Wall School Journal

AFGJI TRIENNIAL ISSUE SRINAGAR Jammu & Kashmir BOUQUET OF POESY THE BEAUTY OF FALL FANTASTIC FEATURES PANORAMA EDITOR’S PICK EPIC GUESTS 2022-2023 LABYRINTH OF MAGIC

Change is beautifil so let things go 3 TRIENNIAL ISSUE

Triennial means 3 which is a magical number. It symbolises Autumn, the third season. In mythology, it is the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Pythagoras postulated 3 as the perfect number: the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding. The tripartite nature of the world is heaven, earth and water and for humans it is body, soul and spirit. Time is indicated by past, present and future and our lives are ruled by the cycle of birth, life and death. The third edition of WSJ is lucky and special. WALL SCHOOL JOURNAL A Class XI magazine (2022-23) AFGJI

01 E DIT OR IA L C OM M IT T E E 02 F R OM T HE E DIT OR ’ S DE S K 03 B OUQUE T OF P OE S Y Poems in a bouquet... sounds weird? Wait till you find out... 14 FA NTA S T IC F E AT UR E S “I’m bored, someone help!” We got you covered! 31 PA N OR A M A Time to rediscover the creative instincts of the artists and painters. 34 L A B Y R IN T H OF M A G IC 39 E P IC G UE S T S 45 E DIT OR ’ S P IC K A diverse collection of various things handpicked by our team. Enjoy the ethereal shots taken by our talented Shutterbugs. A big shout out to our mentors and seniors for their efforts in doing magic with their pen Photograph By: Prajwal, XI - A

E E D I T O R I A L C O M M I T T E E Mrs Alka Singh Prajwal DESIGN LEAD TH TE AM Mrs Poonam S Rampal PRINCIPAL Mrs Rashmi Soota VICE PRINCIPAL Yashaswi Tripathi EDITOR Piyush Gandhi EDITOR TEAM LEAD

ED As I sat down, aiming to finish this editorial in a day, I could not help but think of the advice that Alka ma’am gave me. She said, “Piyush, write something in your editorial that your friends can relate to and none of those serious geopolitical insights.” Being the obedient kid that I am, I began to surf through topics that are relatable to my generation. After hours of searching, I stumbled upon food, fashion and music. So, without wasting time, let’s dive in! As members of Generation Z, it can be tough to ignore how important music, style and food are to our daily lives. These three cultural pillars are not only significant, but they also enable us to express ourselves and define our identities. In this column, we’ll look at how these factors impact our lives and society as a whole. Starting with food. The importance of sustainable living and healthy eating has increased significantly since our generation was born. We have witnessed first hand the effects that our dietary choices have on the environment and many of us have taken action by switching to a vegan or plant-based diet in order to lessen our carbon footprint. We are aware that, despite our best efforts, the constant barrage of fast food and processed snack marketing can make it challenging to make healthy decisions. We must thus keep advocating for greater transparency in the food sector. We must demand more details on the origins, methods of production and ingredients of our food. This will not only encourage us to make healthier decisions, but it will also force food manufacturers to account for their impact on the environment. From the Editor’s Desk The fashion industry has recently seen a change towards more ethical and ecological methods. Many of us are beginning to understand that “fast fashion” is harmful to the environment as well as the employees who make these clothes. Many businesses are starting to follow ethical and environmental methods, such as employing recycled materials and giving employees a fair salary. We still have a long way to go, though. We must keep pressing for change because the fashion sector is still one of the top polluters in the world. Photograph By: Gaurika Sharma, XI - D In addition to limiting our own consumption of fast fashion, we can do this by assisting businesses that place a high value on sustainability and ethical business practices. We may also push for legislative changes that would make the fashion industry responsible for its effects on the environment and its workforce. Let’s talk about music now. It has long been a strong way to express oneself and music still holds a significant place in our lives. Due to streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify, our generation has more music available to them than ever before. We’ve been able to learn about new musicians and genres, that we might not have otherwise had access to. Social media has also provided us with a venue for sharing and discovering music with others. Due to platforms like Instagram, new musicians now have an easier time than ever gaining attention and growing a fan base. An increase in socially conscious music has also been observed, with musicians using their platforms to spread the word about significant problems like social justice and climate change. Yet there are problems in the music business as well. We’ve seen directly how the business can treat artists unfairly, especially those who are outsiders. We need to continue advocating for fair treatment and representation of all artists, regardless of their background or identity. In conclusion, food, fashion and music are all essential components of Gen Z culture. We have the ability to influence these sectors and demand improvement. We can have a positive impact on the world by campaigning for equitable treatment of all musicians, supporting ethical and sustainable fashion methods and promoting transparency in the food business. In order to build a better future for ourselves and future generations, let’s continue to use our voices and our purchasing power. Every stumble is not a fall and every fall does not mean failure. Oprah Winfrey

bouquet of poesy

Anywhere but home Aarohi Gupta, XI – D The home that you created for me, Don’t remind me of it again After it’s gone, Trying to remove the nostalgia, I don’t want the obsession to come back Or long for you to wait for me again. I will become what I was before you, It might not be simple, But I was a machine anyway. It seems easier for the pathways to connect, Than to get over the fear of hurt. I will get a high, Of things I can afford to, Of things I have under control, Anywhere but home. Persimmons Abhinav Mishra, XI – B Sweet or Sour, like Honey or Squash, Everyone knew the call, “Take two and give ‘em a wash!”, The forest welcomed all, John, Johnny, Johnna, even Josh. Mild or Rich, either Simple or Posh Lola may rest, as the shrubs grow tall and the rain falls, splish splash splosh.

How Do I Tell Him? Yashaswi Tripathi, XI – A How do I tell him that you cannot save all, You can only save yourself From the pain of getting lost, The people he so voraciously tries to engage in conconversations, Trying so hard not to make anyone feel left out, Because he knows what it feels like To not belong to a place and to not fit in. I see the effort he makes Just to make sure everyone is okay, And in the process, he downplays his own emotions, Bottles it all up. And I know that when even one of these bottles crack, due to all the pain and tears they’re holding inside, He will have to face his sadness like no other. It'll come like a tsunami And almost take him away, Strip him of everything he has ever known, And so I try to be his friend. I tell him that I am here to listen about anything and everything, I tell him to take care of himself too, I tell him to not ignore how he feels, and I tell you to hang in there, But call me at any hour if you feel like giving up, Because I know what it feels like. At least I know a bit And so I tell you that I love you, Don’t ever cut your wrist. 5

I long for a different image of you, Remove the hunger, Close the musical box, But I will parade the exterior, Display the gleaming details, After all, it has taken hard labour to perfect the craft. The key of the bond lay in your hands, But not anymore. The box is a bit broken now, The music is bit off now, Abhorrent to the ears. Someone for everyone Ishika Shrivastava, XI – C Desire Abhinav Mishra, XI – B Wanted to do as my heart desired, sought out help, for the circumstances were dire. The pain of life, rekindling to fire, It was all too scary, they were liars. All I did was listen to my heart - the crier, agony ensued, it all backfired. It all was too frightening, loud as a choir, Even though I only set out to do, as my heart’s desire. The deeper you dive, the more there is to learn, that there’s got to be someone for everyone. Every moon has its sky, There’s always a partner to accompany a magpie on it’s flight to wonderland, Much like rejoining the Jonas band. A comb for tangled hair, Like a book yet to be read. A ring to fit in every finger, Like fans have their favourite singer. An autumn for the dry leaves, And the spring for the thriving flowers and trees, A pen to fill the empty pages of a diary, Like the packet to tell the product’s expiry, Every Tom has a Jerry, Like a cake is complete with a cherry. There’s always someone for everyone, And you have to be there for everyone.

