Here's part of the speech , I made at the farewell programme ... hope you enjoy reading !
"... To begin with, I would like to share my recollection of the first day in class 12. I have been studying here for the last seven years but never ever had I the same feeling as that day when I read on the pillar “Go out to serve your country and countrymen”. I thought to myself: One year and you’re finally out to serve your country.
One year … this one year was something I would remember throughout my life. And maybe everyone does. There were ups & downs, successes and failures, emotions of disgust, pain sorrow but still greater were the emotions of joy and that of pride. Pride of going out from a school considered one of the finest education establishments in India. Almost everyday was a challenge. With teachers having fun with us and getting annoyed when we did something wrong, all of it seemed to be a part of a process, I guess, called school life. I, would, however lay stress on the fact that we were lucky to have such fine teachers to teach us. I have heard of “bad experiences” from students in other schools but I can’t seem to remember any such incidence happening to anyone of us. Yes of course there were times when a teacher scolded a particular student but that happens and all the other students did enjoy stealthily laughing if not the “victim”. Talking about the teachers, I don’t think any of them kept a bad incident in memory for more than a day … and as students we too forgot those eventually.From the first period with our class teacher Tiwari sir to the sixth period with Santosh sir, the whole day was exciting. There was something special about all these periods. The physics period, Tiwari sir would teach us saying things in between that would make all of us laugh. Chemistry was fascinating for us as we sat with blank faces whenever Vinod sir would ask a question and we loved it when he got annoyed. Then came the computer science period where Atul sir helplessly explained one topic again and again just because as he famously says “I am paid for it”. The biology students ask me to add that their period was equally enjoyable and they convey their thanks to Kundanlal sir through me. English periods were fun too. Srivastava sir would engage us in refreshing activities and he once said something I would remember always ... he said you can say the doctor or the lawyer insulted me but you cannot say the teacher insulted me. Then the maths period was after the recess … and came in Santosh Sir. Santosh sir would do at least 10 sums every day as he said one after the other “Write one more question”. So, to look back and ask if we enjoyed it … we would say yes, thoroughly.
In November and December all of us students talked about how “hard” and “stressful” life had become. And for this reason, many of us longed for the school to end. To add to it, many said they wanted to grow their hair long, some simply said they did not want to get new uniforms or shoes. I never really thought why I wished to leave the school. I too, wished it to end but for no particular reason as such. So this is how the year passed. On a personal note, I don’t remember any other year working so hard and yet not getting the desired results. On a couple of occasions, I let many of you and myself down. But the time spent in the classroom was indeed worth it. I will remember the useless chit chatting that we had in the free periods, the rare yet serious study atmosphere. We all will remember being too sleepy to study and at the same time striving tirelessly to make the grades. To the year 2009-2010 that was like a scene from a train journey, I dedicate a 4th class poem by R.L. Stevenson:
“Faster than fairies, faster than witches; bridges and houses, hedges and ditches; all charging along like troops in a battle, all through the meadows the horses and cattle.… Here is a mill and there’s a river, each a glimpse and gone forever.”
In a matter of months or so, we’ll all be gone forever as well. At this junction, I can only hope to find all of us prospering, making us proud. We hope to meet each other someday and hope is a good thing, maybe the best of all, and no good thing ever dies.
On an ending note, I, on behalf of my class would like to apologize for every mistake we made, for every time we let you down. We would like to thank the Principal and all the teachers from the bottom of our hearts. I wish we had every teacher who taught us was present here for I’ll never ever be more grateful. I would also like to thank Class XI for hosting this programme. Concluding with the quintessential lines by Robert Frost:
The woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
Miles to go before I sleep…
Miles to go before I sleep…
FAREWELL CLASS XII 2010 "
