Lessons in Life

My friend asked me to help her daughter prepare a speech for the latter's Annual Day. She was supposed to speak on the importance of extra curicular activities in school. Here is what I managed to come up with on short notice.

Good evening everybody! And welcome to the ____ (number) annual day of st. Anne’s, Fort. Today we felicitate not only the students who have shown academic brilliance but also those who have excelled in extracurricular activities. Our institution teaches us to dot our ‘i’s and dash our ‘t’s as much as it teaches us to step into the world of art music and drama. Throughout the year we’ve had activities like _____ ____ ____ which have opened the doors of creativity and imagination for us. If our parents have taught us our first words then it is our teachers who teach us the difference between Shakespeare and Voltaire. Its very easy to lose ourselves in this cut throat world of percentages and averages but at the end of the day, if we can stop and appreciate a beautiful sunset then our art teacher has been successful at her job. If we can tap our feet and feel the rhythm in our soul when we hear a good song, then our music teacher has passed his test. During drama practice, the shy timid girl will forget her inhibitions and put on her mask to enact the shrew in all her glory for ‘Taming of the Shrew’. You might wonder why your daughter needs to learn a speech… but what if she has to make a presentation in office someday or even better, stand up in court and fight for what she believes in. THAT is the confidence we gain on this stage. The ugly duckling transforms into a swan right HERE… not because she knows how to apply makeup perfectly but because her soul shines through her and the magical beauty becomes visible to all. 

Let me end this by saying, there is no harm in learning a skill… after all, if it weren’t for the 100m race during sports day, would it be possible to catch the last Virar local at Churchgate or do the long jump over the potholes? Nah… I don’t think so. Where else would we learn such life-skills!? So thank you for giving me this chance to give a speech. There might come a day when I stand in a courtroom full of strangers n hardened criminals, with butterflies in my stomach ready to stand up for I believe in and I will look back at this evening and I will know that all's gonna be OK. Thank you. 

Fingers crossed... the teacher should approve this and my job will be done here.