School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years

School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years

Childhood friends are like gems we keep forever. We were young girls in an all-girls convent school—innocent, carefree, and bound by friendships free of jealousy or rivalry. But life scattered us, and soon we went our separate ways. Marriages, families, careers—all took priority. Yet, as time passed and our children left the nest, the urge to reconnect grew stronger. And so, the School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years became a reality.

Reconnecting Through Time

One day, as I reminisced, the faces of childhood friends came to mind. I felt ready to bring our group back together. Finding them after all these years seemed daunting, but technology helped. In three days, I reconnected with 20 friends. My heart leapt with joy. It felt as if I’d rediscovered a lost treasure.

I created a WhatsApp group called “Atkinson Good Girls” on 20th October 2015, a nod to our convent days. Messages flooded in, with stories and laughter, as we set the date for November 29th, 2015. After all the confirmations and cancellations, 13 of us gathered in my home in Vijayawada.

The Joy of School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years

Seeing my friends’ enthusiasm was heartwarming. Each one made a sincere effort to be there. Kalpana, one of my closest friends, arrived a day early. Hugging her at the airport felt surreal. We couldn’t stop talking, as if 36 years had vanished instantly.

The next morning, the reunion began. One by one, friends arrived, filling the room with laughter and hugs. Though we looked older, in spirit, we were back in school, reliving those carefree days.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Our laughter and nostalgia worked up a hearty appetite. We enjoyed a lively lunch together, even though we were told not to talk while eating! With full bellies, we exchanged little gifts before heading out to revisit our beloved Alma Mater. The street looked the same, but the school had grown. Memories washed over us as we strolled through familiar walls, oohing and aahing with every turn. The closed access to the church where we’d often knelt in prayer brought sighs. The blue entrance gate and office grill looked oddly comforting, just as they were. We clicked photos and left, hearts heavy with bittersweet nostalgia.

Musical Memories

Our music teacher introduced us to many English songs, and Kalpana, Malli, and I even sang the national anthem. We weren’t exactly nightingales, but we sang with all our hearts!

This was our song-

Those were the days my friend
We thought they’d never end
We’d sing and dance forever and a day
We’d live the life we choose
We would fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Girl Scout Adventures

Our Girl Scout days were magical. Short trips let us mingle with students from other schools, share songs, and laugh around late-night bonfires. I wish we could go back to those classrooms, and experience the assemblies, PT drills, and teacher scoldings again. We laughed about punishment stints standing on benches and dunce caps. Recalling the coconut-shell “John’s Mixture,” and Mary’s black stringy toffees. Oh, how I’d love to relive those days.

Reminiscing Our School Memories

Laughter filled the room as we shared funny anecdotes from school. We shared cherished memories while playing ‘Passing the Parcel’.

Sabiha’s Story: The Mimicry of Mrs. Vincent

Sabiha mimicked our English teacher, Mrs. Vincent, flawlessly. “Girls, take out your books… What has happened is…” and a dramatic pause! Sabiha’s imitation made us laugh until our sides hurt.

Mallika’s Tale: The Giggling Fit

Mallika remembered Mrs Vincent’s scolding: “You girls giggle at everything! Even my little finger!” Naturally, this made them laugh even harder.

Chaya’s Recollection: The Jam Session Dance

Chaya recounted the school jam session where Kalpana and Mallika tried the “bump dance.” With far more girls than boys, we had to dance with each other. Kalpana and Mallika’s attempts had everyone laughing.

Padma’s Clarification: The Fourth-Grade Incident

Padma finally cleared her name from an old rumour. On a class trip to Madras, someone wrongly accused her blamed for pushing Padmaja at the railway station. With a grin, she set the record straight!

Kalpana’s Memories: Marching Discipline

Kalpana remembered our sports teacher, Annapurna Ma’am, and her strict discipline. If we strayed from her line during marching practice, her scale would swiftly “correct” us.

Padmaja’s Flashback: Sister Imelda’s Duster

Padmaja shared a funny memory of Sister Imelda’s moral science class. Sister often dozed off, clutching a duster, and would wake abruptly, asking where we were.

Manjula’s Chilling Memory: Old Delhi Mishap

Manjula remembered a frightening moment during our class trip to Kashmir. While shopping in Old Delhi, a group of men surrounded us. We defended ourselves with whatever we could find and thankfully escaped.

Padmavathi’s Story: Sister Imelda’s Brandy

Padmavathi shared a memory of our trip to Srinagar. Sister Imelda had some brandy to combat the cold. Later, she tried counting us but kept getting the numbers wrong. We laughed, knowing her “brandy count” was to blame.

Uma’s Oath: No Movies for a Year

Uma had vowed not to watch movies for a year. Toward the end, the class planned a movie outing. Mallika encouraged her to stick to her vow, and she did.

Heena’s Tall Tale: Standing at the Back

Tallest in class, Heena always stood at the back, feeling like a “tree.” Meanwhile, I, the shortest, was always in the front. We laughed, realizing these roles had stuck with us in memory.

My Anecdote: The Ninth-Grade Science Lab

I shared my memory of a ninth-grade science lab with Mrs. Lourdes Mary. She asked, “Where can we find urea in the classroom?” We guessed all sorts of places. Finally, she laughed, saying, “In your panties!”

Sesha and Padma’s Secret Chats

Sesha and Padma admitted to sneaking off to chat near the washrooms. Teachers more than once caught them. Their “secret” spot became our inside joke.

School Reunion: Atkinson High After 36 Years

Visiting Beloved Teachers

Mrs. Lourdes Mary: The Science Teacher Who Inspired

Our next stop was our cherished science teacher, Mrs. Lourdes Mary. We brought her a warm quilt and some fresh fruits. Despite the years, we had not forgotten her lessons; she had a special way of sparking curiosity and making science come alive. I owe my love for science to her! Despite her memory being clouded by age and time, she greeted us warmly. She recalled some of our names and blessed us. Her memory faded but her heart was still full of kindness. Truly, the best teachers teach from the heart. Thank you, Ma’am—you are unforgettable.

Miss Rammannamma: The Strict Math Mentor

Then we set off to find our math teacher, Miss Rammannamma. After a bit of a treasure hunt around the neighbourhood, we finally found her home. She was the same strong-willed woman, now with shiny grey hair, though her signature starched sari was missing. A strict teacher, she had drilled math into us, and thanks to her teaching, I managed to pass. She welcomed us with warmth, laughing as she struggled to remember our names. Age may erase memories, but teachers like her remain timeless in our hearts.

Mrs. Vincent: The History Teacher We Adored

Our final visit was to our history teacher, Mrs. Vincent. Heena led us to her home, but seeing her in a frail state broke our hearts. Her memory was fading, and she couldn’t recall our names, though she recognized the connection and called us her “children.” She had once taught us with the passion of a teacher who knew the past could shape the present. Though she could no longer hold on to her memories, she held a special place in ours. To the world, she may just be another teacher; to us, she is a star.

Wrapping Up with Dinner and Friendship

With hearts full and minds brimming with memories, we headed to our dinner spot at Blue Fox, Minerva Grand. Despite the passing years, our spirits were still young, and ready to celebrate friendship. We donned our napkins as crowns and laughed, embracing the silliness only lifelong friends can enjoy.

That day, I learned something priceless: genuine friendship grows stronger with age. Life may pull us apart, but those who knew us when we were young can bridge any gap.

Looking Forward and Cherishing the Past

As we said goodbye, I felt deeply grateful. We promised to meet again, hoping to relive these precious moments again. Though the next reunion never came, this day will stay in my heart forever.

True friends are life’s greatest treasures, and this reunion reminded me of our timeless bond.

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.