Closed ends Ishika Shrivastava, XI – C Volleyball Rudra Verma, XI – C Volleyball is a game of spikes and saves, Off the net and onto the floor. Harder, better, faster, stronger Libero to the save, Setter the king of the court, Higher, blocking the vision of the opponents, Mid blockers are essential to the game and to the team. Volleyball, a sport of skill and strength, one that takes practice and dedication, to be the best that you can be. Boys can cry, They don’t have to try To keep their emotions in check, Just because society says so. Boys can wear pink, They don’t have to think, That they have to blend in, Just because society says so. The makeup and jewellery, Shouldn’t be off limits, Just because society says so. Colour, tears and emotions, Makeup, jewellery and clothes Do not have genders.. Just because society says something Doesn’t make it true, Boys can cry, boys can wear pink, And society should too!

Happiness has a price to pay Aarohi Gupta, XI – D Solace Abhinav Mishra, XI – B I heard her shrill cry pierce the rainy night, A blood curdling scream striking fear downright, As all other life retreated in fright, all I wanted was to tell her, “It’s alright”. I am as damaged as they come, glee comes from things that won’t be there. I am mad if I think of more but it’s the turn of events, that happens all inside my cavern. Be happy, be grateful for what you have, Don’t lie, be good but it turns back to hell. Should I leave? But that would be worse, Should I stay? But even that hurts. Some joy on a platter, with some sweet things that I hate, Turn to yourself, that’s better anyway. Cry all you want ‘cause it all goes down the drain, A burden to all, mess up every single thing. This and that, it’s all breaking over me, I tell myself that I can do it all, but reality speaks for it all. Go, go away that always works anyway, Try to keep yourself from hurting anyway, ‘cause happiness always has a price to pay.

Love myself Prachi Bhardwaj, XI – A This unfamiliar room and the uneven heartbeat, Everything appears to be awkward, The target of a thousand arrows is you, alone, Maybe you have to take the place of those countless stars. Loving yourself is harder than loving someone else; let’s admit it, The standards you set for yourself are too strict, You feel like the bark of a tree appearing strong to others, but inside you feel broken and weak. But forgive yourself one last time, As after every winter spring follows, Trust yourself one last time, For every failure is followed by success. You will shine again Under the bright sunlight, No darkness, no season is eternal. You have spent your whole life loving others, So now, love yourself. It doesn’t require any permission Find your lost self again. Why hide under that mask? Even the scars of your mistakes Make up your constellation.

The Finest Pet Garv Durgesh Bhende, XI – A Sitting beside the window one day, I thought, “Could there be a better friend to have than him?” I thought so because he was a perfect fit, to the description of a friend that I have known since childhood. He stands by me when I need him the most, And trusts me when no one does. A walk with him in the evening makes me forget the miseries of the day. A look like his can make me happy forever. What I’ve learned so far from him is that you don’t need words to express your affection, A simple look can say it all. He has made me realize that dogs are not our whole life, But they do make our lives whole. The finest pet, yes that’s my Bruce for me! Musical Box Aarohi Gupta, XI – D I long for a different image of you, Remove the hunger, Close the musical box, But I will parade the exterior, Display the gleaming details, After all, it has taken hard labour to perfect the craft. The key of the bond lay in your hands, But not anymore. The box is a bit broken now, The music is bit off now, Abhorrent to the ears.

Encased Aarohi Gupta, XI – D Life Abhinav Mishra, XI – B Rushing faces before my solitary soul, I gaze at them, beautiful and whole, Yet I don’t seem to understand, In this crazy world, I wish to stand. Then a ray of sparkling sunshine passed me by, A blinding light to these worthless eyes of mine, But it was never meant for me to see, Now I am cursed with knowledge I can’t flee, So, I rest with my head amidst chaos and pain, All my hardships ended in vain. But I smile, I smile for the questions they asked, I smile at them all, all the pain is masked, Because hate never did me good, I can just smile, everytime I’m misunderstood. I wish I was art In the gallery of love, That I would finally feel worthy Of your love enough. Why do I feel like My skin’s crawling from inside, Sometimes I feel like My body isn’t even mine. Where is the soul of this hollow shell? Born from the ashes Of the fires of hell, Why do I feel like a thief, Stealing things unworthy of me. When the fire has been lost, Why the blackness? Even in joy, why the sadness? When will the cracks cement from madness, Why do I laugh even in sadness? I guess the joy is memory, And the tears are blasphemy. When fight is recorded, emotions are not, Science is the best And your past mistakes are a blot.

This Ishika Shrivastava, XI – C When did we change , From throwing paper planes, And driving wooden trains, To this. When did we grow, From angels in the snow , Lots of things we didn’t know, To this. When did we stop crying for a toy, Or laughing full of joy, From talking to Woody the cowboy, To this. Can you put your finger on the day when we ceased to play? Or when childhood drifted away? To this. When did we get taller, And when did our dreams get smaller? Now the only thing that’s left in life Is this. Dreams Abhinav Mishra, XI – B My heart lay in the sunlight, Dreamt of this for a fortnight, In this dark world where hope was finite, I found a shining gleam of light. As the world went quiet, Only one voice rang clear, The love of my life couldn’t deny it, her voice, the only thing I could hear. She was happier than the weather, Her beauty was intoxicating, Just wanted to hold her forever, After all, I spent all my life waiting.

Golden Cage Aarohi Gupta, XI – D I am trapped inside a golden cage, Searching for comfort no one gave, I go in circles, round n’ round, The constant need to be obedient, The unknown tears I can’t shed. I try to find comfort In the moon, Make friends with the stars, And talk with the clouds. Even the strangers seem better to me, For they can’t inflict any pain, They are better than the shadows in my abode, Who bring chaos with each step of mine. I try to see the good in grief, But even the positive is toxic inside me. The pain, oh, that doesn’t exit, Even in this perfect world of gold, Even the riches are filled with darkness, The pond that seems perfect to you, But the darkness resides under 100ft too.

Curricular v/s Co-curricular Aarohi Gupta, XI - D I seek to address the dismissive view of co-curricular activities and how they are treated with irrelevancy, when it is perceived to be endangering academic performance. While academics is the basic foundation of our education and learning, they should be treated with importance. But they are not the deciding factor in the success of a student's professional career. School academics form the basic foundation of theoretical knowledge needed. While it can only take an individual to a basic level of success and proficiency in a specific area of study, it does not provide a student with the set of life skills needed or how to use the theory in practice. But co-curricular activities take individuals to a higher plane and give them an edge over others with the skills and personalities they develop through them. Co-curricular activities do this by giving a student an opportunity and space to experiment, make mistakes and practice, through activities like participating in competitions and organising events. Students learn to work as professionals would. We learn how to apply our knowledge, research and present our ideas, hone our natural talent and aptitude, grow our leadership skills and develop our practical knowledge. Co-curricular activities provide us with a space to hone our networking skills, learn how to interact with people in professional settings, develop our personalities and have more hands-on learning in the real world. They reduce the uncertainty around the professional workplace and make us better equipped for it. Thus, curricular and co-curricular activities should be treated with equal significance and one element shouldn't be sacrificed for the other. Co-curricular activities are the cherry on top of curriculum learning but work as interdependent factors, providing a student with a chance at holistic development and learning. The Power of Art Aashi Verma, XI – A Art is a diverse and ever-evolving field that encompasses a wide range of creative disciplines, ranging from painting and sculpture to film and and digital media. At its core, art is a form of self-expression that allows individuals to communicate their thoughts, emotions and experiences in a visual or auditory medium.

