Little Things

 It has been over a month since my grade 12 board exams got over, and I LOVE the freedom that I have right now. But very often, I find myself scrolling through my gallery to look for old videos and pictures that I took during school hours, to reminisce in solitude. I find myself laughing at videos of my classmates breaking projectors, tossing cardboard boxes around the class and having pillow fights by the dozen. I find myself cringing at the million reels that we made. I find myself rewatching videos to rewind time back to the past, where we were still high school kids. 

And when I do so, I feel so lucky to have had an amazing junior year and senior year. I was surrounded by the best group of people that I have ever encountered (whom I am fortunate enough to call my friends). When I think of treasured high school memories, it's not the classes (or parties, for that matter) that I think of, so fondly about. It is the small moments that touched my heart, and the little things that my classmates did for me, that have mattered the most. 

I'm going to tell you a story that will never leave me.

In the 11th grade, I signed up for a project that was not really a part of the school syllabus. It was optional and additional. I worked really hard for it and even though I was unsure of how I would fare, I hoped for a decent grade. When the results (externally graded) came in, I did terribly, to say the least. 

Normally, I wouldn't worry so much. But this time, I had to. This project was an integral part of my college application (and I only applied to 2 unis) and I was almost convinced that I would not get into college due to the grade that I received for this project. It was one of my lowest points. I was absolutely gutted and I was sure that this was it, and that there was no hope. 

I opened my result in front of my classmates, and they knew that I was shattered. I'm usually very bubbly and energetic, so they know that even a slight dip in energy was not normal for me. They noticed, and they did so much to cheer me up. I remember not feeling like eating that day, but I was  made to eat with them. I remember having tears in my eyes, but laughing through the tears because they tried so hard to make me laugh. I remember having no confidence about going to college, but being comforted and reassured that I would definitely get in and that this was just a trivial hiccup. I will never forget how two of my friends walked me to my teacher and told me everything was going to be just fine. My best friends (who weren't in school at that time) were there for me throughout. 

We had a school trip a few weeks later in January. On the third day, I got an email notification from one of the universities that said I was accepted into their program. I am NOT kidding when I tell you I SCREAMED. I was in the room with three of my friends when it happened and they were so incredibly happy for me. I rushed out and told my best friends that I got in, and their reactions only made me feel better about the good news. Word spread, and when the rest of my class found out, they SANK me in congratulatory wishes and hugs and 'I told you so's and screaming and jumping. 

The university that I got in to, was not my first choice. It was relatively easy to get in to. But because of what had happened the previous week, getting in to it meant THE WORLD to me - and they knew it. They knew it so well that they made it seem like it meant the world to them, too. 

A week later I got my acceptance letter from the other university that I applied to. Trust me, by then I thought the excitement would have died down, but boy it didn't. My classmates were so supportive, so excited, so happy for me. One of my friends came to school with a box of brownies to celebrate. A handful of my juniors were so sweet about it. They made it a huge deal when I know it didn't have to be one. 

Honestly, at that point, I don't think getting into college gave me as much of a high as the love that I was made to experience. I had never met a more supportive, appreciative bunch and I was so grateful to them for making me feel like my achievement meant something to them as well. This little thing taught me the importance of empathy - feeling for others. It taught me how much of a difference supporting those in rough times can make to them. It taught me the value of appreciating good friends around me - I didn't realise how lucky I was to have a class like this, until I was at a real low. It is rare to come by such people. 

When I look back at grade 12, I love thinking about funny bio classes where I laughed until I couldn't breathe, or that one math class I cried and everyone made it a point to never let me forget about it, or the times we played cricket and almost broke glass, or the hilarious science practicals that we did, or the times we chilled in homeroom and did absolutely nothing - but if I had to pick one core memory, it's this one - the time my friends made me feel like I was enough, and that the grade I received in a very important project would never define me, and that my win was theirs, and my loss was theirs, too. 

I am incredibly excited to go to university and make more memories, but no matter what, I will never forget this one. I'm going to miss grade 12 ❤️


xoxo
aishu
20/06/2023

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