My Sharing 'Speech'

Respected Principal Dr. Sr. Jacinta Quadras, vice principals, Deans, Head of the department Dr. Felbin. C. Kennedy, dear teachers and my dear friends, a very good morning. Well, that vice principals and deans part came out of habit. I spent three years listening to that in the OATs.

I won’t say, “I’m privileged for being chosen to share my three years in Stella to you all.” Because I was not chosen. I went “Patcy, Patcy! I, please, please, please”, behind my class rep.

My association with Stella Maris started with my mum and my aunts. They all went to fmm institutions to school. So Stella has always been ‘my college’ as in “I-built-this-here-and-planted-that-there-‘cause-its-my-college” kind of ‘my college’. And like most of you my association with the Maths department started with the interview.

I still remember that day. Jeseena Mrs. Dhoni Fernandez was sitting before me and Margaret Soon To Be Married Mary, moving in and out of the room. I was still not sure I’ll be able to cope with college level Maths and I had no idea what I’ll be asked to do in the interview. I had not prepared for the “D-day” as such, so I was very anxious and went on like, “Will they ask formulas, ma? Come let’s go home. What if they want me to do a sum in algebra? Ma please, let’s go home. What if they ask questions from analytical geometry? Ma please, I’ll be a good girl, I’ll do all the chores, I won’t complain take me home…boohoo…” One more minute and I would’ve broken into a major bawling and my mum too for… you know what. That’s when Tamil Selvi ma’am called me. Seeing my marks, she asked whether I’m sure I was ready to do the course. I don’t remember what I exactly replied but I vaguely know that it was somewhat like this, “Of course, I loooooove Maths! Albert Einstein’s my chittappa and Ramanujam my periyappa you know.” Inside the department – it was in 1-7 before – all I could take in were, there were too many tables and the interviewers were a panel of people facing me and my mum, which was more than enough to unnerve me. I won’t go into the details of the interview as it would be very embarrassing. But the one thing I’ll never forget all my life was the way Felbin ma’am was watching me through her spectacles.

From my childhood I had never had a ‘good’ relationship with any of my Maths teachers. And believe me, from my ‘experience’, I can surely tell which teacher will be a constant in my nightmares. I start sweating and literally shaking in my shoes when Felbin ma’am comes to class, but then along with the rest of my class, it’s only this year that we all found out that she was not all too scary. She’s sweet to talk to outside the class.

Back to the interview, it finally got over with my mum and the teachers having a very formal conversation and I, praying for it to get over with no one asking me anything remotely Math and…I got admission, obviously, I know, duh!

On the first day, I went to find the classroom; it was in 2-3 before, met Meji, introduced ourselves and on the way to the OAT fell down with a very loud ‘thud’ at the staircase in the Main Block. I was blushing deeply, as a teacher helped me up, held me and said, “Are you alright? Be careful on the stairs”, which is something a teacher, would never do in my school. And I guess that’s the moment Stella started teaching me things, helping me grow up and generally springing surprises around every corner.

Then the freshers’ line at the OAT, of course, we had fun getting the calendars, following the seniors around the campus and around the library, getting to know my classmates,, joining NCC, getting caught by the NCC seniors with a, “Okay save it. Felbin ma’am was also in NCC and she knows what’s happening. Just shut up and practice,” thinking of Albus Dumbledore when I saw Sr. Annamma Philip through the gap Agnes ma’am opened to shoo us away, trying to be attentive in Maths classes, which was just impossible, the first ethnic day, freshers’ party, freshers’ talent day, shifting to 1-5 “near the department” as we all were screaming then, the first Aquilae, the day of meeting for the parents and guardians of the first years when my grandmother went to thank Sr. Jaci and blabbered something else which I laugh at even today, the lunches, trying to join the clubs, sight adichifying the then Union! Priyanka Patel! The joy of finding a library that I can actually use, the first year was fun in its own way. Then another fun started – the fun of running around giving invitations and shocking the teachers. I’ll always remember Teresa madam’s reaction when I gave her the invitation, friends inviting me to run away to their homes, I happily showing my cousins Sr. Jaci and telling “my VP has come and none of yours came” and all the other childishness I did at the function when my friends came. The next Monday I came to the college Sr.Jaci said, “Back to classes so soon? Very good!”, and I was like, “Sr.Jaci said very good! Ahhh!!”

