Wow, I can't believe a year has gone by! Time truly flies. This has genuinely been the most eye-opening year for me. As we near the culmination of 2024 and the onset of 2025, I wanted to look back on this year, which was nothing but a total rollercoaster!
January started off boring, I failed to recognize the transition between 2023 and 2024 as my mundane monotonous study routines continued due to my preboards.
February and the first half of March weren’t much different as my board exams completely consumed me. Despite being nervous, I did it well. Soon after, we started with grade 11 and the unmatched feeling of wearing the new senior uniform was exciting! However, with the onset of the new grade came a challenging syllabus and portions, which I had to navigate through.
April was a month filled with memorable moments— senate elections, march past practices, and yes, the investiture ceremony. I was a house prefect this year, and many of my close friends and seniors were part of the senate. We all spent time together. School life was buzzing with energy, and those days were so special.
May was a chaotic month— events, competitions, practices - and yes, the toughest of all: exams; all came at me at once. Most importantly, board results! I can still remember how nerve-wracking it was before knowing the result. I felt a mix of pride and relief as my hard work finally paid off. There were a lot of smiles and struggles, but yay, we made it.
June, was undoubtedly my favourite month as we travelled to India and had the best vacation with my relatives from both sides of my family. The time we spent together taught me a lot and I miss them even now.
July continued the magic, I was still in India, but my parents returned. Living alone with my relatives was a new experience for me and came with mixed emotions. We still had a lot of fun and I was so sad when it was time for me to leave.
After a long vacation of two months August brought me back to reality: a daunting pile of incomplete assignments. It stressed me out, but I managed. Another memory from August would be a camp. I went for 3 days to the Kabd, where I had a lot of fun and learned a lot. By the end of the month, life returned to its usual routine.
September was all about responsibility. We Grade 11 students organized a fantastic Teachers’ Day event that was such an incredible experience. But it didn’t stop there—Onam celebrations and practices were in full swing, adding to the chaos of exams looming in the background.
October was a blur of events. I poured my heart into Onam performances and was part of the Mental Health Day celebrations, which our school’s psychology department hosted. It was a month of creativity and purpose.
November has always been special for me as it's my birthday month! It kicked off with my birthday celebrations, children's day celebrations, and rigorous preparations for an MUN competition in which I performed well! That was indeed the best way to end the month meaningfully with fulfilment.
December, is the month of reflection, the month of Christmas and yes, the winter chills that love to make me sick. I had the best time with my family and friends after ages, and we hung out and made new memories. It was truly the best way to end the year!
While the highlights of the year were unforgettable, it wouldn't have been without its challenges. Amidst all this, I've also had setbacks, failures, rejections, etc. Lost friendships and people I thought I never would. Regretted my mistakes, wished I could undo them, and overthought a lot about things that didn't matter in the end. The most important lesson I've learned this year is acceptance– accepting life, exactly how it is, but most importantly, accepting myself with my strengths and flaws.
There is a lot to look back on - memories and lessons that have shaped me into who I am and the person I am becoming. Thank you 2024, I’ll always be grateful. Here’s to new beginnings! Wishing everyone a happy new year!