Dear Anthonians,
The year 2021 was our 25th ICSE batch and 06th ISC batch. The school Alumni is growing we have dedicated a space for you. It’s good to be connected to you and know what’s happening in your life. The trials and tribulations you faced into your adulthood. Today you are the Ambassadors of your Alma Mater. Many of you are coming and sharing your experience. We allow most of our ex- Anthonians to share their journey of life to the present students. The present students feel motivated by you. Teachers past and present are happy to hear about your journey and the careers you are in. It also gives us a reflection of what best can we do to help the present lot to be successful in life. Every bit of information is required to help us become better educators. Education is ever evolving and we believe in change of pedagogy, methodology and behaviour with times. We constantly try to improve the infrastructure so that we keep up to the demands of our students. In the last 30 years since the school was established we are trying to put value by introducing counselling sessions tying with a professional group from Kolkata. Introducing soft skills of public speaking as this aspect builds confidence in students in the long run.
In future we will try our best for the Alumni to get involved in the school activities. We look towards to your support and need your help to make it a fantastic Institution of learning.
Regards
Mr. Chetan Tewari
Ora et Labora
Pray and work
Regards
Mr. Chetan Tewari
Ora et Labora
Pray and work
Strong foundation is a cornerstone for having a beautiful and sustainable building
that can withstand rough weather –well, that’s the role a school plays in one’s life and mine has been no different. Every moment of mine at St. Anthoys’s has been instrumental in moulding me into the person I am today.
Undoubtedly, the years of my life that I have spent here would be the most memorable – that I would cherish, respect, love and yearn to experience again. It was my second home in true sense; with wonderful teachers treating us like their own children and guiding us to ensure that we are a better human being every day than the day before. The effort and devotion that they have put to impart us with human values, discipline, ethics, education, and empathy have enabled me to face the world outside with great confidence.
I still remember those three months of coaching for board examination at the school where I was provided so much care and love that I was unwilling to go back to home!! Miss Purnakala took care of all of us as a mother, Chetan Sir took us for long walks every Saturday, motivating us to achieve big in life, and all our teachers selflessly giving their best to help us clear the examination with flying colours. This school has given us so much - great memories, great friendships; that we were all teary eyed on our last day at school -- as we bid farewell to this beautiful phase for moving towards another new phase of life.
Life after school has been no less than a roller coaster. The journey after school till becoming a Chartered Accountant has been really tough. I failed many a times, lost touch with friends, never got to enjoy a normal college life, worked hard till late night for three years as an intern without any pay and many a times felt like giving up. I faced all this with a smile and finally succeeded in becoming a Chartered Accountant -- this was possible only because my foundation was strong. All thanks to St. Anthony’s School.
I feel really indebted to my teachers and school and no matter what I do, that debt can never be repaid – it can be respected and always remembered with a smile.
Lastly, a piece of advice to all the students – The real struggle will start after school with the umbrella of teachers and school not there. Life is full of challenges but never give up. Always keep your morale high. No one can stop you from being successful if you are completely dedicated towards achieving your goal. Make great friends, spread happiness, and work very hard. Keep learning and spreading knowledge. Most importantly always be a good human being and make your parents, teachers and your school proud of your achievements. As said by the great William Shakespeare – “All’s well that ends well”.
Today while flipping over the colorful pages of my life , I still remember the hue and cry, noise coming from every classroom I passed by. 4th April'04 was the day I 1st stepped into the school gateway.yeah I still remember the day.
I still cherish those six long years. School had been my second home in true sense with teachers taking the position of parents; taking all the pain to mould our character. In Anthony's I witnessed the most devoted teachers imparting value education, discipline, empathy,a deep sense of our culture and love for the country.The teachers and the other stafs had always helped me.I am great full to all of them.
St.Anthony added so many beautiful memories to my life.I made friends who smiled in my joy and cried in my pain.All of us were like a single unit.In this era where knowledge is power in school provided quintessential knowledge to every budding student.
St.Anthony's school the center on it was built, everything seem to be my own.My own library,my own classroom,my own playground,my own friends and everything my own ;After all it was my own St. Anthony's school dear!
Years spend in School in the land of white orchids and snow clad mountains, kurseong are going to be the most beautiful years of my life in true sense.
