Over the last five years, have you ever found yourself wondering what exactly it is that the older girls and boys in the blue uniform do all day? I – most definitely – have.
I used to find it so hard to believe that the ISC Section is an active part of Bombay Scottish because, most of the time, I had no idea what was going on up there. Right from the multiple new subjects, to the senior library and the different teachers – the ISC Section has always been a mystery to me, and possibly to a few others as well. Why is that?
Now that I’m in the 11th grade myself, I understand. ISC has always been a mystery because it has always been so unorthodox and self-sufficient.
I’ve found that there has been a drastic change in my environment since I’ve joined the ISC. For instance, I don’t have to walk to the other side of the school to borrow a book anymore. The senior library is really God’s gift to the fifth floor. It’s a life saver!
Another big change is the uniform. Now, when I say ‘uniform’, I don’t mean just the clothes. I mean the change in behaviour that they have caused. For example, just last week, a little child bumped into me while running and then apologised for it while addressing me as ‘Didi‘! It wasn’t that big of a deal, but it got to me because I had never experienced that in the last twelve years I had spent in Scottish.
What’s even more surprising is that it doesn’t end there. The teachers, too, treat us differently. I don’t know if I’m the only one who noticed that classes now have been more informal than ever. Teachers do not hesitate to leave the class unattended sometimes; they talk openly about sensitive matters; class discussions are more active… There are so many small but significant changes in our lives.
The biggest change has been that, now, we’re expected to behave in a certain manner. We are expected to be mature. In my opinion – being treated like an adult, with responsibilities, targets and ethics is what makes ISC so spectacular.
I was pleasantly surprised by this, and I think that others were, too. Hopefully, the ISC experience gets even better over the next two years. But even if it doesn’t, I’m already convinced I want to stay here and unravel some more of the secrets – or should I say – privileges of the fifth floor.
— Raksha Saraf