Throughout history, art has played an essential role in human culture, serving as a means of storytelling, reflection and commentary on social, political and cultural issues. From the cave paintings of ancient civilizations to the contemporary works of today’s avant-garde artists, art has always been a powerful tool for inspiring dialogue and shaping the way we see the world. One of the most distinctive aspects of art is its ability to convey a wide range of emotions and ideas through a variety of mediums. For example, painting and drawing are often used to depict scenes from everyday life or to express abstract concepts and emotions, such as love, fear or hope. Sculpture, on the other hand, can convey a sense of weight, texture and physicality that is difficult to capture in other art forms. In recent years, digital media has emerged as a major force in the world of art with artists using everything from computer programs to virtual reality technology to create immersive and interactive experiences. This has opened up new possibilities for artists to experiment with differ ent forms and mediums and has also made art more accessible to a broader audience. Another key feature of art is its ability to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers. Art can be appreciated and understood by people from all backgrounds and walks of life, as it speaks to universal human experiences and emotions. This is why art is often used as a tool for promoting cross-cultural understanding and dialogue, as it allows people to connect and empathize with one another in ways that words alone cannot. In conclusion, art is an essential aspect of human culture and plays a vital role in shaping the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Whether through painting, sculpture, film or digital media, art allows us to express ourselves, communicate our ideas and emotions and connect with others in meaningful ways. As such, it will continue to be an important part of human life for generations to come Being Smart Was My Personality Trait Akshata Solanki, XI – A Being smart was my personality trait until the 10th grade. After I got back my 10th grade result manuscript, a big chunk of my identity was built around the fact that I had scored 97% in board exams. The words melted on my tongue like custard—velvety and rich. But once I entered the 11th grade, I got a reality check; I received the first “B” grade of my life and my world turned upside down. I soon realised that instead of being the smart kid that I defined myself as, I was just another average student, fighting to stay afloat among many other kids who too were smart or even smarter than me. So, when the title of being smart was stripped away from me, I was left to question my identity and confront who I really was and what I liked. I believe that the things I’ve learnt in 11th grade will barely have any impact on my daily life,

but the time I spent in 11th grade, especially during the emotionally turbulent times, will surely allow me to build the foundation of the person that I want to become after ten or twenty years and I’m grateful for it. “Identity is not stunning; it’s something you build upon”. I am happy and thankful that my character arc is not stopping at just being smart now. The History of Paths We Choose Pranav, XI – B The history of every individual lies inside them. We all write our history by choosing our paths. Our choice leads to a consequence, forcing us to take the pathways we see ahead of us. As the days continue, we are one step closer to our goal and to a wiser thought process. The road is always difficult to follow, but the paths are always there. It is always our choice whether to follow, to leave or to choose the one to be followed. On a clear day, we may probably be able to see the forks on our road, a divergence that forces us to choose. On a stormy day, we may not be able to see the deviation due to a lack of perspective and time or the people who may travel alongside us. But they are unknown to us unless we learn about their company, which could impact our journey. We are unknown to others’ sight too. Maybe their view might frighten or anger us or be ignored by some of us. The path we take is distinct from the paths of others. One may perceive it as a cakewalk and say, “It’s going to be easy!” But who knows? As you try to walk on the cake, it gets messy and hard to walk on. Perhaps there is a significant difference between what we perceive and what is actually present, as what we perceive is a plan and what we see is reality. But no matter how dark we perceive the path, it is great comfort to know that, in the end, there is light after the darkness. Many things can be depicted and described using a single path. The pathway we take illustrates us and the rest of them portray our disposition. The trails we walk on define our personalities and some of these might even become legends whose origins are of utmost importance. They allude to the curious minds of humankind. And thus, the history of the legend lives to fight another day. Irrespective of the paths we take, ultimately, they all have an end. The road is a witness to the path we follow, no matter how endless it might seem.

India and the “4D” Chess of the 21st Century Geopolitics Piyush Gandhi, XI – A India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legends and the great grandmother of traditions. This is our incredible India. Today, India aspires to be a superpower. The ‘New India’ is excelling in all spheres and has achieved skyrocketing milestones to become one of the most powerful and influential democracies in the world. There are many signs that the 21st century will be remembered as India’s century. It is an era of immense transformation. The current world order is such that the conditions are conducive for India to regain its past glory. There are four major pillars on which I argue for the above statement. The first is DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS, followed by DEGLOBALISATION, DIGITIZATION and finally DECARBONISATION, the most telling problem of the twenty-first century. DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS With over 1.4 billion inhabitants, India has the second-largest population in the world. Due to the size of the home market for products and services that this huge population affords, it has been a substantial contributor to economic growth. Yet, India’s demographic makeup is also rapidly altering. With a sizable section of its population being among the working age, the nation is benefitting from a demographic dividend. Productivity has increased as a result and the economy has grown. Furthermore, advancements in healthcare and education have result ed in a decrease in infant mortality rates and a rise in literacy rates, all of which have assisted in raising the citizens’ standard of living. India is the second most populous nation in the world with a population of over 1.4 billion and its economy is expanding quickly. In a number of crucial areas, including technology, education, healthcare and infrastructure, India has taken enormous strides. A significant asset for the nation is its sizeable and diverse labour force, which offers a plethora of talented and experienced people who can drive economic growth and development. DEGLOBALISATION Deglobalisation has been on the rise recently, with nations adopting protectionist measures and relying less on international trade. India has been successful in resisting this tendency by expanding its domestic manufacturing industry. Both the “Make in India’’ and the “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” initiatives seek to boost domestic production and lessen India’s reliance on imports. As a result, there has been a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the nation as businesses aim to benefit from India’s sizeable market and affordable labour. Also, the government has put in place a number of laws to improve the ease of doing business in India, which has aided in attracting more FDI. India may profit from deglobalisation in the 21st century because of its massive domestic market, plenty of natural resources and highly skilled workforce. India’s self-sufficiency in a number of industries, including agriculture, medicines

and technology, may contribute to reducing the country’s dependence on foreign imports, generate employment opportunities and increase domestic manufacturing. DIGITIZATION With the government undertaking numerous measures to encourage digital payments and financial inclusion, India has also made great advancements in digitization. The 2015-launched “Digital India” programme seeks to connect rural areas to high-speed internet and offer users digital services. The government has also started a number of programmes to encourage the usage of digital payments, such as the 2016 launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). As a result, less cash is now being used for transactions, which was formerly the norm in India. In addition to enhancing financial inclusion, the introduction of digital payments has also made banking services more readily available to the unbanked population. Due to its enormous population, rising internet penetration and ever increasing mobile phone usage, India can gain from digitization in the twenty-first century. India has an advantage over other nations due to its quick acceptance of digital transactions and the government’s push towards a digital economy. These factors will help reduce corruption, promote financial inclusion and accelerate economic progress. DECARBONISATION India has also made substantial progress towards decarbonisation due to the government’s ambitious goals for the generation of renewable energy. By the end of 2023, the nation hopes to have 175 GW of renewable energy capacity, including 100 GW of solar energy. The government has also started a number of programmes to encourage the use of electric vehicles, such as the Faster Adoption and Manufacture of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) programme. India’s reliance on fossil fuels has decreased owing to the use of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, which has also improved the sustainability of the environment. India has set ambitious goals for the adoption of electric vehicles and is actively promoting energy-efficient building designs as part of its decarbonisation efforts. Other actions India is doing include increasing its renewable energy capacity. The nation is also making significant investments in clean energy research and development and also putting regulations in place to encourage the use of clean energy. While some Western nations have made similar moves, India stands out for its emphasis on striking a balance between economic growth and sustainability, as well as its attempts to provide clean energy solutions to millions of people. In conclusion, India has experienced substantial growth and development in the 21st century. The country’s economic and social landscape has been significantly impacted by demographic changes, deglobalisation, digitization and decarbonisation. The size of India’s home market, along with advancements in healthcare and education have contributed to higher productivity and faster economic growth. Moreover, the government’s programmes to support domestic manufacturing, digitization and decarbonisation have improved the standard of living for its residents and brought in foreign investment. Due to a number of aspects, including the nation’s sizeable and youthful population, its increasing economy and its expanding influence in world affairs, the 21st century has the potential to be India’s century. India’s advancements in innovation, technology and sustainable development, along with its initiatives to combat social problems like poverty and inequality, further solidify its position as a rising global power. India is poised to play a significant role in the global arena in the twenty-first century, as long as it keeps building on these advantages and addressing its problems.