After I passed out from St. Anthony's after ICSE in 2010 I took admission for my higher secondary education in G.D. Birla school in Kolkata. I always wanted to pursue with science stream so I opted for science and I did fair well.
I had no such difficulties in adjusting life here as I was well groomed in school.By then I had the knowledge of right and wrong. Not that I made no mistake in life , I did but I didn't carry them around me instead I placed them under my feet and used them as stepping Stones.
After my ISC i decided to take one year of coaching in aakash institute for performing better in my NEET examination. In 2013 I passed NEET exam and got the opportunity to study MBBS in ESIC MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL , Kolkata. It was indeed a dream come true moment.
Now at present I have completed my MBBS and I am doing my internship in ESIC HOSPITAL and preparing for Post graduation NEET .
And lastly few words of advice to my Junior , I am confident that every anthonian will achieve great success with hard work, passion and patience.
I believe " fame vaporises, pride goes with the wind and all that is left is character and education."
Life since 2008 has been a steady winding through dusty streets and crowded roads, and a thick wall at the end of it. A thick wall and a board which reads- ‘St. Anthony’s School, Giddha Pahar’. If only we could get back within the safety of that wall, plaster some paper and tape together, bind it down with rubber bands and play cricket in that asphalt courtyard over which loomed the red brick building. We always sought to be free of that white flaking wall, run off to adventures during our Saturday treks during winter coaching, down the valley, and explore everything around us. We fell and we tumbled down the mossy stones and the tea shrubs, and at the end of the day we came back to school, tired, but happy.
This life on the other side of the thick wall, of the toy trains and the Mewar ice cream carts now no longer entices us. See, once you are initiated into the ‘free world’, past that thick Anthonian rampart, you realize that u have ceded a part of yourself to a collective past- nothing you were or did, you did alone. In Anthony’s, we built ourselves a family, outside it, we struggle to mould ourselves.
I have made tragic blunders, been foolhardy, won my share of goodwill, but it was never of any consequence; there seems very little joy in it compared to that of sharing our stories of failures and heartaches and wins with our childhood friends and teachers.
People, who stood tall in the class room, often fall in the real world. Students who seemed all sorted out soon begin to find chinks in their armour, but that we cannot deny ourselves. You, my dear Anthonians, will fall, consider yourselves a failure, but come tomorrow, may meet a more downtrodden soul who will look up to you. We draw our lines as per our capabilities. All I can say is never stop thirsting. Be hungry- discover yourselves before you find yourselves in a concrete mould that you cannot break out of. It‘s alright to fall in love and then lose it. To not get through into the school or the college you wanted to. What matters is that you fight through. Move at your own pace, rather than try to fit into a cast that your peer group or your idols may have construed.
Life is not a movie, but then life shouldn’t be that predictable either.
I am extremely honored and thrilled to share about life’s journey after leaving Anthony’s in 2009. My experience at Anthony’s was filled with diverse growth, varied emotions, and nostalgic memories, all of which has made me the person I am today.
When I entered Anthony’s in 6th grade, I distinctly remember feeling resentful towards my parents for sending me away from home. It was difficult to interact with students from different backgrounds and languages. Classes were challenging and rules were overly strict. Over time though, I grew to love and appreciate the experience. I made some lifelong friends, many of whom I am still in contact with today. I learned from some of the best teachers in one the best schools in the region. I loved the activities and festivities that the school held such as inter-house competitions, annual fete, children’s day celebration, etc. As I started enjoying life at school, I had to suddenly leave in the middle of 9th grade to move the United States with my family. I felt extremely sad to leave behind everything I loved and was comfortable with. In retrospect, I have learned that I cannot control all aspects of my life, but I am thankful and appreciative of the time I had at Anthony’s.
Moving to the United States was not easy; I faced many of the same difficulties I faced going to Anthony’s: losing friends, assimilating into a new culture, making new friends, and learning in a new education system. However, this time I felt ready to overcome the big change. My time at Anthony’s really prepared me to face and overcome any challenges thrown upon me. For instance, I was able to converse fluently in English which made it easy to interact with everyone here. My exposure to rigorous ICSE curriculum enabled me to impress my professors and be bumped up to higher-level courses. Additionally, having lived with people from different parts of India, made me appreciate diversity and learn about different cultures. Most importantly, I was disciplined and self-motivated which allowed me to keep working hard and get closer to my dreams.
