Have you ever met a person on whom you've had this whole character conceptualised in your brain and suddenly a day comes, where all your ideas are shattered and the person turns out to be completely the opposite??! Ofcourse you have! So did many of us. Sometimes the person turns out to be way better than what we thought or way worse. Such a thing happened to me during my school days, and i was the one who was judged on that particular incident and came out wondering what the hell is it with people and their unfounded notions. I'm writing this right now as a result of those infamous memories crashing down on me when i had come across a particular profile on Facebook.
It was in my twelfth standard when the whole school was bustling about with preparations for the upcoming Inter-school culturals conducted by a different branch of my school. Almost all of the staffs were engaged in the selection of participants to represent our school in the various on-stage and off-stage events. There were the student representatives roaming around the campus in the name of "jobs for the teachers', there were the normal ones who were enjoying free time since most of the teachers were engaged in the selection work and there was me waiting amongst a bunch of people outside the English Dept. in order to find out what is to be done to participate for the poetry writing contest.
So then, about me. To put it in one word a 'Nobody'. Outdated specs, two plaits and a permanent blank expression would sufficiently sum up my appearance. I was an average student with a below average math performance and an above average English performance ( much to the surprise of my friends and my English teacher!). It would not come as a surprise if a girl sitting in the farther end of my class, didn't know my name! I have never been up on stage thanks to my stage fright and possessed no particular skill that people would notice me. All i had was a good English vocabulary and a huge passion for reading and writing which no one but my close friends know about. So obviously there was no surprise when i caught some of the other aspiring contestants standing next to me, giving me curious stares that could only mean " What the hell is she doing here?". Or even some that meant "Who is SHE?!" . I on the other hand had no such doubts concerning the others 'cause almost each of them were known in the school either as speakers or debaters or writers for the school magazine or academic big-wigs. I had decided that none of those uncomfortable stares were gonna turn me away because it was not only my final year of school but also my last chance to gain recognition for something i knew i was good at. So i had my usual blank expression on and stood there like nothing was odd. The staff responsible for selecting us came out and took us to the computer lab where we were given some sheets to write a poem under the title " Chennai - Past, Present and Future" in the given amount of time. I spent half the time thing on phrases and ideas, a fifteen minutes to write out a draft and the next fifteen to write the official copy. By the end of it, i thought my poem was a bit kiddish as i was hell-bent on using a rhyming pattern. But i was satisfied on the whole because i had sufficiently put all my ideas to use and i rather thought it was good. But of course i was sure the others had all done job worthy of an English Doctorate, because their talent was just a little short of legendary in my school. We were sent back to our classes after being told that what had just been conducted was the inter-house poetry competition whose winners will receive prizes from the school and the top two winners will be sent to the inter-school culturals. The next day we were all called to the Dept. again to know the results. I had this weird queasy feeling in my stomach and i would've happily placed a bet that i was sure to be the bottom scorer! But of all the wonders, i was informed i had come second!! Next in line to the most popular girl in school whose dad was this VIP who had been the chief guest to the previous year's annual day! We were told that we both would be representing the school three days later in the inter-school culturals Raaazmatazz along with participants from twenty or more different schools! When a few of my co-contestants obliged with a scattered applause, all i could manage was a weak smile. Did i really make it to the second place?!! I was still bewildered when the lot of us made a slow pace to our respective classrooms. In the middle of the stairs, suddenly one among us had a dizzy-spell and stopped, leaning on the wall. Everyone around got concerned and were asking "What happened? " "You ok??" and such. I just stood there staring blankly at her.
About Her. To put it in one word, "My opposite"! She was the captain of a house, an athlete, a basketball player, a member of various committees, a top rank holder,a pet for most of the staffs and on the whole a girl whom many students look up to and have genuine respect for. Including me. Until that moment atleast. She looked nothing short of baffled and wounded leaning on the wall and very close to tears. I was equally baffled because i would've sworn she was not the fainting sort! My moment of eureka came when she glanced at me with a look of utmost disbelief and loathing! So that was it! Little Miss. Perfect could not digest the fact a Nobody like me could beat her in no less than a Poetry Competition! It was just a glance but nevertheless, one with a load of meaning. It took her a few minutes to pick herself up and we all proceeded to our destination.
