What is it like to be the most adored daughter of Mother Ananda Balika
- Nipuni Thisarangi Dissanayake
- Nov 2, 2018
- 7 min read
“I wish my school days could have dragged on a little longer, or that I could go back and do it later in life” -Cara Delavigne-
School days are the most unforgettable, invaluable time period for most people’s lifespan. Those were the days which we learned most of our first lessons in life and the laying stone for a lot of things. This is true to me as well. I have attended to, two schools and both have gifted me so many memories to cherish in life and today here I am, standing tall with humble confidence thanks to all those lessons and blessings.
When looking back, the greatest opportunity, more likely the blessing of my school life was, being the head girl of my Alma Mater, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10. Although there was plenty of academic achievements, that was the period I learned invaluable life lessons which I couldn’t ever learn by any textbook. That feeling, respect, blessings and genuine love I have received was incomparable to anything else. Totally, that was a dream, a dream which became true, a dream I have dreamed since from my first grade.
It all started with one speech. My primary school was St. Clares’ College, Colombo 06. One day in the year 2000, when I was in grade one, there was this general assembly, where madam principal was praising one student for a project that she’s carried out which recognized as a good initiative by some government organization, and she was none other than the school captain at that time. It was the first time that I have come across with this “School Captain” thing. After principal’s and school captain’s speech, I’ve got some fascinating desire to be the school captain one day, because I really loved the way she’s delivered her speech and her personality. I observed her often how she works because she was my greatest inspiration to become just like her one day, and she didn’t know me at all since I was a very little girl those days.
It’s the beauty of life because we never know who are looking up to us, but there are always people who do. That’s why I always believe whatever we do in our life we have to do it in the best possible way we can and set an example, then the people who do it after us will do it better than us or at least will do it in the same way we did.
On that day, after I came back home, I asked about this school captain thing from my mother because she’s a teacher and I knew she would know more about it. My mother said, to become a school captain you have to do well in both academics and other extra-curricular activities. Further, she said, she was the Deputy School Captain of her school, Holy Family Convent, Kaluthara and her cousin sister, my aunt (Punchi) was the Head Girl at her school, Mahamaya College, Kandy. I was more than delighted to hear that and my desire got even stronger. With that wish in the heart, I’ve been a primary prefect for two years and participated in other activities such as sports and dancing with a balance in academics. However, after grade five scholarship exam, I have changed my school and I worried about how could I become the head girl in my new school? Poor little me.
When I came to the shelter of Mother Ananda Balika, from the day one itself, I felt belonged and didn’t feel like I’m starting from zero. It was a really inexplicable feeling which I still don’t know how to express that bond I have created thirteen years ago, remains the same in a much stronger way. Ananda Balika Vidyalaya is more than a school to me. It is my second home. The place where I grew, learned and made me the person I am today. Although we all are starting new since our school doesn’t have a primary section I didn’t feel that I’m new. I got on well with all the students and teachers and adapted to the new environment and traditions quickly. I have done a great number of extra activities in the school with a good balanced in academics.
Since from the first day in school, I was looking up to the way how the prefects’ guild works and the sisters in the top board because they were the people I admired and respected the most among students. There was something to learn from every one of them. I become a junior prefect in 2008 and from 2008 to 2012 I was in the prefects’ guild for, four consecutive years. In that four years, I was able to work closely with the top boards’ and senior prefects’ and got a better understanding of the duties and responsibilities. Indeed, the inspirations and examples they set before, bring the best out of me when I’m becoming the Head Prefect in the year 2012.
