‘Values and character are the cornerstones of great leadership’

‘Anugraha’—Apeejay Svran Global School, Faridabad’s Annual Appreciation Day was a grand occasion meant for recognising student achievements in the academic year 2021-22. Mr Jitendra Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad, was present at the virtual event on January 22 as the Chief Guest while Mr Sanjay Chouhan, noted screenwriter, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Mr Aditya Berlia, Co-promoter, Apeejay Stya, and Svran Group and Member, Board of Governors, Apeejay Education, presided over the event. Among the dignitaries present was also the school’s alumna Ms Charvi Virmani, dietician and lifestyle consultant.

Mr Yadav appreciated the school’s efforts to keep the children involved in activities throughout the pandemic, urging them to continue to do so. “I would like to appreciate the students and teachers for putting together such a beautiful programme. I congratulate the school for involving students in such events and I hope you continue the same. Covid is not over. We must make it our habit to wear masks, practice social distancing, and follow preventive protocol. To the children, I would say keep yourself motivated; this is your age of learning and maximum growth. I would also request teachers to always keep the students involved in the online classes.”

Mr Yadav suggested we need to appreciate people even for the smallest of their efforts, in line with the theme ‘Anugraha’, denoting a sense of gratefulness. “Appreciation should be a part of our daily lives. We should appreciate every little effort made by people around us. Parents should also appreciate their children. I would request teachers and parents to not put undue pressure on them. Covid has taught us that health is wealth. Whenever children get time, they should step outside the house. I urge you to follow a healthy routine and pray that everyone remains healthy and safe.”

The past two pandemic-ridden years taught us how to not take things for granted but appreciate and be thankful for what we have. Through colourful dance and music performances and skits at the Annual Appreciation Day, Apeejay students reminded us how we need to be grateful to nature, family, doctors, soldiers, and so on.

Echoing the same thought, Mr Chouhan said, “I am particularly intrigued by the term ‘Annual Appreciation Day’ because this is very important in our lives. During the time when schools were shut due to Covid, the things that students may have begun appreciating were the efforts of the parents, the house help, their friends, environment, etc.”

He went on to appreciate Apeejay’s multidisciplinary teaching practices. “I appreciate that your teaching method goes beyond the conventional where you try to incorporate various interesting multidisciplinary techniques. Through the annual report, I saw how the same students excelled in different categories of competitions, which is wonderful. I also appreciate parents for giving their children the much-needed push.”

Mr Berlia, while addressing the gathering, highlighted how the consolidated effort of the members of Apeejay, from teachers to parents and students, helped them overcome pandemic-led challenges. “During this time, parents became home teachers and students had to balance a completely new way of learning. Teachers had to balance their own homes and other issues while ensuring that the classes continued. Our wonderful students were not only able to go through the balance and go through this learning transition but also thrived throughout this period. Together, we have overcome and will continue to overcome the challenges and obstacles… My grandfather Dr Stya Paul always credited great achievements as a journey of all of those who walked together.”

Talking about how Apeejay schools quickly adapted to the online mode of learning, he mentioned, “At the beginning of Covid, we were able to move to a 100 per cent virtual timetable and fulfill all our examinations and this was only possible by the extreme hard work of our parents, teachers, and staff, who all went above and beyond to create a strong and supportive community together. This is a validation of the investments that we have made in infrastructure, cloud computing, teacher training, and student learning. We were the first to make programming mandatory in India a decade ago.”

Mr Berlia shared that Apeejay alumni, which number more than 65,000, vouch for value inculcation and character-building that their schools provide like no other. “Apeejay education has always stood for values and character and continues to focus on that. The entire experience of Covid has shown us that values and character are the cornerstones of what makes great leaders and great citizens of the country and the world… The school’s reputation is your reputation, your career foundation, and your future. I am impressed and grateful for all the hard work. We have all survived through these times and will continue doing great things. Due to our institutional values, we have been here for more than 65 years and intend to be there for the next 100…All of us here have the duty to help and support institutions and pillars. To students, I am so amazed and grateful for the wonderful function. It shows the grit and perseverance that all of us have and how much confidence we have in the next generation to achieve great heights.”

Addressing the parents, he added, “Each and every day, you send your precious scholar to us. Each time and each day, you put our faith and trust in us, and I am deeply grateful for it. We will all aspire to do better and to try. We are not perfect but with your help and support, we will reach greater heights in the service of our students, society, and country.”

Bearing testament to the school’s constant encouragement and the students’ relentless hard work, the school’s annual report, which gave an overview of resounding achievements, left one and all impressed. Ms Deepika Arora, Principal, said, “The academic year 2021 commenced with exclusive online classes initially and later a hybrid model. A number of activities were organised throughout the year to ensure better personality development of students as we believe that each child is unique and possesses inherent potential. To change with time is progressive thinking and it is rightly said that one should never stop learning because life never stops teaching. At Apeejay, we set standards and goals for ourselves and strive to achieve them, be it in the area of academics, co-curricular activities, discipline, leadership, and more. The school has escalated to great horizons of success.”

The event ended with Ms Charvi Virmani expressing gratitude for the role that her alma mater played in shaping her personality. “Finding the right path to success is very important. For that, I chose Apeejay. With the friendly environment, the systematic approach towards imparting education, Apeejay made me a competent individual. The wide range of activities, both curricular and co-curricular, and the support of my teachers have been very helpful for my future. My school days have been really unforgettable, the happiest and the most fruitful days of my life. I cherish each and every moment. Apeejay moulded my personality in many ways. It gave me clarity and vision for my future. I am grateful to the institute that provided me motivation to achieve my goals. I still remember the first day when I started my own brand Eat without Guilt, about two years ago, bringing forth the understanding of how nutrition affects the health, weight, and lifestyle of an individual. The aim is to help people achieve their nutritional goals. I would like to thank all my teachers. I am so grateful to have been a part of the Apeejay family,” she said.