Things I learned in high school; dailyprompt-1905
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” – Albert Einstein
The very first home we are born into forms the most intimate and powerful influence on our lives. It’s within those walls that we pass through childhood, youth, and eventually old age. In this sacred space, we receive the first drops of what we call values. These values—passed on consciously or subconsciously—become the foundation of our personality.
Our parents are our very first teachers. And among them, our mother is our first and forever guru. If the mother is educated, thoughtful, and value-oriented, the children often reflect those same qualities. On the other hand, if she is uninformed or insensitive, the children may absorb similar tendencies. As they say, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”
The second home of a child is school. It’s where character is sculpted further, and academic knowledge is introduced. Here again, not all children embrace what is taught—some do, some don’t. Often, this variance stems from the family environment. A child from a respectful and disciplined family tends to absorb moral teachings more effectively. But where the family is violent or negligent, the child may carry forward that dysfunction.
I recall an incident from my primary school days. It was an English period, and our teacher—Mrs. Dalal—was conducting class. Suddenly, a few young men stormed the school premises with heavy wooden sticks in hand. These were former students, who had once been reprimanded by the teacher for not completing homework. Years later, they returned—seeking revenge. This shocking incident stayed with me forever and became a deep lesson: not every child transforms into a good human, even if they’ve been taught well.
Thankfully, I was never one of them. My grandmother was a school teacher, and the atmosphere at home was filled with discipline, compassion, and wisdom. My parents, too, emphasized the importance of honesty, truth, and non-violence. In fact, my grandmother was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and would often attend his public addresses. As a child, I was deeply influenced by her stories about Bapu’s life. His philosophy of Satya (truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence) was not just history for me—it became a part of my personality.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
With such an upbringing, how could I be anything but value-driven? There was never any doubt—I was raised in a home that treated character as non-negotiable.
School wasn’t just a place to learn—it was a temple of discipline and growth. I remember my teachers always stressing: “Never litter the classroom. Respect books and notebooks.” While some students ignored this, I made it a point to keep my desk clean, pick up waste, and even dust my bench with my own hands. I had created a special notebook just for motivational quotes, and every morning, I wrote one on the blackboard in my best handwriting.
Why? Because I believed that inspiration spreads, and maybe—just maybe—another student would carry that thought into their life.
I never caused chaos in class. To me, school was not a playground for noise; it was a powerhouse of knowledge. The learning we receive from our teachers is timeless. It is this wisdom—not idle entertainment—that shapes our future.
In conclusion, whether it is home or school, both are essential in cultivating a responsible, kind, and intelligent human being. And while technology evolves and the world becomes digital, the core values we inherit remain eternal.
Let us never forget:
“A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change everything.”
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“There is no way to thrive without education. Education is the fundamental foundation of life. An uneducated mother can lead the whole household astray.”
By SHUBHHU
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