Transitioning in to a different phase of life

 On a frigid overcast rainy day in early April 2011, a six-year-old girl made her way towards school under an umbrella walking carefully along the side of the road under the watchful gaze of her father. Fear and anticipation were residing in that small girl’s mind and why wouldn’t that be? After all, it was her first day at her new school, and nervousness was normal. The unusual thing was that the girl didn’t seem to be quite pleased with the prospect of going to an entirely new school, perhaps she still couldn’t let go of the severe attachment she had for her old school, her old life, but that’s the thing about time, it steals the details away from us. After what seemed like an eternity she finally stepped inside the building, her face alight with curiosity as she looked around her surroundings with a mild excitement thundering in her heart. The girl was quite oblivious to the fact that she would be spending the next twelve years of her life in the confinements of this very building. Yes, that girl is me and I am going to share my story, about how a mere three-story building made up of bricks and concrete ended up becoming my second home.

One of my earliest memories in my school was the very first day I mentioned earlier, the memory is so vivid it seems as if I just entered my first classroom only a few weeks ago. I was drenched because of the rain and I simply sat on one of the tiny rickety chairs completely clueless. I was slightly awe-struck by the size of the classroom, it was much bigger than that of my old school, and there were over a dozen hexagonal desks the inhabitants of those chairs were chatting merrily, and I continued looking at them apprehensively wondering what am I supposed to do. Even though I was a six-year-old girl, an unsettling emotion resided in my stomach, this school was a lot to cope with I wondered if I could ever love this place enough to spend the next twelve years of my life there.

Well, it turned out I had absolutely nothing to worry about, all of my fears and anticipation led to nothing, and my fears were pointless, twelve years have passed since that day, and I have lived through all those years unscathed (not entirely) it is such an eerie thought and trust me it’s so difficult to comprehend that the way of life I had known and gotten used to since I was a child of six years Is long gone, it’s never coming back and there is no way I will be able to hold on to it, it’s been five months since it came to an end but the immense beauty of all those memories is stuck with me and it seems impossible to get over them. Unfortunately, our hearts do not work the way we think they will, the days spent during our childhood will irrevocably stay engraved in our hearts. All these months I have been frantically looking for places where I can bury my memories and start on a fresh page without looking back, on a more delightful note, instead I have been mourning the olden days every opportunity I get. Be it with my folks or some random conversations I hear from a passerby on the streets of my neighbourhood.

Moving on sounds so easy, I might have blurted it out several times, but for the first time, I am realizing that it is always easier said than done. Mornings make me reminisce about the chaos in our classroom. Everywhere I looked, I would see my friends chatting away merrily with each other. Seconds later, I would join them, not once thinking that one day, this would all come to an end. How carefree we all were! Now, as I sip coffee and glance out of the window of my room, I cannot help but feel detached from that memory. It feels as if it isn't even mine anymore like I was residing in somebody else's mind and living their experiences all this while.

After countless months of self-reflection and introspection, I have reached a point of inner tranquillity and acceptance. The time has come to bid farewell to the familiar halls of my school, the place that has been synonymous with my childhood and formative years. Life is a continuous journey, and we must inevitably move forward. While I may no longer be a student, I have evolved beyond the person I once was within those school walls. I am filled with anticipation and enthusiasm as I eagerly await the promising opportunities and experiences that the future holds for me.