I am currently a medical student striving to become a medical doctor at Virginia Commonwealth University. I graduated from the same University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. I have made some amazing friends and explored new interests and places in the world. One day, I aspire to work with Doctors Without Borders to provide medical service in countries with utmost need.
When I look back and think about my time spent in St. Anthony’s, I am only reminded of the fun experience and the fond memories that I made during the best phase of my life. I am aware that being away from parents at an early age, abiding by strict rules, having limited options with food, following a strict schedule, being punished for mistakes, etc isn’t that easy and it is almost impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As an alumnus, all I have to say is trust the process, make lifelong friends, explore the world together, and be the best version of yourself. Enjoy life to the fullest while growing and improving yourself there; life may take you in different directions, but take each challenge on with a smile and build and hold on to your relationships.
ST. Anthony’s the name brings in an Array of memories. Nostalgia grips me and I am over whelmed with emotions. The days Spent at my beloved ST. Anthony’s are etched in my memories For ever fresh, the classroom, dormitory, games field, dinning Hall…. every look and corner. It was here that I learned the basics of life.
I Joined ST.Anthony’s in class Four. I loved sports and seeing seniors practice volley ball fascinated me. I watched then play sitting on the side lines. Once I requested one of my seniors to lift the ball and I gave a smash, it was an amature shot , but our coach RUMBA sir noticed, he asked me to join for practice the very next day and with in a week I was in top six. Sir gave me the name of “Baby Black cobra “. We went on to play and win the enter school championship tournament under my captaincy. We wear not fovourites but we reached the finals and lost 2 straight sets, I still remember Rumba sir’s eyes how he encouraged us despite being disheartened, I gathered my team mates and pumped then up to a glorious victory. We came back to a grand welcome by our school and went around the town waving the school Flag. Also to our delight our principal declaired holiday the next day.
Besides volley ball I was the goal keeper of the Football team, was opening batsman in cricket team , a member of basket ball team and won several medals in high Jump , long Jump , shot put, discuss, marathon etc at school and zonal level. In class ten we had a teachers VS students friendly match and I set a school record of hitting Six sixes in an over.
I was the head prefect in class ten and thought of holding the blue and gold flag gave me goose bumps. Like they say “ Muscles of iron , nerves of steel and minds like thunder boult “, sports taught me discipline, gave me stamina and much more, and I can’t thank enough CHETAN SIR who always encouraged me to be a part of it. Alas! our Farewell day arrieved and the thought that school life was ending gripped me , never had I thought of this inevitable moment of bidding adieu to may almamature
After I.C.S.E Boards, I did my further schooling in Delhi. These two years went by in a jiffy preparing for entrance. I had an inclination towards maths and physics , so I did my mechanical engineering form Bangalore institute of technology. There also I received many trophies for my athletics and musical acumen. College ended and I was happy to Join a Job. I worked there for two years but it started to get tidious , I wanted more , I wanted something of my own , I wanted to be the Boss – a leader , not a simple employee making money.
The next step I thought of was cracking civil services Exam for which I joined Vaji Ram and Ravi coaching classes in Delhi. While preparing I cought intestinal T.B , lost enormous weight , was almost cachexic and once I was recovering my left arm fractured in an accident. These two incidences took a toll on me. I was adviced rest for six months, could not work out, but the kind of fitness fanatic I was , I resumed weight lifting within two month and got back my muscles strength. Along side I had ventured into entrepreneurship , I slogged along the two most trying years of my life and my hard work eventually paid off. I am the proprietor of INDIAN OIL petrol pump and have been awarded the most rising enterpreneur of my state. Some more business plans are in pipe line. I want it bigger and better “ live life king size “ (courtsey SRK)
Till date I never miss out my work outs and weight training schedule. It is here form where I get all my strength to strive better in life. I am also passionate about music and have been trained in Indian classical music (vocal), and can play harmonium, synthesizer, guitar and harmonica. I had performed in various auditoriums in Delhi and Bangalore. I do write songs and someday dream of cutting out my own musical album.
Life throws challenges every day and as bobby knight rightly said – the key is not the will to win……. Every body has that, it is the will to prepare to win that is important , so keep striving and keep preparing, success will be yours.
School affects eternity in true sense, you can never tell where its influence stops. ST. Anthony’s seasoned us well, The values it has impacted on us will never be erased from our memories. For ever you will be treasured my Almamater (ora et labora).
