Opening Doorz

By Geneive D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | April 13, 2020

Being a Grade X student looking forward to a stress-free, relaxing and well-deserved vacation after the Board Exams, this lockdown which has now been extended to the end of April was something that I was not looking forward to. Being stuck at home even for a few days was definitely not on the agenda; and I have been cooped up inside for more than a month now.

My parents had planned a good holiday for me and my sister, and now having to have to throw that all away seems disappointing. As of now, I am able to catch up on all the books I couldn’t read and the movies I didn’t get to watch because I was busy with studies. However, I have come to the realisation that in the end, everything boils down to the people most important in your life. We are getting something quite priceless—time to spend with each and every family member during this lockdown.

On the brighter side, I am thankful that our IGCSE Exams (Grade X) got over in time. Some of my friends from ICSE are still mid-way and wondering what is going to happen. No one knows when the lockdown will be lifted.

I spoke to a few of my classmates and friends (from different schools) and a few parents as well, to understand their feeling about this situation. Like me, all are disappointed by this turn of events, including parents. However, everyone is making the best of the lockdown. We are all looking at the positive side and that is what has kept us ‘negative’!

Just kidding…

Shanel Fernandez
Bombay Scottish School, Mahim

We had planned a family trip to Canada and even a trip with my friends to Goa. Obviously, because of the lockdown, we cannot go anywhere. After my Grade X exams, I was looking forward to a fun summer. But now I guess I’ve not yet finished my exams and that is kind of annoying. Our exams had begun, we finished six papers and four were left. As of now, we have no idea when it will continue. Even the teachers do not really know much yet. So no one can tell when…

Our batch of 2020 has gone through the worst because all the school exams of other grades have been cancelled. Most are now chilling at home but since our Boards have been postponed. Not knowing when this lockdown will end and exams resume is stressful.

I am making the best of this time with my family. Studies take up three hours a day and then help in the household chores. I bake or cook something very often. I had given up on playing the piano and now with so much time on hand, I am back to it.

Aradhya Rohatgi
Don Bosco Interational School, Matunga

The current situation has really been a great twist in my very near perfect plan to spend the after boards summer holidays. All I wanted to do was to finally get to enjoy, my way, but this pandemic came in the way of that too.

I wasn’t disappointed during the first few days of the lockdown. I was pretty fine with all that was happening with the sudden one-day lockdown. However, when the 21-day lockdown was announced I felt extremely disappointed, angry and upset all at once. I don’t go outside that often but regardless of that I haven’t walked out of my home since March 20. It is a difficult task to just sitting at home. I had lots of stuff to watch on TV and streaming services even before the lockdown. Now, it is only watching television. That plan remains intact! My physical activity pattern is very much disturbed. However, I am working out at home to stay as fit as possible without the sun.

Ian D’Souza
St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala

I had plans to chill with my friends on a daily basis, and had even planned a long-deserved vacation. The lockdown has changed all that. There’s nothing to look forward to. Yes, I’m very disappointed by these turn of events. Every Grade X student wants to enjoy their vacation after a long year of hard work. Not being able to do most of what I had planned to do is really sad. As a plus side to this situation, I’ve been able to develop certain skills and interests that I’ve wanted to work on. I try cooking every now and then, help out at home as much as possible and am developing my singing skills. Also, I make use of this time to read books that interest me.

Joshua Noronha
Don Bosco International School, Matunga

Honestly, I wasn’t looking for a ‘good break’ because I knew that having nothing to do suddenly would feel awful and I was not ready for a vacation either. What I was really looking forward to was meeting up with my friends and enjoying the summer holidays with classmates while playing basketball and discovering the locality on our cycles. The lockdown has ruined my plans of going out to meet my friends. I already felt isolated living so far away from all my friends at school and now with no plans at all, I feel trapped inside.

Of course, I’m disappointed, who wouldn’t be? Even the most extreme introverts I know are fed up of staying indoors. Stuff that I have been planning since before my mock exams have all come to a standstill. I’m stuck at home like everyone else. The lockdown, however, has come with its own perks (like streaming movies all day). I am, however, not as disappointed as some others maybe because I know that by staying locked indoors I’m doing my part to help.

I am working on my diet and fitness in order to make the most out of this situation. The advantage of being an inquisitive teenager full of energy is that I can entertain myself pretty easily by indulging myself doing various activities I have not tried before. Mixing up my routine and trying new things seems to have worked for me as I have only truly ever felt ‘bored’ a handful of times

Tia Gajjar
The J.B Vachha High School, Dadar

Post The SSC Boards, I was looking forward to a good break. I had plans to meet up with my friends for lunches and ‘just hang out’. We had also planned a holiday out of the city. But now, all that has been cancelled due to the lockdown. It has been quite disappointing. I wanted to catch up with all my friends, especially my old friends whom I have not met in a while. I am trying to make the best of this situation by trying out new creative stuff like art and drawing, which I did not have much time since I was preparing for my Boards. During this period of staying at home, Art is what is keeping me occupied during the day.

Mehek Mehta
Don Bosco International School, Matunga

I was looking forward to a good break as I had plans to go to Dubai and even meet my friends here as often as possible. I am a bit disappointed as Grade X exams, and vacations after that are generally considered special. But what can one do in a situation where everyone has to do their bit and help tide the situation away. I am making the best of this lockdown by learning new skills and enhancing old ones. I am learning to cook. Besides this, I am also honing my writing skills and dancing every single day!

Raksha Muni
Parent

Yes, as everyone else, we too had big plans for the big holidays after the great 10 STD Board Exams and now in these circumstances it’s not happening. It did upset us a little but then looking at the larger and more grave picture around us, in the entire world, we realised we have other important things to pray and thank for. It’s going to be a long time before anyone of us plans a trip now; we were upset that it didn’t go as planned. Such world crisis was never envisaged hence it’s demanding a lot of patience and understanding from all of us. We have accepted this fact and are ok with not going out for a vacation.

Tina Shah
Parent

We were looking for a break as they finished their Grade X Exams (IGCSE). But well, God has His own plans. In retrospect, this break was also needed to understand the life we were leading. The lockdown has shown us just that. Most of us have taken Mother Earth for granted and are now paying the price for it. Having said that, we are enjoying this break at home by sharing all the work and spending quality time as a family, which we never focussed on due to our busy life. Hopefully, things will be fine soon and we will resume our normal lives but as more aware and responsible citizens.

(Geneive D’Souza is a Grade X student from Don Bosco International School (DBIS). She is passionate about writing, music, playing the piano and La Liga (FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi).

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