Diary for the Year 2003 - 2004

September 01, 2003, Monday

Dear Miss,
As-Salaam-O-Alaikum!
Today is the first time that I am writing a diary to you. Today, me and my other friends of the class went to Korangi Creek for the badminton match between our College and theirs. We lost, but we were all happy and enjoyed our journey back to the College as much as we enjoyed it when we were going. We all were singing national songs amd some Indian movies songs. We were all full of high spirits. When we lost the game, we did not go upset and discouraged. In fact, we all were full of sportman spirit. Because, losing is a part of the game. A game can never have two winners. There can only be one. This time it was not us but the other side, but it doesn't matter as life can never be stopped at one point. I got quite tired after the occassion and I came back and had a good sleep. That's all to say and write. Wish to meet you tomorrow in the morning and learn something good from you.

Ms. Erum Shahid's reply:

03-08-03
So have you learnt anything good at all? I wish I could go to Korangi myself. I've heard it's a beautiful base. Is it?
Lets hope that you will do well in today's speech contest. Good luck!

September 03, 2003, Wednesday

Today, I had my speech contest and I gave the speech so unconfidently. It's because I've never faced audience before in such a way. My first interaction with so much masses of people was when I was in matric. I for the first time took part in a spelling competition and our House (i.e., our team) lost in the tie-round between our team and the other, because I spelt one word wrongly. There, I faced my school Principal, school teachers, and other school girls of various classes (my school was not of co-education) for the very first time. Now was the second. I have never done anything like this before, because I am a shy person. I can't face people. So, whenever an opportunity of such a kind used to come, I never took it and the reason is the lack of confidence in me. May be, I can speak well, but not on stage in front of so many people. For the "All Pakistan Debate Competition", I think, you should be confident and prepared enough, so that you would do it well. You always say to me that you want me on the mic, in front of all the people and I always try not to make you hopeless, but still the problem remains there and that's of my shyness and confidence. May be everyone is like me in the beginning and faces the same kind of situation. I think, it comes with time and experience. Are there any speacial tips for all such things? But anyways, that never makes any difference. It's just your luck and trust in GOD. Right!!??
Hope to see you well in the morning tomorrow and learn something good from you.

September 04, 2003, Thursday

Today, I went to the Progress Section and still my ID Card had not been sent to the Principal's office for his signature. Today, it's going to be more than two and a half week above for this. Well, what can I say? May be, it's the irresponsibility of the staff working there. Anyways, whatever. I want my ID Card so that I would be able to take the Library Card, which won't be issued until and unless a student has his/her ID Card with him/her. I think, our old librarian is no more working there, because I can see a new lady instead of her. If the librarian is changed, then this is very good, because the old one was a bit strict with the rules and was very much hard on the book-borrowers. I get to know this through my friend who had her interaction with the librarian. Ooopps!!! I am saying this all (in fact writing this all) in front of you. But, I know you are a good, nice and sweet teacher of ours and you won't say even a word on this to anyone. Right?!? Well, what else. Actually, I am fond of reading. There also in my previous school, I was the only girl who used to borrow books "the most". Others were also there, but I used to borrow one book today and used to return it the next day or two days later and borrow another one. But, that also when I had time. Here, I am sure, I will do the same, not in so much excess, because things should be done with balance. In our library, there are not so much books which can be referred to for any matter in depth. But still, a library is a library. Oh! Oh! I talk too much. Sorry to take so long. The rest will be next time. So keep on checking. :-) Bye for now. Hope to see you well next day and learn something good from you.

September 05, 2003, Friday

Today, all the First Year students gave a farewell party to Miss Bushra, because she is retiring from our college, for now she is getting married. I have never been taught by Miss Bushra, but my friends say, who had the pleasure of taking her teaching classes, that she is a very nice and good teacher of English. It feels really great when you are taught by such a nice teacher. For us students, we never forget those teachers who have made and turned us into someone who we can't be ourselves, by our own efforts. These are only the good teachers who devote their time and energy to make a good person out of us. We never forget such teachers. To be one like this is a great thing. You are also a very good teacher of ours and at least I would always remember you for whatever I have learnt from you. I still remember my previous school teachers for their kindness and lovable personalities. They really make out a good future for you. It is only because of a good teacher that a student dreams to be someone like this or that in his/her future. Like I wanna be a chemist because of my chemistry teacher. The same is true for other subjects as well. Sometimes, some teachers are admired by you so much that you wanna be just like them. To be a teacher and a good one is really a blessing from Allah Almighty. Teachers are those people in society who really work to build the society, to make the nations, to make humans. I think, they are the real "tools" for curving the society into a prosperous and successful one. Giving a farewell party to a teacher makes him/her remember the students, the college and the time of his/her life spent there and the experience that they had goten from that place. To learn that Miss Bushra was a good teacher, I also miss being taught by her. She doesn't even know me but, that doesn't matter. I would always remember her for she has taught my friends. You are also the same kind, and I always tell my mom that I have again got a good English teacher. :-) I guess all the English teachers are very sweet and nice. I have got my two sister cousins who teach English and they too are very sweet and nice just like you people. :-) Well, what else?!? The rest is for the next time. :-) Bye. See you on Monday, well and good and learn more from you.