The problem with nostalgia is that you only remember the good things. It’s been a while since I left school. I was in the class of 2003 and frankly, no one expected anything from me, not my family, not my friends or my teachers. I used to be a quiet guy and in fact, in 2002 when I was in class X, the then principal Mr. Tony D’cruz told me that I should speak more, and that no teacher would punish me. Apart from Chemistry I failed in all the subjects during my school days. I sat on the fence for Hindi, where my marks ranged from 36 to 44. Most of the time I made it across the border. I used to come 17th out of 20 students. Exams were a pain, but I liked coming to school for the fun of it. Then in class X, our class teacher Mr. Peter Achilles gave me an award for the best boy that year. I wasn’t good at anything, I wasn’t bad also. There was a teacher who argued with Peter sir that his choice was wrong, yet he went ahead with his decision and told me that it was the right thing to do.
This can be summed up with a Jim Carrey quote “the effect you have on the others is the greatest currency there is.” Peter sir was the best teacher I ever had. That one gesture made me believe that I could do things that I wanted to do.
For my high school I went to Himali Boarding School. I was nervous just to see girls, let alone talk to them. Things changed with time and the quiet guy from Anthony’s was the monitor of the class as well as he represented the school in Quiz competitions in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. In Himali, I used to come third, sometimes fourth in the class. I used to get awards for being a good student. A student who used to fail was now amongst the top 4. Not that I had transformed into a good student but, to be honest the standard was a little low there.
I joined Siliguri Institute of Technology for my BCA, where one of the lecturers told me never to talk in public as it would bore people, and no one would pay attention to what I had to say. I wasn’t the best student there, but I enjoyed life. Three years passed in a jiffy.
I joined Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology for my MCA, and this time it wasn’t a cake walk. We had to work hard for everything. There was a rat race for everything- sports, organization, academics and for jobs. I was part of the Student’s council and held the position of Mess secretary, who was responsible for the food and menu of more than 2000 boys. To be honest it was an easy job, boys unlike girls will eat whatever is given to them. After the scare of bird flu was over the Mess was short of chicken and an extra 200 kgs were ordered. I spoke to the manager and he said that even Marwaris are eating chicken, because its delicious. We had a laugh later.
I graduated in 2011 and joined Tata Consultancy Services, I worked there for 3.5 years before joining the University of Mannheim in Germany which is the best Business school in the country. It was hard here too, I failed in a couple of subjects but finally graduated in 2018. Currently I work as a Consultant for a German company called Camelot IT Labs.
I would like to end this article by pointing out that teachers or people can have a profound effect on your life. What Peter sir did and said to me made me believe that I can do something in life. As far as the teacher who told me not to speak publicly, I performed stand up comedy in front of more than 800 people and won an award. I have learnt one basic thing in life. You don’t have to be the best in a field for your life to be termed as a success. If you are the best, that’s the icing on the cake, if you are not, it’s not a disaster. You need to have a dream and realize it by overcoming the hurdles that are in the path. Success is not measured with the amount of money you have, its measured by the amount of lives that you affect in a positive way. Have a successful life.
Writing this article as proud alumni of St. Anthony's is in itself a blessing for me.
The place which brings back loads of cherishable memories. Childhood is indeed the golden period of life and mine was topped up with the teachings of this school. Wasn't it just yesterday when I was admitted in this family? Time truly flies by! Students these days complain of going to school or facing difficulties in school but I never felt so. The warmth I got in St. Anthony’s made it my second home. The craving to go back to school still pops somewhere in my heart. I was lucky enough to be a border and hence spent more time there.
Life introduced many teachers to me but the selfless teachers of St Anthony's can never be replaced. The readiness of teachers to hear what you want to express made my schooling so easy. With wet eyes, I recall the moment when I had to leave St Anthony! Those blue gates when pushed opened a vast sky for me to conquer but all I cared was the blossoming garden I left behind. St Anthony had given me courage to move ahead and take further admission in Sirsa, Haryana. The moment of joy came when I was admitted in Miranda House, one of the top colleges of Delhi University. That day too my heart and mind gave credit to my school for making me capable enough of doing so. Life was kind to me and I got the opportunity of working with MSF INDIA - DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, an international organisation whose sole purpose is giving medical care to deprived ones. Again, credits to the strong foundation of morale in me, built by St. Anthony.