Second year was a bit tighter around the throat. All I could remember is, trying to understand Maths, which is shocking, I know; getting lower-than-ever marks and getting frustrated, missing the Aquilae, coming back to college thanks to Sr. Jaci again. I also found there was a subject which I can do well apart from the languages and that was accounts, which also meant, I love Shoba ma’am. All those happy GE Popular Fiction classes I wished that was my major course. And in Astronomy, I loved those tips, I went back again to my interests that semester because of Astronomy. Finally, I decided I’m the worst Maths student to walk this planet and told myself to stop concentrating on Maths and start having fun as a college student should. (Oops! Sorry ma’am!) The real fun in the second year was the elections. Mathu was the candidate and everyone else was anxious for a victory. Now is the time to make a confession. I cannot say I was very good friends with Preetha though I did know that someone with that name and a long hair existed in the additional batch. Maybe because people told me she was arrogant or because she looked cold, I hated her. After the rumors about her during the elections, I hated her as much as I despise Voldemort. I’m really, really sorry Preetha, for judging and nursing a grudge against you even before I could know you well; you turned out to be as sweet as Mathu is. And that is another lesson Stella taught me. Never judge people if you don’t know them well enough. The second year finally got over with all this, running around the campus from the department to the Dean’s office and to the Principal’s office, and making fun of Lithia because, she, the God’s child drinks a lot of “Junior Horlicks”.(Hi Lithia)

The third year was the year I enjoyed the most, starting with the CGC program and ending with this prayer meeting which means we miss classes. Lots happened this year. Vinita ma’am came to the class. Remember the first day? We all were like, “Are you a student, or are you a teacher?”
We got really good teachers like her, Fancy ma’am, Uma ma’am, Felbin ma’am, Nalini ma’am, Mercy ma’am, Cynthia ma’am, Roselette ma’am and Sr. Rosy. We didn’t get those evaluation sheets, by the way. I started participating in events: the fresher’s party from which I ran away, interyears, Aquilae, lots of seminars – both departmental and non departmental, practicing ‘let it woo oo woo”, getting to meet more people- the Union for instance, running around for certificates, I’m obsessed with them I know, I’m sorry I can’t help it, getting to talk to people like Bavitha Reghukumar and Sofia Ashraf who are hyper active enthu pattanis, coming late to the first hour class when Vinita ma’am is there and screaming, “Puny, I saw the cricket players”, telling Mira to mail me all her notes, making Shakti jump, reading books and copying recipes in the library, watching in horror as my class mates use mobile phones right under the teacher’s nose, gossiping about random people like Rivka, who owns the F-block loos, talking about Nrithya singing for A.R.Rahman, Sr. Annama’s flowers, college jackets and what not! Also other minor stuff like GC Seminars, ISTD meetings, Nalini madam’s home works, ‘The’ project, events we participate in so we can bunk class, get attendance, sit idle and get free refreshments – I’m talking about the election duty, telling the department and going to the movie, getting our own pictures in the newspapers, the long awaited excursion, wow, now this is what I call life! If I’m asked whether I enjoyed life so far, I’d say, “Yes I did, to the fullest”. I want to thank Stella Maris and its Maths department for enabling me to say so. To the teachers, my friends, class, people I met here, in short, everyone and everything in The Cloisters, including Ms. Nicola Stella’s residential tabby cat who is love sick for Amlu, I’d like to say a very big thank you for all that you have been and done. Thank you for helping me grow up. Thank you for making me believe in myself and giving me courage and confidence without which I’m sure I would’ve cried here. Thank you 2-1 for all that happened here and reminding me I had to say sorry to so many people – Prabha ma’am coz I always talk in her class, Vinita ma’am coz all of us gave her a real tough time, Sr. Jaci for always standing in front of her office for one thing or the other, Nalini ma’am for I always slept in her class, Preetha for you know what, my class for…I have no idea what and the list goes on. And thank you again Stella Maris for everything, I love you.

I’m not a true Stella Marian if I don’t follow the college tradition, so here goes, “Thank you Sr. Hilda, for the technical support” and chasing us around the campus for all the reasons we found odd. Finally, thank you all for listening to me patiently. I know you had no choice but I had to say that. Protocols you know. And…bye, I’ll miss you all very much.

My best friends' dream boys! lol!! :P!

