Final day at TVS Academy..

Today was one that I knew would be difficult. We left our hotel early and headed 5 minutes down the road to the TVSA. The kids also arrived early, knowing we would be there. Seeing as we had visited the school Saturday, many of the children knew us by name, and we were greeted by a swarm of running children who were very excited to start asking questions. I had been on the TVSA campus for about 15 minutes but still had not spotted Suchitra, the girl I had bonded with during our Saturday visit, who also is in my facebook profile picture. I keep my eyes peeled for her as I continued to answer questions from the eager students. It was then that I heard the sweetest voice calling my name. I turned around to see Suchitra running down the stone path towards me. My heart absolutely melted. Not only did I get to spend the day with Miss Suchitra, I also got to help her celebrate her 11th birthday :) I was also able to visit other classes throughout the day. We sat in on a math lab where the students were never given a math formula, they are given materials and derive the answer using hands on techniques. I was a bit skeptical of the math lab, but as soon as the class started working on the first problem I knew they completely grasped the concepts. Not only could they physically show their reasoning, they were able to verbally communicate how they solved the problem, and how it could be applied to other objects. Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed.




In other classes, the students have the freedom to work either inside the classroom, or outside under the cover of each building. The set up was so peaceful. The students at TVSA were beyond respectful, not only to their teachers, but to their classmates. I sat in on a 3rd standard (grade) classroom studying Tamil, the local language. The students were not only excited to ask me questions, they also wanted to teach me to speak their language. These students love for learning has been so amazing to witness. While we knew we had a long drive ahead of us, back to Chennai, none of us wanted to leave the TVSA students or staff. They were SOOOO wonderful!!

It was on the way home that Vidya began an impromptu discussion. It was during this discussion that the emotions of what I have seen the last week really surfaced, not in tears, but in passion. It was the first time that I really had to think about how India has already changed my life, and who I am. I only wish I could have recorded the answer I gave. I have no idea where it came from, but I was the last of 8 to speak, and I just brought it home... In only a week India has taught me more about myself and the person I want to become than anything in my entire life. It has forced me to evaluate the paths I have taken in life, and has ignited an inner fire that I never knew I had. I am glowing from the inside, which may sound ridiculous, but I never knew that by being exposed and completely immersed within a rich culture like India's I would be able to learn more about myself... I came to India with the sole purpose to learn more about the people here. While I absolutely have fulfilled this original expectation, I have gained much much more. I have met people and been witness to acts that will change my life forever. While I know my life in Washington awaits my return, Im not so sure I will ever be the same. I think that no matter where I go, a small piece of India will always be with me...