I have a long way to go but with every leap of success I realise how important schooling is in one's life. Already nostalgic I would now stop my pen wishing St Anthony perpetual success and love!
Whenever we look back, I think we all will agree that we had spend the most memorable moment of our life in this school. Now I am trying to sit back and analyze the transformation that took place in my life and how was my early days in school so much responsible to shape me to what I am today. I am not going to share the best moments of my life because there are many and I know each one of us have many things to speak. I would rather want to focus on what I have learned as I grew up and how those lessons built me. I am very lucky and grateful to have been guided under one of the best professors In my school. I have learned a great deal.
My first lesson. Never fear the consequences of your action even if it seems right at the first point but turns out to be a mistake (more on this later). Your intensions should be clear. You have your own definition and you are the best person to evaluate your potential. Try doing a lot of research on yourself and make sure that the list does change because you are changing with circumstances. You are growing with failures and the worst days of your life. You will fall into the trap of being carried away many times and you will certainly fall. Is there any problem? Did you do something wrong. NO!! Let yourself loose sometime because there are lessons that you are going to learn from them and you will grow even stronger.
My second lesson. Do not get scared of setbacks and failure. Don’t pretend to be someone you are not and don’t run away from situations and facts. Your loved ones and your friends will always be there to make you feel better and inspire you but you need to understand one very important point. And that is you are an individual. At the end of the day you got to make your way through failures and frustrations all alone. I have failed multiple times on academics. I have lived isolated and jobless for quite some time. I lost my father at a very early age. I dropped out of my first college when I met with an accident where I broke my ribs that pierced my lungs. I was in a very bad shape physically. I sat handicapped for almost a year and peed and shit on the bed at an age when you are at the highest of your spirits. There came a point where I was never wanting to see the next day. Each and every second seemed unbearable. I was scared. Ultimately we have to decide for ourselves what constitute failure and setbacks but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it is fair to say that by any conventional measure, I had failed on a very epic scale. I am not going to say that failure is fun. That period of my life was dark one and I had no idea then how far the tunnel extended and for a long time and any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded then I might never have found the determination to succeed. I heard a statement somewhere that changed my perception and I quote “it is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all in which case you fail by default”. Failure taught me things that I could never have learned by any means. I rediscovered myself through failure. I grew even more humble and developed discipline with success. With each setback that I overcame, it only made me more secure and gave me the strength and ability to survive the toughest days. I felt free because I realized my greatest fear and I discovered myself surrounded by four walls and a ceiling of opportunity. A HOPE of possibility. A HOPE for success. A HOPE for accomplishment.
My third lesson. Very critical one (and this is the one thing that I will tell anyone who ask me to say what life has taught me). If you think your actions are not right and you continue (even with the good intensions and for the betterment of all), you are then allowing your destiny to show you the correct path. And if you are letting your destiny teach you, then be ready to pay a huge price because life has a rude way to make you perfect. It will be very tough but you will be reborn stronger both spiritually and emotionally.
My fourth lesson. Never underestimate your potential. We all have our something very special in us. I feel accomplished today. By profession I am a data scientist, working with one of the largest retail industry “Walmart”. I have completed my masters and earned scholarship during my first year from one of the most reputed universities in US. I had cracked one of the most toughest exams in India (IIT – JEE). I began my own start up in Bangalore and was acknowledged by many clients across the country. I am not bringing my pride or ego when I say this. The whole point is to say that if I CAN then you CAN as well. Don’t give up. Be humble. Respect elders. Have patience and courage. Be connected to god. I would like to end this with a poem that I have written.
If not a dream then what is it?
It feels just like yesterday, when I last sang the school anthem “Cheer girls Cheer, cheer the blue and gold, hail to thee St. Anthony’s” and before I could realise its been 10 years since I left school in 2009.
Today as I turn over the pages of the past, memories of my alma mater gives me a feeling of immense joy and contentment that I have been an alumni of such an esteemed and prestigious school. My memories from school days are like an escape to the most beautiful and cheerful part of my life.
When I entered St. Anthony’s in 2005 as a 7th grader, I was a shy, new student but my teachers accepted me with all my flaws and nurtured, moulded and enlightened me and brought me out of my cocoon which has helped me to confidently force my views and opinions in the very platform that I am standing today.