Relationship Between Students and Teachers Divyansh Mishra, XI – A The relationship between students and teachers is an important aspect of a successful and enjoyable school experience. A positive relationship between the two can create a supportive learning environment and improve academic outcomes. Firstly, a positive relationship between students and teachers can improve communication. When teachers and students have a good relationship, they are more likely to communicate openly and honestly with each other. This can lead to better understanding of each other’s needs and expectations and create a more productive learning environment. Secondly, it can foster a sense of trust. When students feel that their teachers care about them and their success, they are more likely to trust their teacher’s guidance and advice. This can help students feel more confident in their abilities and improve their academic performance. Thirdly, it can create a sense of community in the classroom. When students feel like they are part of a supportive community, they are more likely to feel engaged in the learning process and be motivated to do well. Teachers who build strong relationships with their students can create a positive classroom culture, that encourages cooperation and mutual respect. Moreover, it can also have a positive impact on the social and emotional development of students. Teachers who show empathy and understanding towards their students can help them develop a sense of self-worth and confidence. This can lead to improved mental health outcomes and help students develop the social skills that are needed to navigate the world beyond the classroom. In conclusion, a positive relationship between students and teachers is crucial to create a supportive and productive learning environment. Such relationships can improve communication, foster a sense of trust, create a sense of community in the classroom and have a positive impact on the social and emotional development of students. Teachers should strive to build strong relationships with their students to ensure that all students have a positive and successful school experience. My Hidden Strength Prashant K Pandey, XI – A The phrase “hidden strength” relates to every person differently, but to me, my hidden strengths were the school subjects of Mathematics and Science. I was an average student uptll grade 5, who had no interest in studying and didn’t know how I was passing the final exams each year. I used to go to school and come back home because it was a routine, not because I wanted to learn anything and sat in the classroom but couldn’t concentrate due to lack of zeal to study.

However, my whole situation changed when my father got a quarter, when I was in grade 5. This was because he sent me to tuition in the campus, where the two teachers were brothers and taught with passion and enthusiasm. They have played an active role in my academics, for they were the ones who taught me that interest wasn’t a diminishing fascination about a subject, but rather a passion. These words have been etched in my memory ever since and have fuelled my confidence and keenness to learn more. Their guidance and my efforts combined to give me a perfect 100 in Mathematics and 95 in Science in grade 6. This result was shocking, both for me and my parents, but this made me believe that I could always be better and can certainly master a subject, if I believe in myself and practice regularly. I think that we all have hidden powers, which can’t be discovered if we don’t experiment periodically or lack self confidence. Self confidence makes us climb each ladder faster and more efficiently. Significance of “3” for India Yashaswi Tripathi, XI – A “3” has been a significant phenomenon for our country India. India ceased to be a dominion of the British Crown when our Constitution came into effect in 1950, 3 years post its independence. Since then, the nation has been flourishing against odds like lack of funds, infrastructure and resources but holds a noteworthy position in the world. The 3 distinctive features of India are: being the largest Democracy in the world, marked by the values of Equality and Fraternity ensured by the Constitution of India Among hundreds of remarkable achievements, here are the 3 outstanding ones which make us proud and inspire us to surge ahead and emerge eloquently regardless of the hardships. Firstly, the Indian Air Force ranks 3rd in the list of the strongest Air Forces in the world, after the USA and Russia. Secondly, the Indian Space Research Organization’s 3 momentous feats are discovering presence of water on the Moon, becoming the first organization to reach planet Mars in its maiden attempt at a fraction of the comparative cost and creating the world record of largest number of satellites launched on a single flight by any space agency. This has proved our technological prowess which inspires millions of students. Thirdly, the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have proved to be fruitful in establishing a key position for India among more than a hundred countries of the world when it synthesized and approved two vaccines for Covid-19. So, the numeral called three has emboldened the spirit of India to march ahead against the 3 challenges of large population, poor exploitation of resources and non-availability of advanced technology by way of a 3-pronged strategy of improvisation and innovation, development of indigenized technology for sustainable development and to make the country a 4 trillion dollar economy.

Why do we like music? Abhinav Mishra, XI – B We like music because not everything matches our vibe is the simple answer to that question. But in order to truly understand the question we need to rephrase it, “Why do we seem to truly enjoy some music and not others?” One would relate to this if they’ve ever tried to recommend a song to someone, or worse, had a song sent to them, which makes us question our entire basis of friendship. Well, this bias towards certain types of music is because we build a connection to it; we grow personally attached to them, but what is this “connection” anyway and why does it seem to vary widely between people? Friends who are supposedly very alike can have vastly different tastes in music, but where does this “taste” even come from? Well, among other things like someone’s nature, patterns of thought or I believe the biggest factor affecting our music taste is something known as “picturization,” i.e associating songs with visuals, scenes, stories or situations from one’s life. All of us seem to have a fantasy world we like to escape to. A perfect life created by us, for us. Meticulously ‘mind-crafted’ from the little pieces of perfection we see around us and wish to possess, music helps us to bridge the gap between reality and make-believe. So our music taste isn’t a testament to our “superiority” but rather a reflection of our inner desires because what we lack is what we dream of. Pretending to be the main characters in TV shows while listening can also be a contributing factor, as different people aspire to be different people. It helps us to daydream. (Is this why no one seems to like the songs I send them?) The Most Ravenous Creature Vs Nature Diksha Singh, XI – A Well, yes you guessed it right - it’s us. Humans are the most ravenous creatures on this planet, even though our environment has been the building block for each and every thing that humans have created and achieved in today’s time. The enormous buildings, the technologies that save lives, the machines that can go beyond our solar system, the Applied Science that can make us fly, the telecommunications through which two people sitting on opposite poles can connect with each other, among many others are imaginary automations we never even thought were possible. These are all gifts from Nature, which we tend to destroy. Human species is considered to be the most intelligent and powerful species to have existed, but at the same time we as humans are truly the most dominating and destructive. With the level of intelligence we have and the greed for forever more, we undoubtedly have caused harm to our environment in an irreversible manner. In today’s time when development is at its peak and new technologies are discovered everyday, our resource consumption is increasing

