anyone else in my class. You see, up to a certain point in life studying and being a nerd was everything to me. So, don’t judge me.
Once the ceremony was over, we would go wish our teachers a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and happy holidays. It was a ritual, a beautiful one if you ask me. Our year ended that way, year after year.
That day signified a little more than just results. And I haven’t felt that excitement since. Maybe it was the pure, adulterated joy of being a student which made it even more special. But it was a feeling that I can never forget and what I wouldn’t give to feel the same way again.
Look back into your childhood and tell me, has anything excited and rewarded you like this? Any day, any event or anything at all?
If there's an event at school, I'll be there on the stage either for comparing or for anything else. And very time I stepped on to the stage, I felt a rush of excitement and at the same time it scared me too. But the experience was worth.
This is so cute! I don't recall having a session like this one at school but I can totally picture it 😀 And how awesome to have your name called out and go up on stage.
That said, going through exams as a parent right now and the situation gives me butterflies in the stomach. Uff! It is true that joy lies in the smallest of things. Always 🙂
Oh man… public announcement of results that too with parents!! can imagine how nerve wrecking it would be for me… but looks like you enjoyed it 🙂
I enjoyed reading this lovely offering from your memory palace, as you so eloquently called it, Naba. My memories are more of the first day of school – new books, fresh notebooks and the excitement of a new classroom and teacher.
My school looked very similar to yours. May be that's how these convents are made. My Mum is a teacher and has been teaching since long. So most people thought we would know the results but we never had an idea cos Mum would never ask teachers. We had classroom announcements and that used to be nerve racking 😛 See the answer sheets – we used to sum up marks for all and then in the last period the results used to be announced. Gosh! those days 🙂
I don't have happy memories about the result day. Not because I was not studious or anything. But because of the comparison by teachers as well as my mother. Mom being a teacher in the same school, we had to go through some really nasty comments if we lost even one or two marks. And the worst thing was getting confronted for it right in front of the entire school. If you really ask me, no good memories of being rewarded. An anecdote from those days is part of my next post to be published. Do read.
Oh, I loved those results days too. Also because mostly I stood first and having your name called out with a broad smile from the teacher was priceless. In our case, the report cards will given in class and parents met the teachers later at the PTI. School was really special. Every small memory seems elating. One was also that on the Annual Day we got prizes for getting maximum marks in a subject. And they gave books. It was just perfect walking home with fresh books, enough ammunition for the summer holidays. Lovely memories, those. 🙂
Old memories are sweet to be remembered. Happy to read your post. I too have those wonderful memories for getting books as prizes for my marks.
I remember my Std 10th result day very clearly. It was delayed and we got it in mid-June. And on the day of the results, monsoon made its appearance. I still remember the beautiful drizzle and the fresh day of getting the results. Your academic years are very different from mine .. Mine was from June to April.
OH I remember those Speech Days ( as we called them) too! And funnily enough the day the reports came home (by post even though we were day scholars) Cliff Richards' song 'Congratulations' would always be playing on Radio Ceylon
You took me back to my school days. Our report cards used to be handed in the assembly… ohh my heart would hammer in my chest. I was infact so scared to get the 12th board results that I sent my sister to find it our for me 😛
A sweet post, Naba:)
I was a nerd too in school with glasses on my eyes sealing the nerdy looks. I have been wearing them since early 90s. Your post reminded me of the bygone era I had completely forgotten about. Your school term of Feb-Nov reminds me of my school in the hills of Guwahati where the school term was Mid Jan-Mid Dec. Announcement of exam results in the assembly before the whole school and all the parents looks jittery to me. Thank God I never had to face this. In all the schools I attended, the report cards were handed over to the children and their parents in the respective classes.
I sort of live these through my daughter now. They are so much fun to remember.
I remember the times board exam results were announced…. Tension plus relief 🙂
I remember the times board exam results were announced…. Tension plus relief 🙂
I loved the first day of school. The noise, the excitement, the smell of new books! I can close my eyes and go there in a jiffy!
Looking back at those memories does make us so happy right? As if we are right there!
Ahh I can imagine.. My mom used to be the same during our exams. But yes all these experiences do bring the most innocent of joys
Haha yes I really did 🙂
Ahh the first day.. Yes, those are also wonderful, Corinne.. The beginning of anew term, such excitement:)
Oh I can imagine… Seeing the answer sheets was fun too. God! I was such a nerd? But I loved every bit of it 🙂
Oh is it?well, I would love to read that Rekha…
Oh yes the books and the prizes… I loved every bit of all that too.. Even reliving those days in my thoughts is so much fun and satisfying
Oh that's so wonderful, isn't it?
Oh yes.. I think we all have some wonderful memories of those important result days.. I grew up in a hill station and winters were extremely cold, hence the terms were such
Ahh…and I remember the food mom would prepare every result day..almost as a tradition
Haha… You are funny…my heart would hammer too..it was nerve wrecking
Haha looks likes most people think so.. I realy likes parents being there though…
Ahh I guess I'm going to do that with my daughter too:)
You said it..tension plus relief!
Oh yes that had it's charm too..wonderful days!
Aisi baatein itni khubsoorati se likha nehi karte…dil ko yaad aa jati hai bahot sare lamhe…dukh sa hota hai.
well written.
Oh, the result days… such stressful time and then what a relief! I have fond memories of first day at school, SUPW and Library periods, lunch time and flocking to the canteen on special days when we got money from home to eat from there…
Thanks…
Oh SUPW… I was so bad at it! But every point you mentioned just brings back so many memories Shilpa..:)
School memories are precious ones. Your post did take me back to my school days. And it has been over 20 years since I went back to my school.
Wow..I'm happy my post could do that…Thank You 🙂
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God! It's lazy day in office and I come across your blog. I am almost tearing up. You were many years my senior in school I think, but sure I can feel each and every word you have written. Also the notebook with St.Margaret's I am sad and happy at the same time. Trust me I was as much as a nerd as you were (still am maybe) , the joy of coming first in class and everyone applauding. Sigh! Thanks for such a beautiful post 🙂