This takes me down the memory lane and I can still hear the vibrant laughter’s and chirping noises of the classroom, the never ending classes ,the bell of relief after a days hardwork (so called) yet there was always an enthusiasm to start a new day. I can feel an essence of nostalgia in me.
After completing my ICSE in 2009, I was enrolled in Nirmala Convent School, for my higher studies where I pursued science following which I had an opportunity to join the MILITARY NURSING SERVICE in 2012.
Training under the Indian Army was a herculean task with rigorous mental and physical training with studies alongside. This was possible only because of the discipline and culture ingrained in me during my school life. I was commissioned from Command Hospital, Western Command, Chandimandir in 2016 as a Lieutenant in Military Nursing Services. Since then life has been a challenge, as we “Live a life extraordinary”. Presently, I am undergoing a course in Command Hospital Central Command , Lucknow and aspire to continue my higher studies in the field of Psychiatry Nursing.
I will be forever grateful to my teachers in believing in me from the very beginning that helped to transform from a shy girl to an assertive, confident, disciplined, brave and a duty bound Army Officer.
Lastly, I would like to convey to my budding juniors, that I have imbibed these qualities right from my school days which made my roots strong and has moulded me into the best person that I could be. So, let the sky be the limit. Fly high! Life is all about adventures and achievements and there is nothing to lose. What a man can be, he must be!
Jai Hind!
It has been 8 years! And somehow when I sat down to write my story today, every memory feels so vivid, so fresh. Our lives in St. Anthony’s Girls School were so full of adventures. There was not a single dull day. We were young, full of life and made the most out of our time in school. My batch mates are a group of extremely promising, smart, intelligent, challenging, competent, competitive, humble and sweetest people I have ever had the good fortune to meet. We complimented each other and helped each other grow in ways we were completely unaware of. It sounds cliché but I also did find a best friend for life in this school.
I always considered myself an average student in life, did not have a plan and much expectations from Board exams and life after Anthony. This feeling ended during my last year in school. I could see the efforts of my teachers and mentors creating the most astounding impact in shaping my life. I scored extremely well in my 10th Boards and the score continues to grace my professional resume till date. All the hard work, all the years of staying away from home, all the cold winter morning coaching classes finally made sense. The school had become a safe haven by then. I left school with a goal, a direction in life, a purpose, friends and mentors I could trust.
I completed my 12th Boards (ISC) from Loreto Convent in Darjeeling because St. Anthony’s school did not have 11th and 12th standards back then. I scored even higher this time and I headed straight to New Delhi for my Under-graduation. I was lucky to get into Miranda House, University of Delhi, for a course in Political Science Honors. Just when I thought I left precious Anthony’s days behind, I discovered that my classmate from Anthony’s Girls School is enrolled in the same course, in the same college too (completely uncoordinated!). Miranda House and the city of Delhi taught me a great deal about competition, survival and evolving as a person. Life was not always easy but I was young and wanted to explore. I was a good student and wanted to experiment with my hobbies. I took up photography and print modeling for a few months. But soon realized this is not what I want to do. It was then that I took up a summer internship in Assam and worked for an NGO called Maitri Purbanchal Development Society. This was my first exposure to the world of the development sector in India and there was no looking back.
I moved to Mumbai in 2015 after having cleared the entrance examination for Masters in Public Policy course at St. Xavier’s College. Let me tell you, coming to Mumbai was always my dream and I did not know why or how. It was only during 2013-2014 that I realized I did not want to pursue further Masters in Political Science and instead wanted to channelize my expertise. After months of research on Universities and courses in India, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, seemed to offer what I needed. I was fortunate to receive guidance and mentorship at this historic college from amazing leaders. It was a dream come true. There is something about this city and the people that will make you feel at home. My life of an ‘academic refugee’ ended here and I made this city my Home.
During my Masters, I completed two full time internships at INGOs- Child Rights and You and Techno Serve. These felt like uncharted territories at first but I knew this is what I wanted and never looked back. After completion of my Masters at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, I immediately got a full time job offer from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai! It was overwhelming. First job seemed extremely scary, I felt like I knew nothing but I made a choice about my life and career and decided not to falter. I was engaged in extensive research work pertaining to the development sector in India and I realized I am actually good at this. TISS Mumbai offered me its own set memories and lifelong learning experiences.