at a tremendous rate. Most of these modern technologies are very exploitative and are causing a huge damage to the environment. Therefore, we are in a serious need to take initiatives to save our environment for ourselves as well as for our future generations. Although we seem to be at the point of no return, if we try to become a bit more considerate about our surroundings, we can surely save the environment. Despite knowing this, we still act unenlightened and continue doing every bit of the most thoughtless things, i.e. we are ‘Playing with Nature’. However, when Nature goes against us in ways of natural disasters such as earthquake, flood, tsunami, drought etc. every thing goes haywire. This game between us and our Mother Nature is not just for today or tomorrow, it certainly will have consequences in the future. At times it’s humans after Nature, while sometimes it’s Nature after humans. Even though we all know who the ultimate winner will be, we still fight this battle like bravehearts who aren’t knowledgeable, who are courageous but not thoughtful. We want a better life, but not a peaceful one. Sometimes I think about how foolish we are, to know about the potential cause of our end but still not act to change it and at the very next instant, I find myself in the comfort of my bed with the AC on, the lights which aren’t even required switched on, while I hold a mobile phone in my hand and wonder how good my life is. Am I a hypocrite? Am I an impostor? Well, no I am just another typical human being. 90 Seconds To Midnight Aayam Agrawal, XI – C The phrase “90 seconds to midnight” is a symbolic representation of the current level of global danger from nuclear war and climate change. It is based on the Doomsday Clock, which was created in 1947 by the ‘Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’. The clock is a visual representation of how close humanity is to global catastrophe and has been updated periodically since its creation, with the time on the clock moving closer or further away from midnight based on the perceived level of global danger. Midnight on the clock represents the symbolic “apocalypse” which would result from a catastrophic global event such as a nuclear war In January 2023, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds until midnight—the closest it has ever been to a symbolic apocalypse. This decision was based on a range of factors, including the failure of the leaders to address climate change, the continuing threat of nuclear war, the mounting dangers of the war in Ukraine, the rise of disinformation campaigns and other global challenges. The clock’s proximity to midnight is a reflection of the urgent need for immediate action to address the threats facing humanity. The risks of a global catastrophe are increasing due to a multitude of factors, including the continued development of nuclear weapons, the lack of progress on climate change and the growing threat of cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. The phrase “90 seconds to midnight” serves as a wake-up call to the world reminding us of the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action to address the threats facing humanity. It is a call to action for individuals, governments and organizations around the world to come together to address the critical issues facing our planet and to work towards a sustainable and secure future for all.

ChatGPT – The End of Google Search? Prajwal, XI - A After two years of the COVID pandemic, the world is returning to the old ways. But the corporate industry has almost turned upside down. Tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon are firing tens of thousands of employees around the world and the companies are losing money at an astonishing rate. In the midst of this, Google suffered, but now it is struggling. ChatGPT, an AI model developed by OpenAI, one of the companies Elon Musk co-founded was coded in C++ generally and eventually gained a reputation for interacting with the users in the most human-like way possible. It has many algorithms attached to it so that it can improve itself through the constant feeding of information into it. It had been a project for a long time but only made headlines a few months ago. It’s known for having a detailed and rational outlook. ChatGPT is good, bad or maybe a threat to Google. Let’s start with the good. ChatGPT has been described as the future of technology. We never knew AI could be this capable until recently. Using it to improve how AI can interact with a socalled regular user in the future also adds to its plus points. Who knows that ChatGPT can open a new pathway for using AI in different fields? To top it all, the availability of such a resource to everyone should enable the flow of information to be faster and a boom in education.But is it the case? This is where we get it pretty wrong. “Technology is like a medicine and has side effects from ill use.” It does. There have been many misused instances of ChatGPT, leading to some not-sogood results. People have reportedly been using it to write their homework, essays, etc. which will conclude as an act of plagiarism. ChatGPT, well, it is an AI that learns from its mistakes, which does not mean mistakes are impossible. In this digital world, we hardly know what’s true, be it the news, social media profiles, etc. Although Open AI states that we should be aware of the possibility of an error in a conversation or the freshness of data, it is also our responsibility not to agree on something immediately. It’s not that the bot is not accurate; it is, but just in case. We can of course look up this and that, but we shouldn’t be fully dependent on it and instead think independently. Now let’s bring the tech rivals Google and Microsoft into the picture. Companies these days tend to keep users on their platform for longer. The more time they spend, the more revenue they get. From a corporate perspective, ChatGPT has a high potential to generate more revenue by enabling users to use the platform longer and through more human-like interaction. Microsoft, being an investor in OpenAI, saw this as an opportunity to bring back the users’ trust in their search engine Bing. Many of us probably haven’t used Bing even once in our lives, but yes, it’s there. By integrating the mechanism of ChatGPT inside Bing and giving it a new look, they have introduced a new chat feature that enables a human-like interaction. Google was, of course, surprised and wanted to take immediate action, which backfired on them. They conducted a live event in Paris, promoting the launch of their own ChatGPT-like question-answer interface. They called it “Bard”. Their trailer video lacked the information accuracy that the software promised and they publicly embarrassed themselves. The stakes are high at Google as ChatGPT can answer questions without users having to click through links, thus affecting their

business model. Will Google continue to be what it is or will things change? ChatGPT will of course get more advanced as time passes, but will Bing? Gosh, I wish we had a time machine! Food for Thought: We will never know anything. Abhinav Mishra, XI – B “Everyday we wake up knowing less”—famous quip by someone I’m not bothered to look up. For a very long time, many of us believed that the Earth was at the centre of the solar system called “geocentrism” and to be fair, it does kind of look that way from the ground if you don’t know better. But plenty of people in history pushed for a “Sun at the Center” model called “Heliocentrism”. One proponent was a rather clever 16th-century philosopher called Giordano Bruno. He also believed that stars were distant suns with their own planets—in the 1500s, remember? A normal idea today, but pretty whack-a-doodle back then. The Catholic church of the day was a big supporter of Bruno’s ideas and it celebrated his genius by lighting a big, lovely bonfire, which they popped him on top of! Centuries later, in the early 1900s, scientist Alfred Wegener noticed that the continents fit together a bit like an awkward jigsaw puzzle and came up with the theory of continental drift— the idea that the continents started as one giant mass known as Pangea and slowly drifted apart over millions of years. It was an idea that was universally accepted but loved by no one. It would take about 70 years for folks to realise he was actually spot on; it’s kind of difficult to apologise though, what with him being dead and everything. That’s really just the beginning because the history of human civilization is one long series of critical thinking and we’re not a species built for critical thinking. Like the time humans invited a big wooden horse into Troy; like the time humans killed Julius Caesar in an attempt to save the Roman Republic and killed the Roman Republic; like the time humans prescribed cocaine to treat hay fever, meth as a diet pill and heroin as a cough syrup—to children! For as long as we’ve been trying to grapple with ol’ Johnny Reality, there has been an enemy sabotaging us at every turn; they live in our brain bits and they are called “logical fallacies.” The “Correlation Fallacy”, for example. We live in a world swamped in data and numeric-numbers and it makes it very tempting to look for correlations. One that took a shamefully long time to admit was the now obvious link between “death sticks’’ and lung cancer. Then again, there’s also a highly compelling argument between the number of people drowning in pools from 1999 onwards and the number of films around that time Nicholas Cage appeared in. Correlation doesn’t necessarily imply causation. “Begging the Question”, the Ouroboros of logic. Someone declares, “I own your house.” You ask “Why?” They say, “Well, because I have your keys.” You respond “Why do you have my keys?” and they say “Well, because I won your house now.” We see this all the time in public debates