I remember how much I was nervous when I was delivering my first speech after accepting the flag from former Head Prefect, because the moment I got to hold the flag, I felt the weight of the responsibility and the accountability that I’m accepting. I also remember the last day of my tenure, when I was handing over the flag to the new Head Girl, and I delivered my last speech which was a heartwarming moment to me and most of the audience was in tears too. The person I was a year ago when I’m becoming the head girl vs the person who is standing by the podium when I’m ending my term, was so different and I was standing with much confidence, have became stronger person. While I was stepping down from the stage after my speech, a parent from the audience, who is a mother of a junior perfect, ran towards me and hugged me and wished me with eyes full of tears. It was totally unexpected and my tears got doubled after that. You will never understand that feeling unless you was there as a signing out head prefect. We cry not because of we want to hold the position, but with that, we are marking the end of our journey with the school as a student as well. I think it’s the same feeling you got as a daughter when you’re leaving from your parent’s home on the wedding day.
The day before the end of our guild, we went to thank every teacher at the school to mark the end of our term and some classes stood up and clapped spontaneously and I got surprised because even newcomers from grade six did the same and, one of my beloved English teacher who was at grade eleven class at that moment said, “I didn’t tell them to do that and this was more than enough for you all to sign out happily without any doubts about what you have done and this means you have actually done something heart touching”. That was a rewarding moment to me and even though I couldn’t capture it by a lens, that memory and the feeling will stay in my heart forever.
I can keep on write about the things I have learned, from organizing events to numberless things we have done. Foremost, I learned about the people, how to do things, how not to do things, traditions and above all, how to make the best out of what we have in the hand. I don’t want to do self-boast in here, I’m just writing about the best time period of my life. Roaming around Maradana to Pettah for buy stuff, keeping press open until late night to getting things done never felt like a burden to me (Of course burden to the press people) because, in the end, I enjoyed every second of it. There were times we have struggled and failed, but ultimately it was another learning opportunity.
Finally I would like to take this as an opportunity to show my gratitude to the people who were there for me. I’d like to thank the former Madam Principal, former Deputy Principals and the In charge of the Prefects’ Guild and former Assistant Principal for the guidance and the support gave us throughout the journey. Thank you, former In charge teachers of the Prefects’ Guild for stand by our side and mentoring us. Thank you, all the teachers who were at that time, each one of you meant a lot to us and without you all we were never brightened up. Thank you, all the former Top Boards’ and Guilds’ for setting up examples for us and being a wonderful sisterhood. Thank you, my beloved Top Board, Senior Prefects’ and the Guild of 2012/13 for being an amazing team and helping out to achieve the goals and dreams. The sea was never smooth, but thank you for bearing up with all the hardships and sailing together as one. I was more than happy to see all my little sisters becoming the captains of the ship after us. Thank you, my friends, from 2010 O/L and 2013 A/L classes to help us out with the events. There are so many names to mention, so I just keep it as 2013 A/L classes and I remember each one of you. One of my best friends used to feed me while I was running here and there in the mornings on the event days knowing that I won’t eat for the entire day and get sick in the evening. Thank you, all the sisters who were sharing the shelter of Mother Ananda Balika with me and sorry for being tough and rude on you sometimes, it’s not because of anything else but, because I loved and concerned about you more than my sister at that time. Thank you, Old Girls’ Association, parents, non-academic staff and numerous resource people who have helped us at that time. Most importantly, thank you, my parents; Amma and Thaththa, for bearing all the financial and non-financial burdens, running here and there to get the things done as per my wish and nevertheless letting me to do whatever I want and believing in me. Thank you, my sister and brother, although you were too young to help me, but helped as possible as you could and listening to all my grievances and bearing up with me. Last but foremost, thank you, everyone, who was there for us and couldn’t mention by name, without you all I could not be able to make this much. I did not want to make this a thank you post, but I wanted to make sure that I’m grateful to everyone who was with me and let everyone know that you all are a significant part of my life. Thank you for believing me, giving me the opportunity and encouraging me. The greatest earning of my life is to know that, I’ve got people who believe in me, dream for me and those genuine blessings I’ve received.
Whatever you do in your life do it wholeheartedly, I always believe in the end success is the sum of all the little things you have done through the journey. No matter how tiny or insignificant the task you have got to complete, put your 100% into it.
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