Of Vistas and Wisdom

‘Naïve’ was the word used to describe me when I first joined the Valley School in 2015 and, I partly agree with it because everything that I knew until then suddenly felt scarce. We tend to think that what we grew up with is right. Then comes the point in life where we gain perspective of our culture by seeing ourselves from the perspectives of other cultures. Getting into The Valley School was that turning point for me. It was a real community where love and respect for all, in emotional and practical ways, were seen as a vital necessity and not an optional add-on. It was a community with new seeds and also aged oaks. It was the smiles of new joys and the mirth of aged reminiscence and wisdom, a community of birds, insects, snakes, and dogs. It was a place we all called home. We can only be vibrant individuals within a strong society that nurtures and is ever there with a welcoming hug.

Music and art are synonymous to The Valley. During assembly, there were times when it felt as if the music taught my brain how to flow and how to be peaceful. It was a sort of auditory massage for my mind. It was an invitation for me to slow down and be the best version of myself. There were times when light, wind, and nature did the same, yet differently, each in their own way.

Our birthday picnics were wonderful, not just because of the food but because of the sweet company. Food was one of the ways we expressed our love for one another, a kind of hug and a way of bringing out that inner sunshine. Birthday picnics were an opportunity to perform new songs, crack jokes, watch movies, climb trees, and swim in the streams and lakes.

The Valley School bestowed upon me the only Himalayan Trek of my life, and I am eternally grateful for it. The Rupin-Supin trek took us on trails along the rivers, through hamlets, gushing waterfalls, endless forests, green meadows, pebbled rivers, and a surprise snowfall on a tiring day! The best part was the fact that the journey began just a day after I turned 27. The trek allowed me to build rapport with the hostel students, share their excitement and apprehensions, do the camp chores, work efficiently, treat each other compassionately, and communicate openly.

Education at The Valley is unlike what I had known. Here, a child who loves history can choose his/her own time or event to study, then talk about the geography of the region, weather patterns, biome and wildlife, the religions of the region, and how they were practiced in that era. He/she can then write a fictional story about the characters, make a poem, a song, artwork, and/or a dramatic presentation of the event. Facts and figures from the time can be used in mathematics too. This way, there is an integrated approach to learning that can be driven by the interests of the child so that at the end of the day, no child feels inadequate.

To say that my stay at the Valley was conflict-free would be an understatement. I felt a strong urge to fit in. It was like shedding my older skin and developing a new one. But, when the urge to travel the road less traveled comes from a loving impulse, from the callings of the heart, and they echo in the soul, is it possible to ignore it? My three years at The Valley have definitely helped me come out of my comfort zone. It has taught me to accept everybody's differences, celebrate their wisdom, forgive their ignorance, feel gratitude for the answers which they handed to me on a platter, and strive to take my own shot into that far horizon.

Arya