GENERAL ESSAYS

My last day at school is one the most refreshing memories that I cherish till today. It was one of those auspicious days, where I found myself stepping into a new world with a new horizon. I was leaving the secure portals of my school where I had spent twelve cherishing years of my life. Time has just flown! It seemed that I had just joined school the other day and now it was time to finally say good-bye to my school life. I was sad to leave school, but at the same time was excited to meet new challenges in life ahead of me. The vivid pictures of my Principal, teachers, friends, classroom, library, the school anthem, sports day ceremony, prize distribution day, the examination hall, the games room, the staff room was all just flashing through my mind. Life was going to change once and for all!

On the last day of school I remember my mother waking me up at 7:00 am in the morning to get ready to walk down my school premises one last time. The previous day, a notice was sent to the classroom mentioning about a passing out ceremony. On listening to the notice a deep sadness came over me and my batch mates as from the next day, we would be parting ways. But we all cheered up and started making plans on ways and means of celebrating our passing out ceremony to the fullest. Once Mr. Gupta, our English teacher finished reading the notice, there was a loud uproar in the classroom in joy and excitement.

I was all set to take the last day of school in my stride and so were my friends and classmates. I got my scrap book, note book etc ready to take autographs and write down a few memorable lines about teachers, staff and friends. This would be a priceless treasure in the near future. Some of the students brought video cameras as well to record some exciting and memorable moments together for the last time. Our final examinations were over and the results had been published.

The auspicious day began with a class assembly at 8:30 am in the morning in the school auditorium. The entire school was present including the Principal, Vice Principal, teachers, staff and students to felicitate us. I was feeling so important for the first time in my life. The students of class twelve was asked to sit in the first two rows in the auditorium. Each of us was given a nice souvenir and some refreshments. The programme began with a welcome speech by Akash Modi, the outgoing school captain. It was a wonderful speech where he spoke about several touching moments in our years of school. He thanked the teachers for their love, guidance, care and support that extended to us for twelve long years. The welcome speech was followed by a beautiful song by some of our juniors. Our Geography teacher Mr. Roy then spoke about some cherishing moments in the classroom. Several other teachers also said many beautiful things about us. The words brought tears to my eyes. The assembly concluded with the Principal wishing us all the very best for our future endeavors and releasing the school Year book. Each of us were given a copy of the year book.

After the school assembly, I met the Principal in his office and took a photograph with him. I requested him to pen a few lines in my scrap, to which he delightedly obliged. I then went and met the Vice Principal who inspired me with some great words of wisdom and encouragement. The next in line were some of our fondest teachers who had really taught and supported us selflessly throughout our school life. I met my teachers in the staff room and some of them wrote some very encouraging lines in my scrap book. I managed to click a photograph with my teachers. Last, but not least I went and thanked the office staff and bearers who had also an important role to play in my school life.

It was now time to greet my friends and classmates good bye for one final time. I was taking my scrap book to all my friends requesting them to write a few lines. All of us were busy greeting and wishing each other. Cameras were continuously flashing and it seemed we would have clicked every moment, if only it were possible! Then we started putting our autographs on each other's uniforms for the last time. I still have my uniform with all my friends' comments and signatures on it. We then hugged each other with a loud uproar for the last and final time along the school corridors and stepped out of the portals so dear.

The last day of school was one of the most cherished days of my life. It was a turning point in my life which was filled with both joy and grief. I was sad to leave to my friends and teachers with whom I had associated and shared some wonderful moments of my life. I was happy that my school had formed me and taught to me accept new challenges in life. I was sad to leave school; but the last day of school marked a new beginning in my life - I would now enter College.