September 08, 2003, Monday

Today, I sat on the first seat in the class. It's because I can't see from the last two seats in our row. So, can I be allowed just to roll till the fourth seat and not on ward? Because, I have problem seeing. Hope you'll understand. It's been so long and you've not come to the college and checked our diaries. Anyways. Today, I borrowed my first book from our college library. It's "Grimm's Fairy Tales". I love fairy tales a lot. But, the fairy tales of Grimm's and Anderson's are a bit too unreal and unnatural. Of course, every fairy tale is like this but, theirs seem to be too much unrealistic and unoriginal. The ones having more clearer and closer appraoch to life seems more truthful and worldly well than theirs. For example, Cinderella, The Ugly Ducklings, etc. The Aesop's Fables are also the best moral giving stories. Though animals don't talk in real life but, they are stated as acting like humans, which gives them the character of being real and more moralful than the others. Whatelse? The rest is fine. Hope you will agree with whatever I have written as my opinion about these fairy tales and fables. Do comment. Hope to see you tomorrow well in the morning and learn something good from you.

Miss Erum Shahid's reply:

09-09-03
First of all thanks a lot for saying such nice things about teachers. It has made me feel so good about the profession that I am in thanks for refreshing my objectives and my enthusiasm.
Congratualtions on finally receiving your ID Card!
You are very right about the fairy tales. But this is exactly what they are all about. A world of fantasy, so beautiful and peaceful that one cannot imagine. It actually is an attempt to escape from the real world of bitter facts to a place that is your heart's desire. The magnitude of this imagination varies from writer to writer. The ones that are extremely unreal are those who beileve in creating a totally new world altogether. Remember "Wizard of Oz" and "Alice in Wonderland".
Fairy Tales are man's imagination at work and therefore does not have any limits or boundaries as it can not be controlled. Right!
Do you ever imagine?
Your speech was just fine. Not winning does not mean losing. It only means that there were some people who were better than us. We can be like them, but we only need to practice. I want you to be on the mike again and again in order to help you attain the confidence and remove the shyness that you have complained against. Got it!
So do listen to what your elders tell you to do. Be a nice kid. O.K!

September 09, 2003, Tuesday

Today's day was a fine day, not an exceptional one in any respect. Nothing special happened. Just a regular day. Nowadays, we are receiving a lot of new-comers in our class. Our class strength is increasing day by day and now it has reached 53 I guess. So much for just one class. I think, all the new-comers are being sent to First Year-A, and may be they have forgotten that First Year-B also exists. For the new-comers who are for Pre-Medical, they can be sent here but, those who belong to Pre-Engineering can also be seen. Although, I am also a Pre-Engineering student and love my class and don't want to leave it at any cost but, I got my admission a little earlier, almsot a month ago. I was told that there is no room for more students in Fisrt Year-B (of Pre-Engineering) so, I had to come in the First Year-A (of Pre-Medical). The strength of First Year-B is, I think not more than 45 students and look at our class strength. That's injustice. But whatever, our class has the best of the Fisrt Year, i.e., we are the creme. Because we have got all the good students. Some bad ones are also there but, they are negligible. (Itna tau chalta hai.) Right!? Hope you would agree. When before I was told that I am going to sit in the Pre-Medical section, I got a bit upset that why not with my own group students. But now, when I look at the Pre-Engineering section and the Pre-Medical one, I find the Pre-Medical one better, because when I see the students of the other section, they don't seem to impress me and besides, I would have found no friends if I would had been there. So, whatever Allah Almighty does is the best. I got the admission late and I am at the right place with YOU. Right?!! Hope you would agree. Nothing else much. See you well in the morning and learn something good from you.

Miss Erum Shahid's reply:

10-09-03
The strength is becoming a problem and I've heard that they were considering the option of starting a new section. Lets see what will happen.
Lets hope for the best.

