The Happiest Moment

Even though I always whined and complained about boarding school, I kind of miss it terribly now. The teachers, wardens and friends had become a part of my three exclusive years after all!

Soon after I came back home to be a permanent resident, I found an advertisement in the newspaper regarding The United Wold College admission. I don’t know why, but I smiled for a second and showed it to my mother and she said that it would be a dream come true if I got in. After that I really wanted to give it my best shot, to start my life in the finest way and what could be better than studying in The UWC? 

It was November 25^th, 2013, the day I downloaded the application form enthusiastically wanting to complete it the very same day. But when I looked at it I was stunned by the rather unconventional set of questions.  I braced myself for the challenge to answer them to the best of my abilities. It made me introspect and find out so much about myself, my opinions, and my perspective. I felt as though I was discovering myself. Filling up an application form could be such a stimulating experience! 

These were some of the questions in the application form: 

What distinguishes you from other students in your class?

Identify a specific problem within your community. After explaining why it is a problem, justify what you, as a member of the community, could do in the next six months to address it.

Your art teacher tells the class that each student is to paint a picture of their best friend in the class. One student points out to the teacher that some kids will have lots of kids painting them, and other kids won’t be chosen at all. The teacher insists that this is what the students should do. What would you do?

Which meaningful conversation can you recall and with whom? This should be with one other than family.

I enjoyed every bit of the time I spent typing the answers to these engaging questions. I dedicated a lot of my time reading to build up my vocabulary and express myself in the most effective manner. I got stuck a lot, but every time I overcame that I had new knowledge about things. When I was stuck about the question asking us to state a specific problem in our community and what can I do in the next six months to address it, I felt so lost.

I was not a selfish person but I mostly thought about MY family, MY happiness, MY friends. But as I started to volunteer for community service I understood the joy of giving and that’s when I decided that the problem I will choose will be the reluctance of people to donate their organs after death. Again I was caught in a dilemma on how should I address it? I am just a 15 year old. My parents convinced me that if a cause really touched me, I should make a beginning however small it might be. They suggested to me that I could use my blog as a medium to raise awareness about organ donation, and so I did.

I feel that every step I took to fill my form has helped me to connect with myself and my community and made me a better person.

24^th January, 2014, one of the scariest day of my life- my board results. I will not announce it here because my result was nothing to boast about.  Being an average student in academics I received average grades. I was highly disappointed by the grade I received in one particular subject because I considered it to be one of my favourite and scoring subjects. Life is full of surprises, good and bad of course. 

Since my results were out, and parents declaration, school declaration, 9^th grade mark sheet were in place, I gave the final touch ups to my application form and on 13^th February (a day before the dead line) I mailed it. I MAILED IT!

For days I was anticipated, just like anyone in want of something desperately would be. I was prepared for the worst and expecting the best. Soon, when waiting started to kill me, I called up the UWC office to inquire about the results. They told me it would come by the end of the following week if I was selected and if not the week after that. My forehead was sweating; I informed my parents and started praying. Remembering God is such a comfort when in times like these, it makes the entire burden go away instantly.

Days went on in waiting.

These days I have been much of a fitness freak. I go to the gym regularly, do intense cardiovascular exercises, swimming alternate days and eat healthy. Another ordinary day which turned in to the a miraculous one -11^th march, Tuesday day it was, I hopped out of the gym to fill my water bottle when I saw a missed call from mom. I called back and she said the mail came. WHATTTTTTTT?!

“Mumma, if you’re joking I swear I will never talk to you”

“I will never joke in matters like these”

“I am so happy! I can’t believe it”

“Come home fast, we will have a look at the mail and start the preparation”

“Yes, coming”

I was jumping, literally. I have never felt such kind of excitement before. I was proud that my hard work paid off,   I was extremely glad that my parents were happy me being the reason and I was so very grateful to the members of United World College for selecting for the person I am besides my academic weakness. They judged me on my present not past.

Soon I came home and the preparation started. I read Anne Frank all over again because she is someone I would definitely want to talk about, I started reading the newspaper carefully, I started watching other meaningful movies that were pending, I spent less time in unnecessary activities and I actually felt so bright. Just the thought of UWC rejuvenated me with high spirits; I wonder what enhancement will it bring in me if I were to get selected?

OH GOD HELP ME PERFORM MY BEST!