Today, I am working as an Assistant Manager at Wockhardt Foundation- Global Headquarters in Mumbai. I have learnt so far that you must never be afraid to try something new, be it a hobby or a profession. You must never give up, make your own path, be humble, be kind and aspire to learn something new every day. When I reflect back on my life so far, I realize how far I have come and how far I have to go. I am glad it all began in St. Anthony’s Girls School, Kurseong Town, a place so far away now, yet so close to my heart.
Alhumdulillah! I had an amazing and intriguingly interesting life so far. Today, as an adult, I look back and reflect to all my successes, my failures and some humdrum experiences. And a large portion of these experiences are from my childhood at St. Anthony’s School.
I have been an Anthonian for 7 years, Standard 2 through 10 (Class of 2010). I was boarder (Hostel Resident) at the school which helped me interact with students with different nationality, culture and language. Speaking in English was more of a necessity than just a discipline. I was offered excellent education and overwhelming encouragement in sports. To be honest, I never enjoyed sports more than like we had at St. Anthony’s. I played soccer during my primary school and even represented my school at the district level. I also participated in quizzes. And most importantly, I made friends. Friends who understand me and I understand them. Some of us are separated by boundaries now, but we keep in touch and whenever we talk, its like all of it was just yesterday.
My advice to current/future student is to take the best and most you can from St. Anthony’s. Each one of us is unique. Use this platform (School) to excel. Study, play, run, fall, rise and be brave. If you think you couldn’t do something today, there is always a next time. Also, don’t forget to be kind and grateful. Forgive each other and do apologize for your mistakes.
It is always nostalgic to think of the past life especially our school days. There is an idea that school is the best time of life, so saying the golden years.
My school days experience is also one of the most memorable phase of my life. My journey as an Anthonian began on the year 2009 and ended in the year 2014. But the memories still linger in my brain, the sound of every corridor still rings in my ears. It's been 5 years since I left St. Anthony’s. Looking back at those times and the years I have spent at school, it seems to be the happiest time of my life.
I first joined St. Anthony’s in the year 2009. I was shy, anxious. The memory of my first day at St. Anthony’s is still fresh as the morning glory. I had never experienced such a mixture of strange feelings, the anxiety of being in new school with excitement of making new friends. The memories made in St. Anthony’s are the invaluable part. I did a lot of blunders and mistakes but thanks to my sincere friends and true teachers, I was always rescued. I had lots of shortcomings. My school life memories make me realise how important Scholl life is for everyone. Had it not been, I would have surely missed many things in my life. I would not be having good friends, good knowledge, good experience and good memories. The memories which I made in St. Anthony’s will be cherished life long.
Moving forward with my life after St. Anthony’s, after i passed out from St. Anthony’s in the year 2014, I took admission for my Higher Secondary Education in Himali Boarding School which is also situated in Kurseong itself. I opted Science stream and I did pretty well in that. After my ISC I decided to join nursing and pursue my studies in particular field. In 2016, I joined MS RAMAIAH INSTITUTE OF NURSING EDUCATION AND RESEARCH to make my dream to be a nurse to be true. Since the life has changed. New place, completely new people. It again reminded me of my first day in St. Anthony’s school. I am in my final year now and I have carried all my memories with me, some happy some sad. I aspire to continue my masters in nursing in the field of Medical Surgical Nursing. I will be forever grateful to my teachers who helped me flourish, who believed in me.
Lastly few words to my juniors, some moments in life sounds like chord on mandolin and life is always filled with such moments. Each day begin with new life and end with new lesson. Fresher to Farewell time just went by as it was some kind of beautiful dream. From junior to senior journey was pleasant. Enjoy each moment of your life not because it's good or bad but because those moments will never come back again once gone. Few years from now you will be disappointed by the things you didn't do than the things you did. So throw off the bowlines and embark on the journey of life. My best wishes are with you all.
I have always wondered how differently my life would turn out if I had not gone to boarding school. It is not the most common life experience. Most people don’t. And through the years of homesickness, I had always thought life would have been better if I was home. The answer was less clear after I left. I missed home terribly, yes. But I found myself in boarding school. For all its rules and restrictions, you do not have adults watching your every single move there. It simply is not possible. So, it offers a unique space for a child to make their own choices and even face their own trials and tribulations.
