Reflections That Changed My Thinking - Sunbeam School Ballia

Today's session of My Good School was engaging and interactive. It began with the reading of reflections from our school, Sunbeam Ballia, where students from different schools read reflections written by our students. It felt nice to see our work being shared and appreciated.

Many new students joined the session. Jugiv Sir introduced them to the Good School Alliance and gave a brief overview of its purpose.

Later, Sir read a story titled “What You Are Looking For” in the library. The story showed how Ryo reflected on his behaviour and eventually understood the negative impact of his pride and male ego. In the end, he apologised to Hina.

One line from the story that really amused me was when Hina said, “The owner of a handmade object is decided even before the object is made.” I found this thought very meaningful.

Sir also discussed the significance of Easter. During the discussion, I shared that people celebrate Easter with activities like egg hunts. Overall, the session was enjoyable and meaningful.
Ishika Singh, Class 10-B

The reading sessions so far have taught me many valuable lessons and made me reflect on my own thinking and actions. One of the strongest learnings for me has been the importance of trust—in people, in situations, and in oneself. It made me realise that many times we assume the worst outcomes, but things can actually turn out positively when trust exists.

Another important idea I understood is that no work is small or less important. This changed my perspective on how I see different roles in life. Also, the concept of parallel efforts, like the unseen part of a plant, helped me understand that not all hard work is visible, yet it still plays a crucial role in success.

Hina’s character made me reflect on how age does not define maturity. Her confidence, clarity, and belief in her ideas showed me the importance of standing by what we believe in and expressing it effectively. It also made me realise how communication and understanding can resolve conflicts better than reacting emotionally.

From all the readings, I also connected with the idea of turning doubts into plans and having the courage to face situations instead of avoiding them. These lessons feel practical and are things I can apply in my own life.

Through the Hindi reading sessions, I have developed a strong sense of curiosity. The setting of a school near the hills makes the story interesting and unpredictable. I always find myself wondering what will happen next, especially with the presence of nature and animals. The lives of the students and teachers feel simple yet engaging, and the humorous and joyful moments make the reading even more enjoyable.

Overall, these sessions have helped me not only understand the text but also think more deeply about life and my own mindset.

Akanksha Rai, Class 10-B

What Is the Biggest Dream of a Slave? - Arfa Khan

 

What is the biggest dream of a slave? We think it is freedom, but as philosopher Nietzsche pointed out, the biggest dream of a slave is not freedom, but to become a slave for himself. And the day a slave gets his own slave, he forgets that he was once controlled.

You see this everywhere: someone who has been raised under harsh authority will repeat it when they gain authority. Mothers who were once mistreated by their families may mistreat their daughters or daughters-in-law. Workers who once hated exploitation may exploit others when they become managers. When someone’s identity is shaped by hierarchy, instead of escaping it, their goal becomes moving up in the hierarchy.

Everyone wishes to become a millionaire, own a yacht, and buy a sports car. But no one questions the unjust system of capitalism, which doesn’t reward hard work, but rather the ownership of assets. A cobbler who does not own assets but works every day and gets his hands dirty makes minimal profits. But a billionaire who barely works and owns multiple stocks and properties makes enormous profits. People want to climb the financial ladder, but do not criticize the income inequality that capitalism brings. This can also be seen in the surge of misandry. Many women, distraught by the ill effects of patriarchy in the modern world as well as in history, resort to misandry, otherwise known as pseudo-feminism. Unlike feminism, which believes in equality between men and women, misandry is the belief that women are superior to men.

An ordinary man who climbs up the financial ladder by transitioning from earning income as a labourer to owning profitable assets never blames capitalism. This reflects a common mindset: “I don’t hate the system as long as I benefit from it.” Great are those who see light through the cracks of the system.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Depths of oppression create heights of character.” Humans realise the importance of something only when it is absent. We realise the worth of freedom when we are restrained, the importance of liberty when we are enslaved, and the importance of compassion when we are dehumanised. Enlightened individuals realise that the common enemy is not the elite, but the system that allowed them to become elites. The elites will die, but the system may not. Many visionaries choose not to climb the hierarchy but to end it altogether.

A real-life example of this is apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters never wished to oppress white people in revenge, but instead worked to build a system of equality.

So, the answer to the question of what the biggest dream of a slave is depends entirely on his or her moral compass. Human thought cannot be confined to a single ideology; it is subjective to every individual. Some may wish to have a slave for themselves, but many would wish for the abolition of slavery for everyone, including future generations. And of course, the latter stands as more virtuous.

Circumstances do not just make the man; they reveal him to himself. Only in the deepest pits of life, where he has nothing but himself, does a man discover his true nature: his resilience, his morals, and his determination. And in the depths of oppression, a slave reveals his true values: his desire for vengeance or his desire for liberation and the greater good for all.

Arfa Khan

Grade 11

Ahlcon Public School