“The Slippery Slope” perhaps you suggest to someone that it might be time for them to give up snorting detergent. A slippery slope response would be, “Well, what do I give up next, shoes, then water, then breathing! Is that what you want?”. No, this is clearly not what you meant. It is possible to make changes to the status quo without causing the complete collapse of physical reality. “The False Dichotomy”, a disingenuous move of presenting an A-B choice that isn’t actually A or B. These include things like, “Well, either we save the rainforests or the whales. You decide!” What? Why? Can’t we just do both? Or one that really gets my goat: “If Science can’t explain everything immediately about how the world works, then it must all be magic. “What? Why can’t there just be an honest gap between Science and truth. “We don’t know yet, but we’ll get there one day”? And that’s not even half of it! The argument from tradition; the argument from false authority; the argument from “I read half a Wikipedia page”: we’re constantly falling prey to silly patterns of thought and the only safeguard against them is eternal vigilance, possibly drugs. Arguments about ideas usually rely on two fundamental constants. One, everyone thinks they’re being reasonable, however insane their position is and two, no one is going to change their mind by getting called an idiot. Some days you’re the pigeon, some days you’re the statue and almost all of us are ignorant about almost everything; the world is too big not to be. But miraculously finding the mental strength to accept our ignorance is a Herculean task and relies on constantly remembering that the primary characteristic of a silly person is that they think they’re clever and usually enjoy insisting they’re correct about everything, which makes admitting to ignorance a rather rare and endearing virtue. Despite our species being the smartest on the planet, children are some of the most helpless infants in the entire animal kingdom. Baby giraffes can stand up just hours after their birth, but it takes our infants years before they can be left unsupervised. That means we have to take care of them for a long time, out of nothing but kindness. I often marvel at the fact that my mom and dad spent all that time raising me, protecting me and teaching me. They did it because they are kind. It is a debt I can never repay and they wouldn’t expect me to either. That kindness is what kept me alive and some variation of it was what kept all of us alive in those early years. Do you know a lower jawbone was found in Dmanisi, Georgia? Sometime back now, it belonged to a member of the Homo erectus family, our now extinct human cousins. He was a man of about 40 who lived probably two million years ago. The jaw is missing all its teeth except for one and we know he lived a long time like that which means someone was helping him eat. Two million years ago, someone was feeding him. Someone cared about him; maybe someone loved him back in the deep past. Even before our species began, a person or a group was practising compassion. Someone was being kind for the sake of being kind. I think about that two-million-year-old jawbone a lot these days. I like to imagine a little pack of our evolutionary cousins huddled around a fire, knowing little understanding, even less before recourse to reason or law or history before currency and standing armies before socks. Probably with no concept that one day, two million years in the future, their cousins would build this incredible global project of civilization. And if there was some way we could have shown our cousins and ancestors just how far humans would one day come, everything would seem alien to them, except perhaps for compassion because they lived in perpetual ignorance. They were incorrect about almost everything all the time. From that jawbone in Georgia and oth-

er ancient skeletons telling almost exactly the same story, we know that they had kindness. And it is the same kindness that today raises our kids and takes care of our elderly. It’s the same kindness that provides disaster relief or medical aid, the same kindness that sustains friendships and writes love letters. Doubtless, we’ll mess up in the future, but with one million times the efficiency with which we messed up in the past. We cannot and will never be correct about everything all the time. Ignorance is in our bones, but kindness is in our DNA. From an Agrarian Economy to a Global Power: India’s Remarkable Journey Aarnav Mehta, XI – A India has changed a lot since it became independent 75 years ago, i.e. in 1947 from the shackles of colonialism. The country has made substantial improvement in numerous areas including education, healthcare, politics, technology and infrastructure. Today, India is a proud nation with a stable democracy and a strong economy. India has adopted a democratic system with three different organs exercising equal power. The elections are marked by the presence of numerous political parties and the people vote every five years to choose who they want as their representatives in the Parliament. The quality of education has also improved in India, with many new schools and universities being established every year, consequentially enabling more people to read and write when contrasted with the situation a few decades ago. The presence of futuristic healthcare facilities has also enabled India to become a famous destination for medical tourism. The Indian economy has also come a long way, as the country used to be dependent on agriculture for a significant portion of its GDP. However, the country has been providing jobs in a multitude of spheres now and has been doing pioneering research for more than a decade. The country is now one of the biggest economies in the world, while also being extraordinary in the sphere of technology. Numerous companies have established their headquarters and offices in India, while startups have also seen a spurt. India is leading in computer software and apps among the numerous countries of the world. The government has spent money on improving the transportation facilities like railways, airways, etc to accelerate the development process. The government’s flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and the Bharatmala Pariyojana have helped improve connectivity and mobility across the country. Despite the many challenges of poverty, pay disparity, religious differences and disguised unemployment among many others, the country is trying to make substantial positive leaps in the country and world affairs. However, the government and the people are required to work together to improve the state of every individual. The country has a glorious past and a golden future considering the substantial progress made since its independence, which is a testament to the determination and spirit of its people. As the country looks to the future, may we continue to work together towards a brighter, more inclusive and prosperous India.

Stress on Teens and How to Manage It. Gaurav Raj Singh, XI – A Stress is an inevitable part of life and it affects everyone, including teenagers. Adolescence is a time of immense change, both physically and mentally, which can create a lot of pressure and anxiety. Unfortunately, the levels of stress that teenagers are experiencing seems to be on the rise. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this increase in stress and some ways to manage it. Academic Pressure One of the main reasons for the increase in stress levels among teenagers is academic pressure. With the increasing competition in schools and colleges, students are expected to perform better than ever before. The pressure to get good grades, excel in co-curricular activities and succeed in life can be overwhelming. This can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, causing students to lose focus and motivation. Social Media and Cyberbullying Another factor contributing to the rising stress levels among teenagers is social media. While social media platforms offer numerous benefits, they also have their downsides. Social media can be a breeding ground for cyberbullying, which can cause significant stress and anxiety in young people. Being constantly connected to social media platforms can also create a feeling of isolation and fear of missing out (FOMO) leading to stress. Family Issues For teenagers, family troubles can be a substantial source of stress. Teenagers may face significant levels of stress and anxiety at home as a result of problems with the family’s finances, marriage or domestic abuse. High parental expectations can also be stressful, which can result in low self-esteem and a feeling of inadequacy. Substance Abuse Teenage substance misuse is an increasing problem and can be quite stressful. Teens who abuse alcohol or drugs may experience withdrawal symptoms, which can cause stress and worry to increase. However, substance addiction can result in additional issues like legal troubles, money problems and relationship challenges, all of which can add to stress levels. Managing Stress Although stress is a normal component of life, it must be effectively managed. These are some techniques for stress management for teenagers. Regular exercise is an excellent approach to reduce stress and enhance both physical and emotional well-being. Encourage your adolescent to partake in physical activities like yoga, dance or running. Create a good sleep routine: For controlling stress, it’s essential to get enough sleep. Urge your adolescent to create a consistent sleep plan and refrain from using electronics just before bed. Speak to someone: Encourage your adolescent to discuss their stress and worry with a dependable friend, member of their family or a therapist. Cultivate awareness: Activities that foster mindfulness, such as yoga, deep breathing exercises and meditation can help you to relax and cope with stress. Place a high priority on self-care: Encourage your adolescent to partake in enjoyable self-care activities like having a massage, taking a bath or reading a book. In conclusion, it is critical to effectively treat

teen stress because it is on the rise. Teenagers can learn to manage stress and enhance their general well-being by comprehending the origins of stress and practising stress manage ment practices. Teenagers need our help in learning how to properly manage their stress levels as parents, guardians or educators. How do we exist and why? Abhinav Mishra, XI – B There is a school of thought that believes that the chances of the universe unfolding the way it has are so unlikely that the chances of all this just being someone’s fever dream are significantly higher. Ok, so we all know that our odds of existing, of actually being alive, on this planet, in this galaxy, in this universe, are extremely unlikely and almost an infinite amount of odds were defined in order for you to be sitting there, reading this. These odds were so incredibly slim that according to Physicist Ludwig Boltzmann, it’s actually a lot more likely that instead of an entire cosmos being born out of matter, with humans and animals and so on, Nature has produced one single self-aware entity floating in this void that believes it is a person in a world full of people, history and the laws of Nature. This idea is known as the “Boltzmann Brain Paradox” and relies on a question, “What’s easier to create out of nothing— 1 brain or infinity?” which would mean nothing truly exists but you, making everything up to help pass the time. Then there’s also the possibility that all of life is just a simulation, a VR experience, if you will. And while that may sound far-fetched, it’s actually really plausible. Everything we experience is just a result of electrical activity in our brain and biologically, it is totally possible to manipulate that activity to experience something entirely different with our brains being unable to tell the difference. So if this is possible, who’s to say it hasn’t been done already? Think of it this way: there are an infinite number of virtual realities, but only one true reality. So the odds of you and I being in that one reality are again, extremely slim.

