We Were Only Playing - Rishona Chopra

Playing is probably the best thing about childhood. I love playing, going out in the sun and running and having lots of fun; that is childhood. Here's a thing about playing - you don't need toys to play with. All you need is a friend, and that friend can be you.   

Making games to play with yourself is the art of playing. When I am bored, I make some slime and squish it with some chemicals and do experiments or while studying, I act as if I am a teacher and teach all concepts to imaginary children and sometimes to my parents too! 

Totto-chan had a pet. A pet comes with a lot of responsibility, but you always have a partner to share your feelings with. I sometimes wish I had a quiet puppy, but I am not ready to take the responsibility, and I think that if we keep a pet, we shouldn't keep it in a cage and bring it with its sibling or mother, so we don't separate the pet from their family.

The innocence of a child is all about their selfless compassion - In Japan, they call it - Omoiyari, a section of Ikigai. In the chapter, even though Totto-chan was bitten by Rocky, she cared even more and ensured he wouldn't be scolded.

Selfless compassion was mastered by Totto-chan at such a young age. But as we grow, we often start to think more about ourselves and not about others, but I bet when Totto-chan grows up, she will have mastered Omoiyari!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Coffee with the Coach - Anvesha Rana

                                           

Maybe it was a grandparent, a colleague or a teacher, someone older, patient and wiser, who ignited your lost mind; crackled the fire of learning in you when you were young and impassioned. It perhaps helped you view the world as a more profound place and gave you sound advice to guide your way through it. It was my teacher, maybe for you, it would be someone else but...

Wouldn't you like to see that one person again, to ask the more important questions that still haunt you and receive wisdom for life the way it is now?

Coffee with the Coach is a conversation between a teacher and his student about almost everything. Most importantly, about the 22 immutable values cornerstone of My Good School. Coffee with the Coach is a magical chronicle of their time spent together.

Anvesha Rana,

Grade 10-B,

Gyanshree School

Can You See Osaka? - Rishona Chopra

The picture shows how Totto-chan's uncle used to pick her up and ask her if she could see Osaka. It was her dream place. She was much more excited when she got to know Takahashi - a young boy in her school who came from Osaka. Now tell me something. Can You See Osaka?

Rishona Chopra

Grade VI

Gyanshree School

The World of Television - Simar Kaur

Hey, 'how you doin'?'. This infamous dialogue, iconic, I might add, is a signature of Joey from the hit sitcom 'Friends'. I honestly couldn't count how many times it had made me laugh, even when I was at my lowest.

The perfect life of cinema where everything seems to lead to a happy ending is the perfect run-away for me when my life seems shattered. Whenever my life seems too much to handle, I run away to my imaginary friends, with whom I can share everything. The amazingly sarcastic Chandler, the hopeless romantic Ted dedicated to finding 'The One', the motherly nature of Lily, the overprotective Finn, the 'drowning with creativity' Barney, the 'smart guy' Sheldon, they all are the friends I never had. I get scolded every single day for watching television way too much. But the truth is that I love to live another life, and coming back to my regular boring, uninteresting life just seems hectic.

Even if they are just a figment of someone's imagination, they bring joy to me, and I feel happy spending my time with them. Watching television always brings me joy, and I would like to thank them through this article. I am tremendously confused about what I want to do when I grow up. But a part of me wants to pursue the arts – acting, singing and dancing. But um, I am a terrible dancer, but I got a good throat, and over the years, after watching shows, I can somehow cry on cue. So, let's focus on the first two arts that I mentioned.

Don't you want to pursue a more professional career? Nobody asked you, Patrice! That's precisely how contradicting the voices in my heart are. While one part of me wants to become a professional employee with an acclaimed job like a doctor, accountant, lawyer, or engineer, the other part wants to spread the joy I experienced while watching my favourite tv shows and movies. So, frankly, I want to be an actor. But I don't know if I'm down for it, especially considering my stage fear.

When I lost my grandfather, these TV shows and movies helped me in the magnitude of words I cannot express. WandaVision may not be the kind of TV show that teaches you a life lesson, but the line that stood by me was 'What is grief if not love persevering?'. That changed my perspective, and I want this grief to stay with me for years to come.

So many dialogues changed my perception of life and helped me while still giving me joy. 'The biggest mistake would be not to make that mistake because then you'll go your whole life not knowing if something was a mistake or not.' 'It's one thing to not want it. It's another thing to be told you can't have it.' These are a few of the most tear-jerking lines spoken by the characters. But the line that I relate to now is 'I realized that I'm searching for what I really want in life. And you know what? I have absolutely no idea what that is.' Maybe I'll study to become a doctor or engineer in a few years. But perhaps, just possibly, I might be spreading the kind of joy I grew up experiencing.

But I will realize that I can't run to the past just because it seems familiar and because I'm comfortable with it. I will never be ready to face these obstacles, but life goes on, and you have to catch up with it one way or the other. This stuff is more straightforward said than done. So, I am aware there will be a day when I feel happier and satisfied. There will be a day when I'll share that happiness with people I will love while growing up. But just not today, just not right now…

And that is friends, how I met the world of television.

Simar Kaur from Gyanshree School, Noida 

Too Caught Up - Reveda Bhatt

You call it life?
It’s just a game.

Looking for a shelter,

When under rain.

Thinking about what to do,

Coming out in pain.

Realizing too late,

Figuring out what’s main.

Figured out what to do?

But, now, you’re stuck in chains.

Chains rising high,

All the struggle went in vain.

What for?

Just to have substantial gain!

Reaching your destination,

Looking at a lane.

See where it leads to,

A ring surrounded by canes.

Entered it only to see a spark

Leading to flames

Looking around to escape,

But now you’re too deep,

It’ll never be the same!

Reveda Bhatt 
Class 9
The Aryan School

Thank you - Rishona Chopra

Thank you, god,

For not making me a fraud,

For helping me through my little pains,

You just kept pleasing me again and again.

I have a home,

My family has money to travel to Rome!

I can see and hear,

When I think of this, in front of me, you appear.

I can study, and I can feel,

I can have a tasty meal.

I am healthy,

Thank god I am not nasty.

I can see a new day,

I can play!

I go to a beautiful school,

Which is really so cool.

I can do so much, yet I ask for more,

I already have a lot, and I don't need anymore!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Journaling: My Little Book Of Feelings - Rishona Chopra

Journaling is keeping a diary. You don't have to write long letters. A few drawings, page tearing, or even a few sentences can say it all. I like to call my journal - My Little Book Of Feelings because, in a day, I have so many feelings. In the morning, I am all happy and bright, and by the end of the day, all gloomy and sad. You never know! I am very unpredictable if you talk about my feelings.

You don't need to have a proper diary, just take a piece of paper and vent all your feelings. But then, when you have an excellent journal, and at the end of the week, you look at what you have written, you can reflect on your situations in a better way. I think expressing yourself by writing is much better because when you tell them with a person not necessary, they would actually understand your feelings, but that's just my way of doing it!

On the cover of my diary I have written - Open if you dare, don't you dare try to do that and of course have used lots of stickers and decorations to make it look beautiful. If you open my diary, you'll see torn pages that I pulled out of anger (and sometimes happiness). Even though you know I didn't mean it when I said, "Don't you dare open my diary", I am requesting you not to open it!

Every day is a new day with new feelings,
By writing, you feel you are healing.

Keep a small diary,
Tell all your thoughts about society.

You can boast,
And teel how you burnt a toast!

You can talk about all your friends and the things they did,
And how you want a best friend who is a friendly kid.

Share everything you want,
With no worry about the handwriting or font!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School