Board Exam Holidays: Finding the Balance between Relaxation and Rejuvenation

I was waiting for our boys to come back home after their final exams and my elder one was saying that

"Amma, I would like to just eat and sleep for a week and you shouldn't disturb me".

I said, "Sure, you deserve complete rest and pampering after giving your first board exam."

But what happened later was a very interesting story..

Board exam holidays serve both purposes of relaxation and rejuvenation. Students have been studying hard for months leading up to the exams, and they may be mentally and physically exhausted. Therefore, taking a break from studying and engaging in activities that help them relax and unwind can help alleviate their stress and anxiety.

On the other hand, board exam holidays also provide an opportunity for students to rejuvenate themselves. This means that they can engage in activities that help them recharge their energy levels and improve their overall well-being.

My childhood friend and math professor at?Bannari Amman Institute of Technology?(BIT Sathy), Dr.Indrani called to share about their upcoming NSS Camp. Well, we both have a previous history of being in NCC, volunteering for various activities during school days.

BIT Sathy was committed to 3 years program to help transform nearby villages as part of their?National Service Scheme. Dr.Indrani and Dr.Sadasivam were spearheading this year's event.

She invited me to join hands with them and be part of the valedictory function. That was pretty exciting indeed!!. As a proud alumnus of BIT Sathy and?Intuitive.Cloud?represent, I readily accepted but with one small request.

Can you include two young volunteers in the last two days of the camp because that's when my boys would come back home after their exams?

She was equally excited and happy.

42 Volunteers along with two professors started their work on 17-03-2023 at both the schools

What did they actually do?

• Cleaning inside and outside school premises
• Painting school
• Compound wall renovation
• Medical camp
• Aadhaar card updation
• Yoga session and creative activities for school children
• Tree plantation
• Door to door visit to create awareness among villagers on education, hygiene etc

When I picked up my boys from the boarding school on 21st March 2023, shared about the two day plan being part of the 42 volunteers which would be the very next day.

Both the boys looked at me puzzled ??

"Are you serious, Amma ?"

I reassured them you would love.. just go and experience what life really means. First day was bit of a push and pull but their face was so bright when they came back home at 7:00pm after the first day exploration with loads of memories and lots of stories to share.

Next day morning, Sharvesh woke up at 5:30am even without an alarm and said, "Amma, we need to get ready, college bus with volunteers would come at 7:30am."

Wow, what a transformation?

So true that according to research, some random act of kindness would release dopamine in your body that makes you happy.

Not just my boys, but many of those 42 volunteers wouldn't have done tiny little work back home but that 7 days was full of exciting and thought provoking lessons on what life means to people from different walks of life. And this network of like minded folks joining hands to make a change in the society would definitely push them beyond boundaries in future to do wonders.

All work and no play would make jack the dull boy!! The bowler is my lil boy.

Valedictory Function was all set to start with villagers and school kids, headed by BIT Sathy Principal, Dr. Palanisamy along with professors Dr.Yuvaraj, Dr.Sadasivam and Dr.Indrani along wit School Headmaster and Village Panchayat President.

NSS Volunteers merrily shared their experience and moms from the village promised to educate their kids with the hope and dream that their sufferings due to poverty would come to an end someday.

My heartfelt thanks to Dr.S.V Balasubramaniam, Chairman, BIT Sathy, entire management team, beloved professors and students for the deep thought to transform the villages around the institution which was the first step in building the nation.

And its my commitment to Dr.Indrani and BIT, Sathy to join hands with them in such future initiatives along with 2 young volunteers ????.

I usually refrain from writing personal stories but this was definitely based on the request from my friend,?Ashapurna Mukherjee?on her birthday when she was asking about how are the boys spending their holidays than usual - "eat-binge-sleep and repeat ??"

I am sure you would agree with me that board exam holidays should be used wisely by students to both relax and rejuvenate themselves. A tiny little step from us, as parents, would go long way to help them to shape up as better human being.

Happy Mother's day to all the lovely moms including me!!