The Trip Manubha Aggarwal, XI – C My friends and I had gone on a one-month trip to the mountains. We booked a cabin. Before starting the story, let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Luciana and I am a 14-yearold high school student. I was on this trip with Alica, Alex and Leo. The day we reached our destination, it was sunny. There was beautiful weather and an amazing view. Our days were going on amazingly well, until one day something strange happened. We were playing a game at night, in the woods. We put bowls in the deep woods and each one of us had to go and bring one back. Little did we know what this would lead to. All of us did our tasks and it was finally Alica’s turn. She went into the woods. An hour passed, but she never came back. We all got worried. Being freaked out, we started panicking. We went looking for her in the morning. At sunset, we found her. It was her body shredded to pieces. We all got really scared. Who could have done that to her? We were heading back with her body. It was nightfall. Suddenly I felt a shiver in my bones. Someone was following us. That’s when we realised something was wrong with this place. We ran towards our cabin. Alex fell and we had to leave Alica’s body there. We left the place the very next morning. Little did we know that thing was still following us... &

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Ethics, Empowerment and Excellence Mrs Alka Singh, HOD-English In a carnival, five elephants were tethered by a frail rope which they could easily break. One day a visitor asked the showman, ‘Why haven’t these elephants broken the rope and run away?’ ‘From the times, they were young and immature, the elephants have been taught that they are not capable of breaking the ropes and fleeing' , the showman replied. Due to this presumption, they never attempted to break the rope and run away. This anecdote depicts that the real power resides within a person. Society often tries to limit a person and his or her strength. One needs to take the initiative, be courageous and break free. Values and ethics embolden the person and make him or her confident. Engaging in ethics empowers a person to diffuse the barriers that stand in the way of doing good and help in developing the skills to do even more good, to go above and beyond the call of duty. This is what segregates the good from the great, the ordinary from the extraordinary. Once someone is empowered, they have control over their life. It helps them to use their innovative ideas, creative genius and judgement which results in enhanced performance. The organizations and society as a whole develop when empowered individuals who are self-driven, persevere to accomplish their goals in life. After all excellence is not success but a persistent pursuit of perfection. It isn’t about working extra hard to do what a person is told. It is about taking the initiative to do work that a person decides is worth doing. Such people are a ‘cut above the rest’. ‘If you work hard and you make money, you do it for yourself. That is not life. When you go out and help people to make their lives better; when you embrace ethics and you are able to change someone’s life; when you realize that the person didn’t give up because of you; that day you live.' That is the mark of an excellent human being. Excellence is never an accident. It is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skilful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities. Ethically empowered individuals are the lighthouses which give direction to fellow human beings. Excellence is going beyond the average and out-performing the expectations of others. It is about ascending higher, setting standards and raising the bar. As citizens of tomorrow and builders of the nation, one needs to remember – deception, suppression and mediocrity has to give way to ethics, empowerment and excellence. In the words of Jessica Guidobono, ‘Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence’. (I am grateful to Piyush Gandhi for this topic and requesting me to write for WSJ) “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” ~ Potter Stewart

Seen, Heard & Desi Soumil Sawmill, Class of 2021-22 It was another day, days or perhaps weeks of scrolling through the red-bordered TIME magazine, one of the highest influential stature of journalism in the fields of society, politics and economics when I spotted Mindy Kaling’s mention in the magazine. Kaling was one of the earliest Indian-origin women to make it big in Hollywood starting off with a small role as an actor and finding space in the writer’s room of the NBC sitcom, The Office. Her media house, Kaling International, the force behind many beloved productions including The Mindy Project and Never Have I Ever was featured in TIME 100 Most Influential Companies last year. Speaking of Hollywood, the Indian film industry recovering from setbacks of the past few years is taking the world by storm aided by regional cinema with one film at the centre of it all, S. S. Rajamouli’s epic action drama RRR. A film praised by critics, filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and James Cameron and moviegoers alike; the Telugu film has been the frontrunner of the awards circuit and has won many accolades including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Song at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards and Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. The Naatu Naatu fever is without a doubt making everyone groove to the beat of it. I believe that the most meaningful thing for Indians altogether is the sense of pride we have when we identify ourselves with something, someone who is one of ours has achieved. Isn’t it? Whether it’s been A.R. Rahman’s Oscar win for Slumdog Millionaire, Lilly Singh’s dominance on YouTube, Abhijit Banerjee bagging a Nobel Prize for his work in Economic Sciences, Kamala Harris’ ascent to the White House, Neeraj Chopra’s historic win at Tokyo Olympics, former Miss World Priyanka Chopra’s Hollywood pursuit, the casting of Bridgerton Season 2, the number of Indians leading tech conglomerates and business giants or Indian women emerging victorious at the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, we continue to celebrate these wins in our capacity like the win is our own. Every opportunity we get to shine is a responsibility to shed light on the greatness of our motherland. It is for many a sign of hope that dreams of people who look like us, talk like us, live like us come true. The existence of such role models from cultural backgrounds similar to ours even in the slightest capacity helps us to acknowledge our stories with their voices. It is with their accomplishments we know that there is a possibility to achieve our goals. If we work hard, there is a successful career outside the domain of what most of us are told to do by the society we are raised in, that tends to limit our ambitions. There are so many other success stories that have emerged out of an Indian household for you to get inspired by. Go ahead, explore and discover what might be the first step to shaping your own story!

I am just like you. For the most part, my life is totally normal. I have loving parents and a younger sister who helps me get over my despondency. I have benevolent classmates who support me in all that I do. I am a teenager with big dreams and overwhelming energy. I come from nowhere, but I want to conquer the world. In this tiny brain of mine, there goes everything which should and should not be there. Like I told you, I am just like you. I have a totally perfectly normal life except, I believe that life has given me more lemons than anyone. I remember walking down the school hallway on the first day, when I came across this group of students who talked in a language which was quite weird for me. It was modern English with words like ‘gonna’ and ‘lol’ and some other words, which I later got to know that should not have been there. I looked over them and darted towards my classroom. To my surprise, I was not welcomed and it felt as if I was just a weed in the meadows for the students there. The environment was quite distressing and every minute that passed, filled me with anxiety about what was in store for me in the future . I reckon that was the point where it all started. Since my childhood, there had been no instance that had not made me feel like I have got no shoulders to cry on except for my mother’s and for a typical teenager, it is almost impossible to find a friend in the family. From nine to thirteen years of age, there had been no day that I did not spend without crying in my mother’s lap, about how I was an outcast in school. Those were the days when clothes of thirty-four size did not fit me and I had to go to the women’s section to find the clothes that were of my size. As the ritual goes, I had many other names like ‘baby elephant’, ‘dinosaur’ etc. which did not sound good with my surname, so I had to do something to undo this. I spent sleepless nights and melancholic days thinking about the creative ways in which they would make me realise how ostracised I was. I found myself even more isolated and I started living in constant fear of ‘ not fitting in’. As I have already mentioned that in this tiny brain of mine, there goes everything which should and should not be there, I found a terrific way out of my misery which actually felt right at that moment. Even though my gut feeling was astute enough to tell me that I was wrong, I decided to acknowledge my heart and that was one of ‘The 3 mistakes of my life’. I went on a water diet and hardly took a bite of something that I had to chew. Fat and oil were a big no for me and I remember that I would even eat cucumber peels with lemon juice and only a pinch of salt to fill my stomach and not gain even a single calorie. Initially, my mother thought that all of this was “just a phase’’ and I would return to my normal eating habits eventually but to her dismay, that never happened. In those two years of no nutrition and forced physical activity, I came down from thirty-six to twenty-six. This dramatic difference of straight ten inches down gave me provisional ecstasy but that amateur brain did not know the art of foresight. I was finally happy to ‘fit in’. But everything has a consequence and so did this. I stopped growing at five feet, I developed an eating disorder, my immune system was weaker than ever and I was now vulnerable to all kinds of illnesses ranging from physical to psychological. I developed OCD. I ended up wounding the only real relationship I had with my mother and started finding refuge in others. I am just like you (The tale from losing to winning) Akanksha Chaudhary, Class of 2022-23

