One school, hundreds of students and a thousand memories: Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park bids adieu to the Class 12 batch  

It is an emotional moment to leave one’s school and step into a new world.  Difficult, unfamiliar and challenging, as it can be. Whilst capturing the memory of the school walls, classrooms and corridors where one has spent most part of their lives, each year students take on this journey.

At Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, the outgoing Class 12 Batch promised to make their alma mater proud at the ‘Farwell and Citation’ ceremony held in the school on March 15. The event began with a ‘Havan’ in which the school’s Principal, Ms. Ritu Mehta and Vice-Principal, Ms. Shalini Aggarwal prayed for the success of the students. Class teachers and subject teachers showered flowers on the students symbolising good luck.

The students and teachers then gathered at the school’s auditorium to commemorate and celebrate the spirit of hard work, goodwill and determination displayed by the students during the Covid-19 pandemic. This batch of class 12 students came to the school after a two-year gap owing to the pandemic. Their happiness knew no bounds to see their fellow classmates, and teachers in-person. According to Ms. Shruti Pandey, the coordinator of the event, “The students have come here today to receive a token of love and good wishes from their ‘gurus.’ The four sections of class 12 divided into Science, Commerce and Humanities streams will share their memories of the school and students Aryan Batra and Aditi Singh, Head Boy and Head Girl will be compèring.”

Mr. Pratik Jain, Valuation Analyst at Doogar and Associates graced the event. One of the school’s illustrious alumni, he is a dynamic 22-year-old Chartered Accountant who qualified the examination in his very first attempt with 4 distinctions. During his schooling at Apeejay, he was a super scholar for three consecutive years.Welcoming him as the Guest of Honour, Ms. Ritu Mehta addressed the gathering, “I am delighted to have Pratik here today to motivate our students and show them the way. To our Class 12 students I would say: If you want to ‘Soar High’ and higher, then you would have to leave the ground. The day has come when we bid goodbye to you but remember that the school will always be your second home. In these two years of the pandemic, we have dearly missed you and we cannot imagine the struggles you may have faced sitting at home. But students, at the age of 16, you have learnt to strive through such a difficult period and be compassionate and empathetic. I am proud of you as I extend my best wishes for your upcoming examinations.”

The Citation ceremony for the batch commenced shortly, where class teachers read out special messages for each student. The students in return touched the feet of their teachers in respect and sought their blessings. To encourage students to take challenges of life head-on, teachers also sang a medley of Hindi songs for them.

In his address, the guest of the event, Mr. Jain said, “Entering the school gates today made me remember everything about my school. It is an honour to be here and I am grateful to my teachers who have a huge role to play in my success. I will begin by asking – What next? – To all the students because after the completion of your schooling, that’s the question you will keep pondering upon. Three months ago when I cleared the CA exam, I realised that it was due to sheer focus and determination that I could do so. It wasn’t easy and in my journey, my father and mother motivated me a lot. My advice to each one of you will be to enter college and plan. Not just the three years of your college, but plan what you want to do and where you want to be in life. Think of ways to give back to your society and seek support whenever you feel down.”

Emphasising the role of values, Ms. Shalini Aggarwal, Vice Principal said, “My heartiest wishes to all our dear students for their exams – not just the CBSE Boards but all the exams that life has for you. Carry Apeejay’s value system with you and those will become your guide. May you soar high!”