Sunday, 19 June 2022

Totto-chan - Simar Kaur

My reflection post reading Totto-chan. 

What are the similarities and differences between Totto-chan and Simar?

Totto-chan is a free-spirited person who loves to find joy in the most mischievous and different activities. Even though, I try not to engage in playful activities, I love to try new things. Totto-chan is not outcome-driven. She likes to live in the moment and enjoy something to its extent. However, I am very much outcome driven and am a future-oriented person. She wants to just go for things. While, I am someone who creates a list of pros and cons in my mind even before taking small steps and think of worst-case scenarios and best-case scenarios and all the possible outcomes of taking that step. And thus, I take a long time to make even the simplest of decisions. I wish I were more of a spontaneous person like Totto-chan but growing up seems to get in the way of that.

But nonetheless, I try. I try to take chances and just go for it. But at the end of the day, I try to safe steps. Despite many differences, Totto-chan and I have some similarities in the Venn diagram above.

Why did Totto-chan need to lie to her mother about the dress despite knowing she wouldn't get scolded?

Even though Totto-chan was aware that her mother is a very patient and considerate person, she felt the need to lie to her mother about her torn dress. I believe that our parents, despite their patience, are our parents. They are the force that drives you to do good deeds so they are proud of you. However, when something terrible happens, many of us ought to lie to them to not upset them and clear our names off. According to some people, Totto-chan lied for her mother's sake so she wouldn't get upset on hearing about her favorite clothes getting torn. According to others, she lied for an hour's sake to avoid getting blamed for tearing the dress. But according to me, her reason for lying to her mom was a mixture of both. She didn't want to upset her mother and did not want to be the reason for her mom's disappointment. And thus, she chose to lie.

Many children lie to their parents even for the most minor things, but the ultimate truth, they are superheroes who have their ways of finding out everything. Their superpowers make us tell the truth without realizing it. The same thing happens with me. I have a bizarre habit of smiling vivaciously whenever I lie about something. For some reason, it also happens when I say the truth but get asked if I am lying. For instance, whenever I start watching YouTube without telling my mom at a time when I'm not supposed to watch it, and my mom comes and asks what I'm doing, I manage to change the screen, but the vast (and unflattering) smile on my face gives it all away. I perceive that as a superpower because as a kid, I am lovely at making stories for not doing something when its anyone other than my parents. But my annoyingly honest nature gives it away at the end of the day…

Written by Simar Kaur, Gyanshree School at Noida

Totto-Chan - Anvesha Rana

I wish I could be a little more like her, 
for Totto-Chan would be a true dreamer, 
Her incidents can make you laugh out loud, 
and her innocence can create love around. 

Totto-Chan is so much fun, 
      She can pass through barbed wires without a grunt, 
  She makes up her own crazy games, 
and plays them without any aims. 

I have never seen another like her, 
So sensitive and empathetic, 
and yet so succumb. 

She can make anyone a friend, 
from Takashi to Yasuaki-Chan, 
all of them are mates. 

Totto-Chan is truly a gem, 
living the way she loves to, 
by sliding down a cesspool, 
or standing in the sand for a
time too long!

I wish I could be a little more like her!

Anvesha Rana, 
Grade 10-B, 
Gyanshree School

Totto-chan and me - Rishona Chopra

This is the Venn diagram I created for Totto-chan and me.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Avni: Inside the Hunt For India’s Deadliest Man-Eater - Rishona Chopra

On November 2, 2018, tigress 'Avni' or T1, as she was known officially, believed to have been responsible for the deaths of 13 people in Maharashtra in two years, was shot dead in the Yavatmal district of the state.

Like we humans think of killing animals and banning them from the world the same way animals want to kill us because humans and animals can both live in harmony, but fear causes us to create trouble. Just imagine yourself as a tiger who people want to hunt down and hurt; won't you want to hurt those who hurt you? Sometimes, when I look at a tiger's eye, I feel the sadness, fear and pain in her eyes. 

After all, the cause of animals hurting us are only humans. We cut trees and make buildings in the forest, harming the animals. Imagine people charging in your home and ruining your place. You now have nowhere to live.

We blame animals for hurting us, but actually, we hurt them primarily because of fear.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Poem on Books - Arav Agarwal


Oh, books! They are lovely;
When I see the books, I go crazy.

They have many new things to share:
How many times I read a book, I don't care.

They are inspiring;
And all books are fascinating.

They take me to their own world;
And I like them so much.

Name: Arav Agarwal
Grade: 6A
Billabong High International School, Thane

Their Worst Clothes - Rishona Chopra

Not every school allows their children to wear their dirtiest clothes to school, but as usual, Tomoe does! 

Wearing the dirtiest clothes to school so that there is no worry about the student's clothes getting torn or soiled is a very good idea. At my earlier school, they used to allow us to dance in the rain, play in the mud, jump over fences and do many more fun things. The idea of letting children play is all about letting them enjoy and cherish the fun of childhood.

At my earlier school, wheat used to grow in the gardens, so my friend and I used to go into the gardens and pluck the grain and eat it as it was so that nobody would take them. We used to hide them under our tables on the floor and, without washing them, eat them again.

Childhood is the best time to enjoy this fun, so why not cherish our time and make the best of it!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

National Reading Day! - Rishona Chopra

The National Reading Day is celebrated on the 19th of June in India. It is to honour our teachers and books. The celebration started in 1996.

Read a book,
And don't judge it by its look!
By reading a book, you can become a cook.
Or a doctor and author too!
Just read a page a day,
And you will find your way,
Just make sure you read something,
A magazine, a novel, 
And trust me, no book is awful.
Fiction, non-fiction, Autobiographies
And biographies! 
You can read anything you want,
Reading a book about your knowledge will make you flaunt!
So my dear friends, do read a book,
You can read one every Sunday with My Good School!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Reflections Since 2021