Recollection of School Life Memoirs

Pakistan International Public School (PIPS) is an institution that turns a boy into a man. PIPS guides and allows you to be prepared for the challenges, hardships in different trails of life. Surely, completing your education in this institution is not a cup of tea for many people. It was a place where one can learn how to be disciplined and know how to live a life on your own. As a kid, I used to count years, months and even days when I would get rid of this education because I was never fond of studying. Everyone told us that you can make mistakes now without facing the consequences which was gibberish to my young mind. Beloved PIPS, we had problems when I was young but I love and miss you now.

I miss carrying my 15 kg bag, walking to the class for more than 2 kilometers. Above all, the fun, enjoyment, delight, enthusiasm, which is nowhere to be found in us now as adults.

The Parade Ground:

Three or four times a week, we were bound to go to the parade ground and be part of the morning assembly for at least half an hour. By standing still for such a time, fatigue built up and if one of the boys moved then we hear a familiar shout from the Principal “STOP MOVING THERE” and we became alert from head to toe. Sweat poured down our faces.

             Walking into the footsteps of a devoted soldier, if a boy starts fainting, he has to “Take a round of the Ground”. If he falls, he is carried to the emergency room. All this might look harsh and tough but it was a routine matter for us because it taught and made us better.

THE CLASSROOM

Our institution provides a very healthy atmosphere for study in the classrooms and we had the best teachers one can find. The teaching blocks, classrooms, and corridors are treated as sacred places for the students, where ill-manners and rude behavior were strictly forbidden. There were routine class inspections every two or three months where students of different classes got into cut-throat competition in order to excel in the decoration tidying and cleaning of each classroom and get the champions trophy and cash awards.

EXAMINATIONS

          Examinations! Well, let me tell you about the examination held in my beloved institution, P.I.P.S. When the year begins, everyone was calm and relaxed until they were told about the first term exams. Though the terminal exams were not as tough as other exams. When the date sheet arrives everyone gets a kick to study for the exams. We were threatened that if we score less than 60%, we will be kicked out from the college and everyone continuously prays and waits anxiously for the exam followed by the result day.

 

 
         When the big day arrives, some of the class-fellows take A's(80%+) and X(90% above) grades. They are awarded with beautiful stars. The others get B's and they start cursing themselves for not getting A's. Then comes us, the ones who were on the bottom. They neither give us stars nor award us. On the contrary, our parents are called to meet the Principal. Our principal was very strict and takes academics seriously. 

           Since everybody needs a carrot and a stick to serve as an inspiration, our carrot and stick became the warnings that if we do not start performing better, we won't be allowed to appear for the board exams. Students of our caliber were made to write an application for college leaving certificate which is always only a signature away from its approval.

          After a week, the real business starts and everyone starts preparing for exams. But, to our misery, comes the inter-house sports competition along with the inter-board sports competitions. Sports are the heart and soul of every Pipsonion with few exceptions and we couldn't live without taking part in one or two of the competitions.

          When all this over, we were told that our detentions are just around the corner and it strikes everyone like a thunderbolt. Everyone knows that now he will get accountable for sure. The results arrive in a blink of an eye and the same tradition is repeated.

          Now, C and D graders who burnt their blood in sports and chit chat instead of burning their mid-night oil, are held back in the college for extra-coaching. But like it or not, the principal Brig. Ehsan Khattak insists that in our society, higher academic grades are the stepping stones and absolutely necessary for professional success and the future. Our principal has played a vital and essential role in making us a better person. He is among the finest people that I ever came across in my life.

            Then the board exams are at our doors and practicals follow them in a hurry. The exams were almost the same except for the results. It is amazing to see that even all the black sheep like us have passed the exams with flying colors. After completing higher secondary education , we came to realize the importance of the educational philosophy of our esteemed institution. So, at the end of the day, we are still proud Pipsonion and the Principal's words are our beacon of light for success in life.

COMMON ACTIVITIES OF STUDENTS

1. Class rooms: A place to sleep with open eyes.
2. Study time: The time to have chit chat with each other.
3. Examination: A device to change dreams into nightmares.
4. P.T Ground: A place to extract sweat and grease from our bodies.
5. Cafeteria: A place to spend lavishly even without money.
6. Teachers: Spiritual fathers with fury.
7. House Master: A master without any power.
8. Examination Hall: A place to test eye sight.
9. P.T.I: The most terrifying man in our eyes.
10. Toilet: Many students improved their writing skills against the toilet walls.

The Punishments and Reward

           How can I forget to talk about this point? It comes in different forms of extra drills, duties, detentions, extra written work and so on; but after all, everything is done for the students’ own good. This well-deserved punishment builds up a feeling to do better and keep away from trouble. Punishments are a natural part of life that allows a person to realize and learn from his mistakes. In the end, the award of prizes and certificates, as well as the satisfaction of parents, teachers, and self, are far more rewarding than the punishments awarded.

Games and Co-curricular activities

           The most enjoyable, are sports and co-curricular activities. Sometimes one feels that there were too many activities in the year; cricket, football, speeches, recreational trips and much more. But they are important as they allow a student to groom himself and polish and expand his physical and mental abilities.