Okay! This is about the VE class on the 16th of March, 2009. We had the merciless third component. Uh-oh! What if she sees my blog? Okay we had Hon’ble Dr. Ms. @#@#@ madam’s third component. (That @#@#@ thingy is her “very kind” name okay?! Don’t imagine stuff!) Uma ma'am didn’t want us to learn the Hom(V,W), V, crap and we were told to write some of our expectations about our future hubbies. Well as she said the topic is irrelevant to me so I decided to ‘help’ [;)] Mathu, Mira barbeque (I’m not supposed to call her mirambique L! She’s become Ms. Very Kind Vector Space) and Shakti the top scorers of the class. (Yeah, I know I’m an angel. Cut the crap and clap for me after you finish reading how I helped them….with a little help from them he he he.)

Miraaathaaa, the nerdiest mokka boss of my friends needs a guy with the following characters:
He should be the nerdiest of all the nerds! An IIT 1st rank holder with 10 GPA all the semesters. (Mika “LOVES” SMART people *wink,wink*)
He should respect her and encourage her. (hmmmm….)
He should be another big mokkai (C’mon dude! Don’t say it’s mean. He should be able to survive her mokkais)



IITians! Are you there?

Mathaaangi next:
He should be taller than her (Is it okay if he’s a teeny weeny bit taller than Ishant Sherma?)
He should be stylish, like, sigh, Johnny Depp. (Hope Vanessa Paradis never reads this) Or won’t it be cooler if he was a mixture of Rajni Kanth and Johnny Depp, Mathu? (Vanessa! Join Latha.;p)
He should be a lover of arts and music(hmmm…Shouldn’t you be checking out Rob?)
He should be very supportive of Mathumatha(eeeee)

(Hey what about Robin Uthappa? Why aren’t you interested? Hmmmm…anyway. Hi aunty, I know you’re reading this. No,no,no you don’t need to thank me:P
)

Now Shakti!
Her hubby would be like Christian Bale (Well, who’s that by the way?)
Or like Edward of Twilight (She loves vampires! Oooo…Super Scary!)
Shakti doesn’t mind going out for a coffee or dinner so her husband should be this casual, happy go lucky type (I’d say That is adventurous)
He should be the owner of a chocolate factory. (Imagine Shakti living in chocolate houseJ)
He should be interested in tennis, it’d be better if he is a tennis player (You said you don’t want Rafael Nadal and then you said Roger Federer’s girlfriend’s pregnant…hmm…did we miss something here?;])

Oooo…that’s so Cooooooool!
Okay I missed some of the points like Mathu’s purple haired, tattooed, pierced dream boy. (Oops…sorry I can’t imagine Johnny Depp with body piercings and purple hair. Bad luck, mate! lol!!)
So Mathu they’re all in your notebook. Why don’t you fill the remaining?

Okay so her hubby also needs to be deaf. Now I can't imagine a hearing aid clad Depp.
Thanks, Mathu anna

Student council meeting thingy

People this is a copy of the mail I sent Megha. If there is anything you want to say other than this please mail to studentsunion0809@gmail.com.



Hi Megha,
I’m mailing you this coz I have a third comp on Monday and I’m not sure whether I’d be able to come. These are not only my questions but some are the opinions of our class as a whole.