It forced me to mingle and make friends with my peers. Before Anthony’s, I was an introverted child who struggled to communicate with people. I relied on my family for any emotional support. That was not an option away from home. At Anthony’s, I did not just make friends. I made best friends - people I still talk to about the biggest things in my life. I love them unconditionally no matter where I go. To know that I can do that, was an important lesson for a child who believed they were incapable of truly connecting with people. These were important lessons for a child who would go back to Kolkata for the last two years of school, go abroad to the UK for university and then again return. I am constantly starting from scratch. So, connecting with people is a skill that comes in handy.
Going to school in Kolkata was a wild ride. I experienced a co-ed environment for the very first time. But more importantly, I experienced sexism within that environment. I experienced boys underestimating me repeatedly because I was a girl. A girl who embraced femininity in every form. Well, I dealt with those people. I found a strength within myself which surprised me. And I realised that when I reach within for that power, I reach into my femininity. This is not something the outside world teaches you. It teaches you that to assert yourself and be taken seriously, you must detach yourself from femininity.
So, where did this come from? I realised very slowly that it came from Ma’am. It is no secret that we found her terrifying and beautiful. We were all scared of her. We were all in awe of her. I remember vividly that as soon as we would smell perfume and hear the click-clack of heels, we would alert each other to stop everything and study. Even if we were studying, we would stare at the book extra hard and hope all goes well. Commanding respect comes to her naturally. That is a very important role model for little girls to see every day while growing up. I cannot emphasise that enough.
I went to Cardiff University in the UK for a BA and an MA in Journalism. I learned a lot. I grew exponentially as a person. But I also struggled. The weather was similar to that of Kurseong. And I realised that I would get more “homesick” in the winter because I have seasonal affective disorder. It is basically depression connected to gloomy weather. I experienced systemic racism for the first time. I had to build my identity anew from the ground up. I also, finally, faced my sexuality. But that one wasn’t too bad. At 19, I had my first interview as part of a series on bisexuality in India. It led to the UN including bisexual content in their global charter on LGBT+ rights.
I did my most fulfilling journalism work during my Master’s. I talked to Syrian refugees, the Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, Lords of the British Parliament, Palestinian activists, and many others. I travelled to Jordan completely by myself to see my then partner and created a radio documentary about the LGBT+ icons and activists there. I say that I wanted to be a journalist since class 6. That is not entirely true. It was in class 6 at Anthony’s that the English teacher said I would make a fantastic journalist. And I reluctantly considered it for the first time.
Life after Master’s was the toughest. I made a difficult choice to try and stay in the UK to be with my partner then. With restrictive immigration rules, this meant I couldn’t work until I heard back about my visa application. So, I couldn’t work indefinitely. With no other option, I revisited the hobbies I would indulge in before university. I started to perform spoken word poetry, a long-held dream. Now, I have three of my poems published in an anthology in the UK. I went back to my love of acting and created a satirical web-series about racism. It resonated with people enough for me to shoot a few videos with the BBC. I also wrote, directed and acted in a short film with a collective of LGBT+ people of ethnic minorities in the UK. I was interviewed about it by ITV and appeared on their 6 pm news.
It was in Anthony’s that I discovered my love for acting, directing, writing and public-speaking. I won the annual prize for English every year. I was known as ‘Dr. Chinde’ - one of my popular characters on stage - for years. (Admittedly, the nickname was not my favourite part.) I was constantly encouraged by my teachers. Every time I got into trouble, which happened often, Ma’am would rebuke me first and then affirm and validate me. She would tell me how brilliant I am and how she expects a lot from me. Every little validation, affirmation and encouragement helps. It becomes a life raft when you are lost at sea.
Adulthood is hard. For all the children and teenagers reading this, yes, there is freedom. All the things you dream of and want desperately will be within your reach. Yes, it will be absolutely amazing. But as the Spiderman quote goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” You will fully realise this later. There is a plot twist, though. Those of you who struggle in class and aren’t the best students, it will be easier for you. You know what it is to work hard and face failure. That is a crucial skill for adulthood. The better students, the ones who do well in class and haven’t experienced failure in the real sense, you will struggle like I do. Adulthood doles out failure and obstacles to all. Perseverance is what counts.
Do not be too hard on yourself when that time comes. Work life is simply a different beast from academic life. You will figure it out too in due time. Meanwhile, try everything. Learn your weaknesses and strengths. What sets you apart from the rest? Discover yourself so you know who you are when your fears come to meet you.
