‘I am now soaring high thanks to this school’

School life lays the best foundation for an individual to hone holistically and the preparation that comes along turns into a vital requirement for performing well in the professional arena. Meet Ishita Verma, who passed out of Apeejay School, Saket in 2011. In a candid interview, she walks down memory lane of her favourite memories at her alma mater.

Tell us about yourself.

I am from the 2011 batch of Apeejay School, Saket. My school has been an integral part of my life right from the nursery till class XII. Today, I work in a consulting firm as a Manager and I thank my school for instilling a strong foundation of values within me, and for making me the person that I am today! 

What does a typical day look like?

In the consulting world, there are no typical days. Every day comes with its surprises and challenges and I am more than happy to embrace and overcome them. As a professional, I work with stakeholders to enhance people’s strategy and manage talent. My work is exciting and entails lots of learning. 

Tell us about your school life

It was incomparable to any other phase of life. I grew up in Apeejay and having a support system like our esteemed teachers helped develop me as a successful person having a lot of clarity in my career. Right from small class functions to big Annual Appreciation Day rehearsals, I participated in everything and enjoyed every moment.

Share a few nostalgic memories from Apeejay.

Penning down a few memories won’t do justice to what I have in my mind. The music and dance classes, learning French, assembly prayers, news reading in the Principal’s room, practicing for various events at school, and not to forget – the fun picnics and trips with friends were all great memories I will always cherish. 

How were the teachers at Apeejay?

Teachers were more like loving mothers who helped every child at my school to understand their strengths and shine in them. Right from my nursery class teacher to learning Hindi, being lectured on the wrong usage of grammar, learning chemistry equations to learning coding, I am so thankful to all the teachers for helping to develop into successful personalities. I am grateful to my class teacher during the most crucial years of my life, who understood my weaknesses, appreciated my strengths, and always supported me. 

What are your dreams and goals?

I want to become a successful yet down-to-earth person who won’t ever forget her values and will never stop dreaming. 

Any message for the students of the school.

Cherish school life as much as you can. While studies are important, don’t forget to create memories by taking part in extracurricular activities, and don’t miss any picnic or outing, it will add to your core memories! 

Your comments on the brain drain trend.

I believe it’s a cycle, at least 50 per cent come back. While there are pros of working in developed countries, there are opportunities in developing countries as well. But it depends on a person on what he/she is seeking in a long-term perspective. It’s important to weigh down multiple things before making this decision 

How did Apeejay help you hone your skills?

Apeejay has always focused on quality education. The teachers paid extra attention to every student and a few class teachers treated us like their own children – scolding us when we were wrong and loving us extra when we succeeded. The school has taught me to hold my head high in pride for who I am today, but at the same time remain grounded and humble to those around me. Due to inclusiveness in school, we learnt to respect varied backgrounds and work together with them as well. I am forever grateful to my school for making me who I am today.