Imagine a little girl, three feet tall, dressed in plain grey tunic, pink shirt and tiny black shoes, carrying a bag bigger than her and entering the gates of a whole new world of taller figures and bigger buildings than she was used to seeing.

That’s me, and to top it all, I got lost on the first day of school. I didn’t know what to do and where to go. I stood in the quadrangle and started wailing loudly. I was rescued by an angel dressed in a saree, who hugged me tight and took me to my colourful classroom.

Turning back the hands of time to the days when I was younger, I remember myself as an incessant talker and I often managed to get on the nerves of teachers. I was either called ‘Miss

Chatter Box’ or ‘Miss BBC’ for reporting all the news about the pranks that my classmates played on my teachers.

I also remember wearing the best possible dress I owned and coming to school all decked up on my birthdays, distributing sweets to teachers and friends and separating the best and the biggest ones for my beloved principal.

I recall the excitement and the timid joy in offering her the sweet and she smiling down at me and patting my head.

Furthermore, there were times when I was recognised for my abilities which gave me sheer happiness while there were stressful moments like the exams and being caught while playing naughty pranks on teachers and friends.

The fantastic farewell my juniors gave me left me in awe. The icing on the top of the cake was when I was crowned Miss Triyog for the academic session 2007-2008.

Such and many other memories that I carry from my school will be a part of me throughout my life. I hope I will be able to look back and smile at them when I am old and grey haired.

— Nivida Lamichhane, Triyog High School