Students celebrate graduation

On May 31, Rameshwaram Bala Vihar students looked back on a year of learning at their annual Graduation Ceremony.

The program started off with student presentations. A representative from each class was given the honor of presenting what they had learned during the school year, to a packed auditorium of parents and peers.

Adorable shishu and kindergarten kids came on stage and bravely addressed the sizable audience, describing the moral values and gods and goddesses they learnt about. The lower grades further described the stories about deities they had discussed in class, and the chants they learned.

Higher grades were more reflective and talked about the lessons and philosophies they learned from the stories, and how it applied to their daily lives. Cultural traditions became meaningful when context was applied.

Teachers creatively brought mythological stories to life, for example by relating characters in Ramayana to Marvel characters. Class presentations, crafts, skits and games kept the classroom interesting and engaging. Slokas and scripture became snippets of wisdom when the meaning was explored, rather than just dry (albeit melodious) sound. It was clear that the teachers, backed by a well - designed curriculum, had a significant impact on the students.

High schoolers were able to take life lessons from the Upanishad ganga series and apply them to their daily lives.

Swami Ishwarananda then addressed the audience. He emphasized that the parents also have to grow spiritually, along with their children. Teachers interact with the students only for an hour or two a week, so the rest of their learning has to come from the parents. He urged parents to follow up with the learning at home, else children will not progress. He hoped that the students of today will become instruments of transformation in the future.

The beautiful Shiksha Anushasana ceremony followed. A lamp representing knowledge and enlightenment was passed down from Tapovan Maharaja, Gurudev and Swami Ishwarananda to the teachers, and then to the students. This represents the transfer of knowledge to future generations.

Finally, the tireless volunteer body, without whom no Mission activity would have been possible, was recognized. Each volunteer was called to the stage by name and presented with a token of appreciation by Swamiji and Mahadevanji.