Diary written by my friend, Tooba, on my behalf
11-09-03

Today, we went to the computer lab in our interval for the selection of proctors. I had not been selected for a senior proctor, because my percentage was little bit less than Amna. Amna became a proctor and she looks so happy today. Aniee and Muqaddas had also been selected. I didn't become sad because my mom had already told me not to be a proctor, it doesn't matter if I had not been a proctor. Its fine. Today, the presentation was good. We got so many important points from this presentation. Madam, I want to ask you a question that is it compulsory for every student to give presentation and are the marks which you gave them, I mean the presentators, will be incluced in our Pre-Board or Detention Exams?
Do you know anything about our Progress Tests, I mean, when will the tests start? Do you have any idea about it?
Today, I had taken a book of Robin Hood from the library. Its quite interesting.
Ok Ma'am, bye for now. Hope to see you well in the morning.

Miss Erum Shahid's reply:

12-09-03
Yes my dear, it is compulsory for every student to present an assignment b/c I want every student to have a chance to gain confidence. The marks will be placed on the Soft Board at the end of this term but they will not be included in the Pre-Board or Dententions at least this year. So . . . . .

September 12, 2003, Friday

Today's day was a fine one. I really enjoyed your last period, especially the rule that you have set out for us all is a good one. In my previous school, there used to be the same thing. We used to speak English with all our teachers except the Urdu and the Islamiyat teachers. Even with the Arab teachers teaching us Arabic, the medium of communication was English, because no other language was used, for they only used to understand either Arabic or English. That's one of the reasons we Pakistanis there never learn Arabic from our school classes. Because, English is a foreign language for both, us and them. There, Arabic is compulsory from class 1 till 8. And in these classes, the students aren't so well in English. So how can they learn Arabic language. I started understanding my Arabic teachers' English from the 6th class because they speak it with a different accent that is hard to understand. So after that I only had three years for the Arabic language, i.e., from 6th till 8th, but we never get it in our minds, because we use to take it as a subject. But anyways. About English in my previous school, the students weren't compelled to speak English with each other but we used to as we are so much involved ih the language there, having non-Pakistanis. But with our school teachers and other staff, i.e., V.P and others, we used to speak English. Those who used to take Islamiyat in English, they as well had to speak English with the Islamiyat teacher. Speaking Enlgish espeacially when you are going through a learning process builds up your power to speak the language. If we make it a rule, we definitely would excell in this regard as well. Here, in Pakistan, people are much weaker in English. That's what I have found by studying here in this college which is a private college, then I can imagine the state of the government schools and colleges which are, I guess, much more lagged behind than those which are private. The reason is the same, students just take it as a subject and nothing else. They are taking other science subjects in English, but this doesn't make the difference as they don't use it in their enviornment, in their interactions and communication with other people. A language's basic purpose is to communicate, but to communicate well your views, opinions and thoughts is something that should be counted. Teachers do really play an important and essential role in this and I am glad, glad, glad, glad, that you are doing it. You wanna make the difference to make the place a better one to live in. Right! Hope you would agree. That's it. Hope to see you well and good and learn something new from you. Allah Hafiz!

Miss Erum Shahid's reply:

13-09-03
Ya, this is exactly I want, wish and hope to do and for this I want the cooperation of all my students on whom I depend. Are you with me?

September 16, 2003, Tuesday

Today, we had our Math's Test in the last two periods when the rest of the class was enjoying in Bio Lab. I was depressed about the test as I hadn't prepared it, but it's my mistake, I should had. Me and some other students went to pur Math's Sir to request him not to take our test and he said that he would see in the last two periods when he would make the class to vote on the questions whether to give the test or no. The majority would win as always. But something else happened. He did ask the class to vote and the majority said that they don't want to give the test this time but instead other wekk. But he opposed us when he saw that the majority is not ready for the test and doesn't want to give. He said that he can't upset those people who have prepared for the test all day before and devoted their time and self. This would br injustice to them. So he said that he would take the test this very day and no matter we all get zero, he doesn't care. Now, this is going back on one's own words in front of so much majority. Sir is a kind of unfair person. He makes us all punish because of bad students in the class. And his punishment is not some physical but mental and kind of educationa;. Like, he would teach us so fast that we all would not get him and finish one exercise in a day which is not good. It's not our benefit but a sort of loss as we don't catch up with him. Before he said if the absebtees would be more I will not take the test and because of those absentees I would punish you all by something that you would wonder upon. Only some 10-15 students were absent in First Year-B and all of our Maths' class was present. As the absentee are not much, okay, then he can take the test and we agree to it but when the students are not willing to give it this time because they hadn't prepared and instead wants to give it the next time, then what's the meaning of taking the test today and now when all the students would Fail including me. May be he doesn't know that basic purpose of a teacher taking a test. It is for the preparation of the students for hos future exams. To prepare him/her beforehand. Right?! And when the majority hasn't prepared it then it means that all can't do it in the time he alloted us of just one week and given 2 whole chapters. And I am sure you know that Maths is not an easy bite. If only 10 to 12 students had prepared for the the test and the rest haven't it means that the majoirty of 40-45 students haven't then he should have not taken the test as the majority of the strength was unable. He is a good Sir, not that he took the test for our preparation but we haven't prepared that well to pass it, he becomes bad. He teaches very nicely and is a soft-spoken person and we understand him a lot. But because of some people he did this with us all on our very very first Maths' test which is going to have the results on the Notice Board. What would have you done? Reacted in the same manner? What do you think about test and how should they be taken? (Sorry for taking so much time but I had to explain as is there in my nature. I talk a lot by the way. It's good that you aren't present in front of me otherwise you would have asked Allah for the mercy and me to leave you alone. Well, I'm not that that bad. :-)! :-)! Bye for now. (Phew! At last!!) Hope tp see you in the morning and learn soemthing good from you. :-)!