Well, as I said we need attendance for the classes we miss because we’re participating in an event representing the department or the college. We go to Sanskrit cultural and get the third place but we don’t get attendance. You can sort of justify that. But we miss classes to practice for the cultural program we’re supposed to present to the Germans who come for the seminar – the department tells us to practice- and we still don’t get any attendance? Hello? We do the election duty for the college and still don’t get attendance. I don’t care whether I get to expose my ‘talents’ or whether my college wins a particular event if I have to lose attendance and end up standing in front of the Deans’ office every semester. I’m not jobless yaar.
As I told you after the GBM, allowing me to write the exams is another issue, but if I’m not writing then why should I pay the fees? Maybe others are different but my husband works hard to get that money. Why should we simply give it away? I’m sorry but I’m not this ancient princess who is generous enough to give away her money to people.
The sick room issue. We’re not saying it’s not open when we need it. On the contrary whenever we go it is packed with people always munching corn puffs and meddling with their mobiles and once when I was there, talking about boys. As far as I had noticed none of them looked least bit sick. And once a girl happened to get these how-dare-you-barge-in-when-I’m-bathing kinds of stares because she interrupted their cozy get together because of her ill mannered bladder. (She’s from Physics or Zoology I’m not sure.)
The Reverse Osmosis crap we have in C block. As a girl said, sometimes we don’t have water in the taps otherwise the water comes so ‘fast’ that we have to hold the tumbler for ages before it is full.
Well it might an illusion or may be it is true, we felt like the sun is literally showering us with burning coal after the campus became partially bald. (I mean the trimming of trees. Stella was a lot prettier with Sr.Annamma’s beautifully blossoming bouquets. )
Talking about bio degradable and non biodegradable rubbish, sometimes we’re not sure whether what we’re throwing is synthetic or not. For example, when you distributed the Cornettos on the Sports day, our class girls didn’t know whether the paper peels was just paper or synthetic whatever, so we threw them in the blue ones.
I’ll be honest. Except Mira, our class is not this bunch of studious, sincere, Sneha Krishnan or Tejasvi Ravi types. Seriously yaar, we don’t mind if the lecturer is not interested in teaching us. Anyway, most of the time, we’re learning the syllabus ourselves. One of our teachers is very robotical that we comment that she’s actually talking to the board and not us. On Thursday, when only four of us were in the class and the others were in the CC Block paying the fees, she came in and simply started dictating the notes and doing the sums on the board and we were like ‘Huh? What’s going on?’ We suspect that she will teach even if there is no one in the class. There is another teacher who is very lenient with us and all that. She is “”VERY”” interested in GC that she actually blabbers in her excitement! Her English is not good but I’m not talking about that. When compared to us I feel she has a minimal knowledge about the subject. We have a suggestion. We don’t need the robotical teachers. Give us Sr.Rosy instead and for people like GC ma’am why don’t the college help them with the subject? We’d be happy to have teachers who are interested in their subject even if they are taking tuitions from others. (Check out http://sahithyahindustani.blogspot.com the posts from Nov 19 to Dec 28,2008 and http://sahithya-ilovestellamaris.blogspot.com for more info on them if you have the time.) (Very confidential yaar. I don’t want to get into trouble in the final year. My plate is more than full already)
Library
We understand that we can’t take our bags inside. But only one notebook and one pen inside is unfair. This issue is being talked about since Priyanka Patel’s time. She and the teachers assured that we’ll have a study room soon. Thanks a lot, but common room is NOT a study room. It always looks like it was an ancient abandoned temple or something. The dust in this room is equivalent to the dust in whole of the college. It’d be more useful if we have a study room nearby the library and we’re able to take the notebooks we need and also the books from the library for reference.
The next issue is not heard about much. The fines. Last November I went into the library after a long time and to my shock I saw the system saying that I have a fine of Rs.24/- due. I told the staff immediately and an exceptionally friendly one set right the ‘mistake’.
Last week I came to know that Preetha and Vidya are being forced to pay the fine for the books they never borrowed (1000 bucks! Are they kidding?) . Even my lethargic brain was able o figure out that something nasty is going on.

I’m sending this because I’m not sure whether I’d be able to come. If I can, I will.

Sincere Hon'ble Dr. Ms. Mercy ma'am

It was yesterday, the 12th March, 2009 that I realised how very sincere Hon’ble Dr.Ms. Mercy ma’am was. We were told to go the CC block to pay the fees. True to spirit of students we wanted a free hour so we made Patcy ask Hon’ble Dr.Ms. Mercy ma’am for permission. She had told us to go batch by batch and we happily agreed. We had VE during the fourth hour. I, Mathaangi, Mirambique and Princess Shakti asked permission from Uma ma’am and left the class. We were happily dreaming that we’ll be having a part of the last hour for ourselves, went to the CC block to pay the fees, gossiped about ….*”*surprise, surprise*”*…. Anjana ma’am, inky pinkied to vote for the Gen Sec and Treasurer and happily went to the class when the whole class was crowding the CC Block reception. We had hardly placed our bums on the chair when you-know-who came. We wished her and she nodded back.
“Sahithya, clean the board”, she said.
I did with my heart jumping frantically between my throat and esophagus. Unfortunately I never got to master the art of being confident in front of a teacher even if I didn’t do anything wrong. And certainly the notebook incident and the CBI style inquiry in the department didn’t help.
I had not even finished when she started dictating like she always does and she talked and acted like the class was full of people.
I ran to my place took out the notebook and started writing. By the time Punitha the fifth person came to join us, which is seven minutes later, she had finished half the lemma or the theorem or whatever crap she was taking.
We have always commented that she came to the class because the black board…oops the green board was he favorite student. But it was only yesterday did I realise that it was not just a vague comment about a random lec. By the time, the rest of the class joined us at 12.35 approx. she had finished most of that day’s quota.
Shabba…idhukku mela ennala mudiyala.