‘My school days made for some memorable milestones of life’

“While a plethora of experiences shaped the school days, a few stand out as cherished gems, resisting the constraints of brevity,” says Manav Kapoor, who passed out of Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park in 2009. In a candid interview, he embarks on a nostalgic journey that creates a mosaic of joy, camaraderie, and love.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m an entrepreneur, operating a pharmacy in the East of Kailash, and also working as a real estate consultant in the same area, before which I have experience working with 5-star hotels like Hilton, Sofitel, and Eros for the last 10 years.

What does a typical day look like?

In the morning after dropping my son Madhav to school, I come straight to the office. After working, I return home in the evening. We take Madhav to the park and interact with the RWA for some social activities. Madhav has a keen interest in music. I also enjoyed playing my drums and Cajon with him sometimes.

Tell us about your school life.

My schooling was the most memorable part of my life. My teachers in the school noticed my hobby which was music, and developed it to an extent which helped me to pursue it in the form of stage shows.

Share a few nostalgic memories from Apeejay.

Though there are many, that can’t be summed up in a single interview, I can share a few moments. We participated and won an award at the Inter-Apeejay Music and Dance competition, which was held in Apeejay School, Faridabad. That bus journey and practice sessions with my schoolmates are unforgettable. Also, I found my best friend and life partner in the same school. Guptaji’s choley bhature paired with volleyball matches is something that stays irreplaceable to date.

How were the teachers at Apeejay?

The teachers at Apeejay were exceptionally great. I remember a teacher used to make me sit on her teacher’s desk so that I paid full attention in her class. We had a fantastic PE teacher who encouraged me to participate in sports. He was an asset to the school. The music teachers helped me develop my music skills. My teachers were basic steps of the ladder to climb high in life and I’ll be forever indebted and thankful to all my teachers.

What are your dreams and goals?

My dream is to start a manufacturing pharmaceutical venture and also to operate a small B&B someday. My goal in life is to live a peaceful and grateful life and be an understanding parent and humble human being.

Any message for the students of the school.

You have the best teachers in the education fraternity. These are the best years of your life! Make the most of it! And never give up in life, as our motto: Soaring High is My Nature.

Your comments on the brain drain trend.

India has a tremendous amount of opportunities as we’re a developing nation. We are the fifth-largest economy in the world. So I believe it’s better to stay connected to your roots rather than flying out and starting from scratch. Moreover, we got our lives from this nation so why not give it back to it?

How did Apeejay help you hone your skills?

Apeejay helped a lot in developing soft skills, such as speaking and presenting yourself in group discussions and other discussions. Any good organisation would train you for skills if you have the right attitude, and that right attitude was developed by my school.