Miss Erum Shahid's reply:

17-09-03
I surely would have reacted in a different manner knowing that I was wrong. Ya I mean it.
Whatever he did was right Sidrah. We cannot and should not keep changing the schedule of our tests only b/c the students aren't taking it seriously. It would be like encouraging them to delay their work in future as well. This time he took the test strictly telling everybody that he means buisness and that his work has to be done on time. So . . . No hard feelings. He is a teacher b/c he knows more than you, not only about the syllabus but about how it should be taught and covered in time effectively. O.K!

September 17, 2003, Wednesday

Today's day was just fine like every other day. Not much happened. Just came to college, studied, chatted with my friend and enjoyed a bit and the day ended. What about you? How was your day? Just like every other day or something different and new happened?
Well, whatelse?!! Can I ask you some personal questions if you are willing to answer them? Well, let me ask and then you can decide whether to answer or no. First of all, what is your date of birth and star, your place of birth and to which city in Pakistan to do you really belong, how many brothers and sisters do you have? What is your mom and dad and do you live with them or independently? What are your interests and hobbies and how do you pass your leisure time? Are you creative and imaginative or of adventurous and exploring kind? Do tell me about your personality. And did you always have interest in English as a subject, why did you choose it to be your profession? That's all. (Oh! My GOD!! Again so many questions). Well, that's it, no more. Hope to see you next time, well and good as always. Bye for now. :-)

Miss Erum Shahid's reply:

20-09-03
O.K! Let's play a game Sidrah. You guess the answers of all these questions first and then I surely will give you the right answers - So, I am waitng for your analysis of my personality.

September 20, 2003, Saturday

Okay! So you want me to guess the answers. How can I correctly say about your personal life? Regarding your personality, you are many things at the same time. That's, you are a good teacher and seem to be a good human being, since, you are a good teacher. Else is that, you look like a very jolly kind of a person and a bit serious at the same time too. You joke when it is time for enjoyment and you are serious on serious matters. You are not at all strict with rules and discipline, so you yourself seem to be a naughty student of your time. But, you get angry quickly and show us all your anger to tell the pupils that you are serious. What else? I really don't have any idea about your own very very personal life, so if you would tell, it would be good, but, if you think that is none of my business, then it's okay too. But one more thing, whatever you say, you are very much favourite among our class boys, and this is not flattery. Try to test yourself this point and may be you would know. The rest is okay. Nothing special happened in College. It was like just another day.
Bye for now :-) See you on Monday as lovely as you are.

Miss Erum Shahid's reply:

22nd Sept, 03
11th July, 1975, Cancer, Lahore, I belong to Pakistan as a Pakistani who loves to be here with fellow countrymen. Can't we all think that way. Does belonging matter? Does it?
We are 3 sisters and 2 brothers. I do live happily (Alhamdulillah) with my parents, interests and hobbies were there once but now I don't get time for them. I used to paint and draw and there was a time when I even used to write poetry HA!HA! long time back. Now I've a Nephew (Masha Allah) and he is all I need to kill my time. I am very imaginative and a true day dreamer;
I expect too much from people and therefore get hurt very often.

Is that enough information? But this is for your eyes (with spectacles) only - Our diary stuff is something confidential.
Now I also would like to know the same details except for the city question, I rather would like to have your comment on it.

By the way, why have you mentioned the boys only? Don't the girls enjoy the class? If not then do suggest what I should do to involve them as well - I'll wait for a long reply.

September 22, 2003, Monday