We pass through several important landmarks in our life marking the transition from one stage to the next. One such important landmark is the first day of school in a child’s life – the beginning of formal education. The child turns into a “big kid” all of a sudden on this day. In most cultures and countries, this day calls for joy and celebration.
In ancient Indian culture, the beginning of education was a ritual – the eleventh out of the sixteen rituals of an individual’s life. It was called Vedaarambh Samskaar. During this ritual, the student who was about to begin the journey of education was blessed by the family-elders and teachers who prayed for his success and guided him towards being a disciplined, humanitarian, well-behaved, knowledge-seeking, hard-working and diligent individual.
Celebrating the first day when child enters school serves as an important reminder that human beings are the fortunate species with the ability to participate in organized education and make their lives better as a result. Our dreams of worthy living can turn to reality through education. We are able to become critical thinkers, collaborative team-workers and responsible citizens of the global community.
Even though a child gets ‘educated’ since the very day he is born, yet the day he steps into the world of formal education is a good day to ponder upon what we want our kids to achieve through education. Here we are not talking about making your kids Engineers, Doctors, academic toppers or turning them into specific professionals. Instead, we need to believe that education will bring out the best in our children. Education provides us an opportunity to explore multiple avenues and to realize our true potential. The purpose of education is to grow intellectually and to help others grow. It is nothing less, but nothing more!
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