I spent a few hours today, with one of my closest friends from DB. Was nice to have Lunch with her, on the 'Feast Day' of St.John Bosco.π
The two of us joined the school together, way back in 2004; and over the years, we became more like 'Family'.π
I miss a lot of things about that wonderful place, which I always called 'My Second Home'. But most of all, I miss the long conversations, that we used to have, about anything and everything.
We do meet occasionally, but it doesn't compare with seeing one another, every single day.
Thankfully, I will be meeting her again tomorrow, together with all my other colleagues. It will be quite an awesome 'Reunion', to see everyone again, after an entire year.π
Since this has been an extremely 'Nostalgic' week for me, with DB being in my thoughts, quite a lot; I also remembered, how I actually landed up being a Teacher at DB.
It really wasn't my 'First Choice', although it eventually became, the 'Only Place' that I ever worked in.π€·π»♀️
Having studied in two 'Jesuit Instituions' during my College years, my first preference was a Jesuit School in Bandra. My Mum was quite pleased with my choice, because she had been a Bandra Girl. Her brother had studied in that same school as well; while she and her sisters, had studied in the school, just across the road.
The job was mine for the taking too, because a Teacher was retiring that year, (who coincidentally also shared the same name as me). I remember the Principal telling me, that one Lynette would be replacing another, if I decided to join them.π
However, it had just happened, that a few days before that Interview, (in the place where I was born, and where I lived, for the first few years of my life); I had also very casually, met one of the Supervisors from DB, on a train ride back home from College. Her daughter had been a childhood friend of mine; and when she heard that I was doing my B.Ed; she told me to apply at DB also.
So, even though I was more keen on joining Stanislaus; just because of that 'Chance Encounter' that day, I still applied at Don Bosco.π
Looking back today, I guess that 'Unexpected Meeting', was just supposed to happen that day.π
Since I had grown up with lots of childhood friends, who had been DB boys, I used to hear a lot about their 'Fun School'. I also had a couple of friends, who were Salesian Brothers, and I had always enjoyed, Interacting and Communicating with them. I think, because of all those 'Old Connections', joining DB, didn't seem like a bad idea to me either.π
So, I told the Principal of St.Stanislaus, that I had also applied at Don Bosco; and since it would cut off the time of 'Commuting to Work' everyday, I would probably consider that, if I got in.π€·π»♀️
The Principal in DB at the time, (who will always be my 'Most Favourite' Principal ever, and who also celebrates his Birthday today, on the Feast of Don Bosco), was more than happy to have me join them.π
And so, I ended up becoming a part of the 'DB Family'. It was a decision, that I truthfully made, mainly to avoid travelling very far everyday; since I had done more than enough of that, during my 8 years in College and University, and it was quite exhausting.
Something that I decided to do, purely for 'Practical Reasons', ended up being the 'Most Wonderful Decision of My Life', because I spent an 'Extremely Rewarding and Fulfilling, Two Decades of being a Teacher', at DB.π€π
18 long years, when I was 'Blessed to Be a Blessing', to countless young children. Something, that not everyone, gets a chance to do, during their Lifetime.✨️π
I often feel, that I would have enjoyed working in a Jesuit school too; since they had made my own College and B.Ed. years, the 'Six Best Years of my Student Life'.❤️
But the Salesians, are pretty good at making the whole 'Teaching-Learning Experience', very enjoyable, for the Students and the Teachers too.❤️
More than anything, they encouraged 'Creativity and Innovativeness', which is what I Loved most about the school. I got innumerable opportunities, to use and develop so many of my 'Talents, Gifts and my Creativity', both in and out of the classroom; for which I will be 'Forever Grateful' to them.❤️
Days like today, always take me 'Down Memory Lane'; and this walk, turned into quite a long 'Marathon Walk'.π But I guess, there's nothing better, (every once in a way), than looking back on the 'Good Times' and the 'Happy Memories', that we've had along Life's Journey; and very Gratefully, 'Counting our Blessings'.✨️✍️
(I just found this picture somewhere on the Internet and thought it matched this 'Extra Long' post beautifully.)π