That incident would always be etched in my memory as long as i live. It was a moment which taught me one of the most unforgettable lesson of life. Never judge a book by its cover. A widely used phrase but it took me that day to realize it to its full extent. Never underestimate anyone, especially people who never seem to be any worth. It would indeed be a turning of the tables when they show what they've really got. For all you know, they might be more worthy than you! And i took great pleasure in proving that to a very shocked Miss. Perfect when my name was announced in the assembly a week later as the First Prize Winner of the English Poetry Competition in the inter-school Culturals 'Raazmataaz'!! :) ;)
It was in my twelfth standard when the whole school was bustling about with preparations for the upcoming Inter-school culturals conducted by a different branch of my school. Almost all of the staffs were engaged in the selection of participants to represent our school in the various on-stage and off-stage events. There were the student representatives roaming around the campus in the name of "jobs for the teachers', there were the normal ones who were enjoying free time since most of the teachers were engaged in the selection work and there was me waiting amongst a bunch of people outside the English Dept. in order to find out what is to be done to participate for the poetry writing contest.
So then, about me. To put it in one word a 'Nobody'. Outdated specs, two plaits and a permanent blank expression would sufficiently sum up my appearance. I was an average student with a below average math performance and an above average English performance ( much to the surprise of my friends and my English teacher!). It would not come as a surprise if a girl sitting in the farther end of my class, didn't know my name! I have never been up on stage thanks to my stage fright and possessed no particular skill that people would notice me. All i had was a good English vocabulary and a huge passion for reading and writing which no one but my close friends know about. So obviously there was no surprise when i caught some of the other aspiring contestants standing next to me, giving me curious stares that could only mean " What the hell is she doing here?". Or even some that meant "Who is SHE?!" . I on the other hand had no such doubts concerning the others 'cause almost each of them were known in the school either as speakers or debaters or writers for the school magazine or academic big-wigs. I had decided that none of those uncomfortable stares were gonna turn me away because it was not only my final year of school but also my last chance to gain recognition for something i knew i was good at. So i had my usual blank expression on and stood there like nothing was odd. The staff responsible for selecting us came out and took us to the computer lab where we were given some sheets to write a poem under the title " Chennai - Past, Present and Future" in the given amount of time. I spent half the time thing on phrases and ideas, a fifteen minutes to write out a draft and the next fifteen to write the official copy. By the end of it, i thought my poem was a bit kiddish as i was hell-bent on using a rhyming pattern. But i was satisfied on the whole because i had sufficiently put all my ideas to use and i rather thought it was good. But of course i was sure the others had all done job worthy of an English Doctorate, because their talent was just a little short of legendary in my school. We were sent back to our classes after being told that what had just been conducted was the inter-house poetry competition whose winners will receive prizes from the school and the top two winners will be sent to the inter-school culturals. The next day we were all called to the Dept. again to know the results. I had this weird queasy feeling in my stomach and i would've happily placed a bet that i was sure to be the bottom scorer! But of all the wonders, i was informed i had come second!! Next in line to the most popular girl in school whose dad was this VIP who had been the chief guest to the previous year's annual day! We were told that we both would be representing the school three days later in the inter-school culturals Raaazmatazz along with participants from twenty or more different schools! When a few of my co-contestants obliged with a scattered applause, all i could manage was a weak smile. Did i really make it to the second place?!! I was still bewildered when the lot of us made a slow pace to our respective classrooms. In the middle of the stairs, suddenly one among us had a dizzy-spell and stopped, leaning on the wall. Everyone around got concerned and were asking "What happened? " "You ok??" and such. I just stood there staring blankly at her.
About Her. To put it in one word, "My opposite"! She was the captain of a house, an athlete, a basketball player, a member of various committees, a top rank holder,a pet for most of the staffs and on the whole a girl whom many students look up to and have genuine respect for. Including me. Until that moment atleast. She looked nothing short of baffled and wounded leaning on the wall and very close to tears. I was equally baffled because i would've sworn she was not the fainting sort! My moment of eureka came when she glanced at me with a look of utmost disbelief and loathing! So that was it! Little Miss. Perfect could not digest the fact a Nobody like me could beat her in no less than a Poetry Competition! It was just a glance but nevertheless, one with a load of meaning. It took her a few minutes to pick herself up and we all proceeded to our destination.
That incident would always be etched in my memory as long as i live. It was a moment which taught me one of the most unforgettable lesson of life. Never judge a book by its cover. A widely used phrase but it took me that day to realize it to its full extent. Never underestimate anyone, especially people who never seem to be any worth. It would indeed be a turning of the tables when they show what they've really got. For all you know, they might be more worthy than you! And i took great pleasure in proving that to a very shocked Miss. Perfect when my name was announced in the assembly a week later as the First Prize Winner of the English Poetry Competition in the inter-school Culturals 'Raazmataaz'!! :) ;)
