PTM

After around 22 years of working I have come to realise that what you score in academics ,the ranks you achieve during graduation have a very limited role to play in real life success and happiness.

What really matters is how well you have developed your ability to learn, to adapt to,to apply your knowledge and above all how your growth as an individual has been.This can never be learnt through just books and exams.Yes they are important but other coccurricular and extracurricular progress is important .It helps in developing IQ as well as EQ.

How the nature functions,how values affect life,how our intellectual abilities empower us to see beyond are somethings which never can be taught.

So when the day of Parents teachers meet(PTM ) or result declaration comes I am filled with mixed feelings. It gives me chance to interact with my child's teachers to understand their feedback but at the same time when I see other parents insisting on ranks and competitive progress I feel sad. How can school ranks count when you have to stand and sustain amongst millions outside.

As a child my mother never came to my school and my father had to reach office by 9 am. At that time result used to be displayed on notice board on school wall. My father on way to office would just see it.Never ever school asked to come or never my parents had to check diaries or any portal for my progress.. Even when I secured ranks in boards my father was in travel and he was just fine.The point is ranks were never subject matter of discussion.They just wanted us to grow up as responsible happy individuals.

With smart phones and iPad students world has grown wider and smaller at same time. I feel today the need is no more restricted to knowledge or information but to inculcate Core humane values and understanding of subject.Drugs, online chats ,online games ever increasing materialism are more serious concerns.We need to provide safe environment to kids devoid of peer pressure and competition. They don't feel FOMO is what we need to ensure.

Anyways I make it a point to attend meetings to converse with teachers ,ignoring nagging and ever complaining parents.I also love the way teachers come to meetings fresh draped in beautiful sarees always .Wearing today 6th saree of the year to PTM to match the spirit .

This one is printed silk and one of the most light one too in my collection.