I was so stirred by the unanticipated changes, that I ended up having the set of friends which I wish I never had. I could have backed out, but they did not tell me that they thought more bad than good for me and I did not care to talk about this with the only person who could prevent me from falling into the vicious cycle of the never-ending darkness. My friends kept talking way too much and said I should give up everything that put me under the category of a good student. According to them, everything I had grown up learning that was good, made me quite ‘uncool’ to remain in their circle. You might call this naiveness but I call it ‘digging a pit for myself’. I trusted people whom I knew only for a couple of weeks over the natural instincts that I was born with. You might have heard people forging their goodness but I forged immorality just to ‘fit in’. When the whole world was reeling under the pandemic, I believe it was one good thing which happened after three years of turmoil. Staying at home, under the strict surveillance of my mother, I had no chance to do anything which was not meant to be done. I would get noticed if I did something that was out of bounds. I am thankful that my mother was involved enough to notice that everything about me was wrong. I was shaken out of the illusionistic ecstasy and was kept grounded for months. This period not only brought me back to my senses but also made me realise who I truly was. You know, what was the best thing that happened? Well, my mother and I got back together and this time there was no stepping back. We could now share everything with each other, talk about all the things people of my age prefer only to discuss with friends and even enjoy daily soaps together on our ‘girl’s days’. My mother is my best friend now. I have this message for all the teenagers out there. Life is a word of only one syllable but it comes with one million problems altogether. It is like riding a swing; one moment you are on top of the world and on the other, you are way behind everyone. You will have to understand that all of us are built differently and we were never born to ‘fit in’. Instead, God has tried his best to make you as different as possible from everyone, so that when he calls you back to him, he relishes the success of the variety that he created. It is not like everything is equivalent to a fairy tale now. I still get called out for being very strict with my conduct as well as of others. Sometimes, I even get pointed out for being so open to my teachers that I tell them everything, even the things which they asked me not to. I love making friends but I rarely find anyone who shares the same frequency of thoughts as me, except for one of my teachers who has played a major role in bringing me back to life from doom. Life never stops giving you lemons. All you have to do is to make a wonderful lemonade, laugh at how silly you were, take a sip of that mindful drink and move on. I still do not ‘fit in’ but at least now, I am just like you and for the most part, my life is totally normal. Lots of love to all.

EXPLORE YOUR POTENTIAL Signing off With love to one and all CHASE YOUR DREAMS Mrs R Venkateswari, Lecturer-English Metamorphosis Sounds crazy? Is this a sequel of Kafka’s Metamorphosis? No way! It’s about the journey you’re going to undertake. The enterprising spirit of human beings is capable of creating new possibilities, scaling new heights, groundbreaking inventions, to name a few! You’re the powerhouse, you are the future policy makers! Believe in yourself! Follow your passion ! Remember: We all had an yesterday, You all have a tomorrow. All the best! Mrs Sangeeta Dua, HOD-Chemistry Dear students Congratulations on reaching the final year of your school education! Class XII is a crucial year in your academic journey and it marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. As you embark on this journey, I want to inspire you to give your best and make the most of this year. Class XII is not just about clearing exams and getting good grades. It is about discovering your passions, exploring new opportunities and developing the skills that will help you succeed in life. This year, you will have the chance to push yourself to your limits and prove your potential. You will learn to work hard, persevere and overcome challenges Remember that you are not alone in this journey. Your teachers, mentors and parents are there to guide you and support you. Make use of their advice and feedback and learn from their experiences. Surround yourself with positive and motivated people, who share your goals and aspirations. Stay focused and disciplined in your studies, but also take time to pursue your interests and hobbies. Engage in co-curricular activities, participate in sports, cultural events and volunteer for social causes. These experiences will help you to develop your personality, broaden your horizons and build your network. GET SET GO! Dear students It gives me great happiness to write in the Wall School Journal. As I come close to a long innings in AFGJI, I feel very proud, happy and nostalgic. I am proud of the fact that, I got the opportunity to train students to excel in the realm of sports and games. It gives me great happiness that the sportstars of our school have won so many medals and prizes at the national and international level. A sense of nostalgia grips me when I think that from the next session, I will not be able to see the students rushing to the games field everyday to escape the monotony of academics, bunk classes to play basketball (the national game of all AFGJIites), simply sit on the stairs in the ground or shade of the trees to chit-chat. I am surely going to miss these every day sights. I have made golden memories in Golden Jubilee. It is the alma mater of my daughters also. I wish all the students that they play well, train well and win many more awards for themselves and the school. The happy atmosphere that you have in GJI is unparalleled. My good wishes and blessings to this present batch of Class XII and to all the students of the school. Many of you have it in you, to make it big in life. Prakhar, the Athletics star has so much of patience and perseverance. Vaibhav, our thunder boy..it’s a delight to see him play volleyball.He is full of energy and lot of positive attitude. All of you should focus on your dreams, remain real, work hard and you will surely reach your goal. All the best....Get set go.... Mrs Kiran Sharma, HOD-Physical Education

EDITORS’ PICK Digging deeper into the creative minds for this season RRR’s Naatu Naatu: A track with killer dance moves and melody made it to The Oscars 2023 Midnights by Taylor Swift: The desire to stay in the lavender haze seems familiar to us masterminds, doesn’t it? G20 @ India: Will India be able to get the world along for sustainable growth during its presidency of the G20 summit? Premier League: Will Man City pip Arsenal to become Champions of England for the 5th time in 6 years? Jack Ryan: Up-and-coming CIA analyst, Jack Ryan, is thrust into dangerous field assignments. Will he be able to save USA from the threat of a nuclear war? The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: A tale narrated by death, which is haunted by us humans, while we are terrified of it every second we live, strange indeed The Elephant Whisperers: An Academy Award Winning documentary about an orphaned elephant GPT 4 is here! Succeeding GPT3.5 with a boost in image-text understanding now available for Plus Subscribers All That Breathes: Revolving around devoting their life to rescuing and treating injured birds The Missing Rose by Serdar Ozkan She was on a journey to find her long lost twin, ended up rediscovering herself, don’t we all find ourselves in the most unexpected places too? Best Smartphone Camera: Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung’s S23 Ultra still hold on to their position. Will it change soon?

If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means ‘First Attempt In Learning’. End is not the end; infact E.N.D. means ‘Effort NeverDies’. If you get No as an answer, remember N.O. means ‘Next Opportunity’. So Let’s be positive. BHARAT RATNA APJ ABDUL KALAM