The year is 2017, Twinkle Bunny is freshly freed from one of his philosophy less schools. Nah I shouldn’t name it for privacy reasons

So I left to live with my family in Mumbai, quarter-way through my IGCSE.

Fast forward one year and my old peers are going balls to the wall with their exam preparation.

60 students are divided into three classrooms:

1. Grade X A=dumb kids

2. Grade X B=average kids

3. Grade X C=fast track lane

A common practice in schools. It’s amusing how the class system never leaves us. What kind of message are you sending?

Respected (jk) Parent,

Hope you’ve been appreciating happiness because it’s time to say goodbye. Guess what, your kid belongs to the A division. We put him there. It was a totally random decision, however you wouldn’t believe that all the dumb kids ended up in the same place!

This is totally not a big deal and totally does not mean your kid will be a failure so do NOT pressurize your kid any more than he already is (by us lol). Well, like you can still go ahead since Indian parents have the final word. It’s not like he’s gonna get depressed or rage quit or anything right?

Hope your bank accounts prosper (need those),

Remember:

Marks <95%=F A I L U R E

P.S. all of the already few co-curricular activities we had are canceled.

I remember one of my friends calling me, anxiously awaiting her classification. The inevitable happens, two days later she calls me in tears. She’s in X B. That was the last chat we had till the final exams. Her parents took away her phone, free time with people and sucked all the already faded joy out. She didn’t have friends, family or school: all during stressful exam times.

Actually no, I am wrong. There is one thing we are taught right: character building. More suffering now leads to more happiness later right?

Guess what, dear peacefully and pointlessly retired teacher, the ‘later’ never comes. You work hard for 10th, you’ll have the 12th. Work hard for 12th you have college then a job.

It took a long time for me to realize the flaws in glorifying pain. Why you don’t always have to suffer for greatness.