Being a Head Girl.

Fine fine. I'll tell you about it! Things that are oh-so-amazing to me.

Around the end of August, was a big, wonderful surprise waiting for me. Early morning, arriving at school I stepped down my bus heading towards my class. But suddenly.. suddenly a swarm of not bees but friends came surrounding me. "Congrats!" shouted one. "Alizaaa, you did it!" shouted another. "You're the Head girl!''  There were several more shouts of joy and then it struck to me, I had won! I was the new Head Girl of the entire Prep Section. But how could it be? I rushed towards the announcement board to see the results of the elections. There, on the top was my name. A win with 332 votes! I was so happy, I couldn't find words to describe the feeling that moment. I don't know how any one of you would react but it was something that meant a lot to me. Next, I rushed to the office to call up my mum to inform her I had won. It wasn't until the next 10 minutes of hugging and congratulating I finally got a chance to dial the phone. Mum's reaction told me she was way more happier than I was. I still remember her telling me right away, "Amazing! Now, don't you let us be disappointed. Prove to the others you're capable. Capable of everything one can possibly have!" 

However, what you don't know is the background. It is mainly due to the efficient teachers and my loving family, I am what I am today. The grooming I've been getting has helped to shape my life. I still remember when I joined The City School three years ago. It was my first schooling year in Pakistan. All my life, I had studied abroad. It all made me feel very nervous. It was a new experience. But the nervousness had all vanished away within a blink of an eye! I would like to thank all the teachers who had faith in me and gave me chances to show my skills. Time by time, I kept getting selected for assemblies and slowly for competitions. Also, I would like to thank all my friends and the Preps who chose to make me the leader. Being honest, Head girl is not just about wearing a gown with a golden lace. Not just about a sash and a pretty litlle badge. But about responsibility. The responsibility seemed really heavy at first but by the first two months, I had gotten used to it. Rushing in the corridors, updating the boards, running errands piled up with the assignments and assessments. Side by side, representing the school at different competitions and actively participating in extra-curricular activities. I loved it!

Now, I am going to tell you about a short incident- winning a 3000 Rs prize for an Essay Competition all across Pakistan! On a normal day at school, the H.M called for me. I was a little nervous. Had I done anything wrong? May be I was to annouce something. But no, like the H.M said, "We are proud! Keep it up!" She congratulated me for the win. I didn't realize she would know about it too. A few days before I had received a text on Mum's cell telling me to check out a link. I opened it and there it was. My name in the winners' list. However, what I didn't know was about the cash-prize. Apparently, I had forgotten I was a school-based participant. The next time my H.M talked, it was a question; "Did you see what we've put up for you?" with a great smile. "Um, no. I haven't yet. I'll be sure to see it!" Several more subject teachers congratulated me. But how had they known about my win? I thought just the H.M was supposed to know. May be they discussed. But that wasn't it. It wasn't until Dispersal when I was walking through the corridor to get to my bus, I saw majority of the students looking up instead of going back to their cars and vans- what normally was the case. What can they be seeing? An aero plane in the sky?! My curiosity led me to get out of the corridor and look up too. "WHAAAAT?! OhMyGosh, really!?" A giant banner had been put up with my name on it. It announced I had won 3000 Rs. as a Competition prize. What felt more nice was that everyone could see it, hahah. I told my family about everything. Of course they and the teachers are the reason behind my success. About a week later, I was awarded at the Whole School Assembly. 

All the tiny bits and memories have helped to make this year perfect for me! That's it for now. Thanks a million to all my teachers and preps!

Respons-ibility.

It is reported by Hazrat Umar (RA) that Allah's messenger (PBUH) said ''Each of you is a guardian or responsible of those whom he is in charge of my trust, my parents place in me by sending me to school, and this trust demands from me to seek perfection in my work.

My parents want me to grow as a responsible being. Do you know what does responsibility mean? Responsibility- it is a made with two parts. Response and ibility. The ability to respond to whatever is happening around me in this process.

The first thing is my character. I will be rich enough. I need to considerate towards social values because values teach us to be responsible. I ought to be watchful and considerate to any agreements I make. I come to school to learn how to become a better human being. I need to make use of all resources to gain knowledge as it has been reported that 'Seeking knowledge is obligatory on ever person.' Everyone can learn a lot if they're focused.

A perfect concentration with good work habits would lead to a steady accomplishment. This is very important to live a better quality life. This is also important to note that responsibility is a track which cannot be divided. I have to be a trustworthy student at school. I have to be a dependable child at home. I have to be a reliable person in many areas all at the same time. I can do this only if I am tied up to my responsibilities because. 'Action springs not from thought, a readiness for responsibilities.'

Superstitious much?

When was the last time you crossed your fingers or said "Knock on wood?’’ Have you ever avoided a black cat or felt lousy when you’ve broken a mirror or a piece of glass? Do you own a rabbit’s foot? If any of the above rings a bell, then join the over 50% of the population who admit being a bit superstitious.

Superstitions are activities that have no effect on events but exist because of coincidental rewards and society’s prejudices. They are rooted in the philosophy that a symbolic act will bring about a physical reality. In a world where we face so many important and uncertain challenges, superstitions provide the illusion that we can somehow control fates. We derive comfort from thinking we can either avoid n undesirable result or bring about a desired result. Superstitions reduce tension and give is a sense that what we’re doing can help us out. In this way, they can be extremely useful tools.

Even if you’re not a believer we think you’ll get a kick out of some of the behaviours people practice in the hope they will bring them luck. Throughout history, around the globe, strange rituals live on.

Courtesy: Kachee Goliyan.

In China consumers are willing to pay huge sums of money for the right phone number and will shun others. One businessman paid $20,000 for a number he likes. The worst possible combination is one ending in 54-74-24, because in Chinese it sounds like, ‘’I die, my wife dies, my child dies.’ In the Philippines, if you’re taking a picture with two friends, don’t stay in the middle as something bad might happen to you. Position yourself on either the left or right or add some more people to the photo. Oh, and never take a bath on the day of your birthday… it brings bad luck. In Cuba if you leave a glass of water beside overnight and there are bubble in the glass next morning, you are surrounded by good spirits.

Women tend to be more superstitious than men, or at least they admit to it in more studies and less educated people have more superstitious than better educated. Being superstitious is often a family tradition that is passed from one generation to another. If your parents are, chances are you will be too.

Superstitions help out with the performance anxiety that is an occupational hazard for lots of athletes. Baseball player Wade Boggs has eaten chicken before each game for over twenty years. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky habitually tucked the right side of his jersey behind his hip pads for luck before game. Michael Jordan, the famous Basketball player admitted he tied up his laces in a certain way before every game.

Emergency room physicians often try to avoid taking calls when there is a full moon. Psychiatrists are also vulnerable to the lunar orbit. The good news is the full moon lasts only one day. Weddings are awash in superstitions ritual. A bride wears "something borrowed’’ from a previous bride who has a happy marriage, she wears "something blue’’ because it signifies virtue.

A Chinese bride is never supposed to look in a mirror to insure there will only be one bride. Similarly, real flowers, jewels, money, mirrors and coffins are considered bad luck onstage. It’s good luck if an actor’s shoes squeak on his entrance, or if a cat makes its home in the theatre  Fear of change is usually at heart of actors’ superstitions. If he has a success on opening night, he hesitates to change anything during the run.

So superstitions are rooted in the profound lack of self-control we feel, especially in anxious times. Our minds create explanations for phenomena beyond our comprehension. So rub a rabbit’s foot and pluck some daisies. Especially in today’s world, it can’t hurt!



(Note: The above criteria contains research on referred examples.)