The institution where we study, the kind of friends we make and the teachers we meet, which will have a hand in shaping who we are. Five students from Moonlight Higher Secondary School (MOLIHSS) talk about college life influences with Republica.[break]
If you have to attach a certain percentage to how much ‘high school’ makes up of your entire life right now, how much would you say?
Sabrina: I’d say 90%. When we were at school, we had longer hours to spend so everything went on at a slow pace. But now in college, because we only spend a few hours here, everything has to be done quickly. Hence, there’s a lot to do when we get back home as well.
Lazzu: For me, college is my entire life right now, especially because it’s a base for the future and these two years are the deciding years to what I want to do in the future. So it’s 100% for me.
Bijay: About 50% because some of us might have to work to study, if our family’s financial conditions aren’t strong. When I was in class 11, I also used to work part time.
Bijay Rai/Republica
L to R: Manju Maharjan, Shristi Shrestha, Bijay Mahato, Sabrina Shakya and Lazzu Shrestha.
Shristi: College is about 80% of my life. Because we’re having some financial problems at home, I help out my cousin sister in her shop. So, I stay there during the day but I do study while shop keeping as well.
Manju: Since I’m a student from the science faculty, I have to study longer hours at college and also go back home to finish the assignments. So, for me, college is totally my life at the moment.
You could have studied anywhere else. What made you choose to study at MOLIHSS?
Bijay: This College has been founded through the alliance of many educators who have had experience with other schools as well. Hence, I had a lot of information about this college so I came here. Plus, the fee is affordable and there are a lot of facilities for the students.
Lazzu, Manju and Shristi: Like Bijay said, it’s a good college and even middle class families can easily afford it.
Sabrina: I knew students who used to study here and hece, I found out about the college.
MOLIHSS encourages a lot of extracurricular activities. For example, we have a Student Council which has been running very effectively. So it’s not just about studying here and I like that.
What changes have you seen in yourself after starting your high school?
Lazzu: I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my communication skills. We students, as a part of the Student Council, have to organize all the extracurricular activities on our own, and now I’ve learnt how to do that.
Sabrina: I think after studying here, my practical skills have developed a lot.
Shristi: In my school days, I wasn’t very keen on studying. But now, I’ve become studious.
Manju: I’ve gained a lot of practical knowledge after being exposed to laboratories, a lot. The teachers here are also approachable and hence, I’ve become more open to asking questions to them.
Bijay: I came from a very small school. Compared to that, MOLIHSS is a lot bigger. I became the member of the Student Council and now have learnt to work together with friends. I am currently the President of the Council and can now easily talk to a huge mass of people. I’ve also developed my persuasive skills.
How much time do you spend at college, or with college friends, after official class hours are over?
Bijay: Because we have a lot of programs being held at our college, and we are responsible for carrying them out, I have been at the college even till 6 or 7 in the evening. Our classes end in the morning but we usually stay in through the afternoon when we have work. We (members of the Council) are usually the first ones to be in and the last ones to go out of the compound.
Sabrina and Shristi: Sometimes, after college, we go hang out in Mangal Bazaar with friends as well.
Manju: I’m mostly focused on my studies and I don’t have time to hang out with friends that much
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