CLAPS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

Class IV^th C  Kendriya Vidhyalaya NO 1 Amristsar. It was the  English teacher about to disclose the unit test marks .She used to call out the student with highest marks to acknowledge his hard work. I heard my name being called ,  as I walked past  the aisle , my heart began to ponder and race like formula one car. I had never  witnessed  such an experience in my then 10 years of age. Standing next to my English teacher , I heard  a loud clap by entire class in unison. She announced my marks as 19.5 out of 20. All the while standing there the feel was no way less than having won the gold in Olympics. It was the first flavor of my unintended success. I call it unintended because I never worked towards it with any aim. Carrying this special feel and news when I reached home, my mother was busy preparing lunch and father till then  had not turned  up for lunch, I decided to give them the news at the dinning table over the lunch and surprise them. I guess, that was the first time, I waited so eagerly for my father to arrive. When I asked my mother frequently about papa’s arrival. Even she could guess my excitement and asked” beta koi baat hai kya” mothers have that extra sixth sense innate bond with their child which tell them every thing. Hearing to the news I saw the excitement in my parents and brother ,their faces lit up like 500 watt bulb. Papa announced  a feast in the evening , and it was a marvelous evening spent in video game parlor with no kind of restriction , what  so ever!!. The feel of being special even grew stronger. This taste of success was  so special that I  never wanted to let it go. It was that day I realized  my potential and a hidden winner in me, until then I was just like all other who have potential but lack the spark. Journey after this was much focused with a will to drive ahead and the class got a new topper initially in one subject and then progressing in all. Treading the path shown by my unknown English teacher (as I don’t recollect her name) I made many tangible and intangible achievements in my academic and professional career. I am ever grateful to her kind act ,that changed the course of my life. As a parent we must appreciate and celebrate even smallest achievement of our child. And help him realize his potential. The time wheel has changed its position , now I am on the other side of dinning table ,trying to help my son to realize his strengths and in the process trying to understand his potential as well. An ounce of appreciation is better than tons of criticism.