Representing one's school in a competition is one of the best feelings one can have.I got my chance to represent my school when I was selected to be in our school's(Atomic Energy Central School,Manuguru) Quiz Team for a youth fest that was going to be held in Mumbai.It was one of the best things to have happened in my life.I was part of a large group of students selected for the fest.It was something like Olympics.Only difference that you are representing your school rather than nation.At that age school was our identity.And AECS,our school,was something of which we were very proud of.
My quizzing journey started back in my 9th class.I got third position in a written quiz conducted by the Library Dept of our school.And there was a big Quiz contest coming organised by 'The Hindu' in Hyderabad. I was hoping to attend the selection trials for that and was upbeat about my chances.But to my dismay I found out that our school had already selected a student and was sending him without conducting proper trials.I moved on and in my 10th there was a intra school Quiz Competition.Our house was conducting selection trials and I attented them.There were four people to be selected to form a team,Many students attended and soon the first three positions got filled up.The fourth was left.I beat many others and finally it was between me and another boy.The selector asked us the tie breaker question.We both couldnt answer.She asked another.Now we both knew the answer.She asked another and this time I answered and was in the team.I was delighted and finally my dream to be on a quiz team finally came true.The day of the tournament came and our house won the first prize with me playing a significant role in our win.After this win I constantly participated in other quiz contests and won a number of them.
In my Intermediate days I heard about the upcoming Mumbai Youth Fest where a number of competitions would be organised.It was a four day extravaganza and when I heard that quiz was going to be a part of it I was very excited.Soon the expected call up came and I was one of the first team members to selected for Quiz.I was also selected for Debate for which I declined saying I was much better performer in quiz than in Debate.I was given responsibility of the Quiz team being the senior most member and was given a say in the selection of other members.I selected some but due to their participation in other events They couldn't make it in my team.Finally after a lot of deliberations a four member team was formed comprising of Netrav Gupta,Sreenidhi,Venella and myself.All three of my teammates were excellent in studies.I was good at academics but nowhere near to my three teammates but in terms of General Knowledge we all four made a good team.Now with the team in place we were told to practice which we did but in our own way.We never really sat together and practice.All three of them were busy with their other commitments and all I could think was about going to Mumbai.Finally the day of departure came and we were off to Mumbai.My favorites teachers Amulya Ma'am and Hemamalini Ma'am were also accompanying us.It only made my the trip more enjoyable.There were only two members from Intermediate second year.Ananjay and myself.So we had a bit of responsibility on our shoulders.
Before the events started there was going to be a big display of tableaus from the various participating
schools.Our school was also making one.We had a skit to be performed on the truck.I was given the role of a British Officer.Two funny incidents happend regarding my role.One when I was walking by on the roads of the colony from the hostel where I got my costume on towards the venue of the tableu,many people mocked me and playfully hurled abuses at me.Someone shouted 'angrez ki aulad bharat chhod' someone else shouted 'simon go back' someone even threw some stones at me.I had a good laugh at this.Another thing to happen was to change into my costume my teacher called me to the girls hostel.I changed into my costume and forgot my T-Shirt there.The next day I casually mentioned in front my friends that I forgot my T-shirt at the girls hostel.They were like 'Dude how did your shirt end up in the girls hostel' and I had to start from the
beginning and stop their overworking brains to jump to conclusions.
By the Second day Our school had participated in almost
all of the events and were still to open our account of wins.Our event was on the second day.First there was a preliminary round.I was expecting the boring written round but to my delight I found out that it was to be a stage round.We were discussing amongst ourselves of clearing the prelims nevermind winning the whole contest.We were in the sixth round of eliminators.In it the first question asked to us was about the origin of names of months of a calendar and collectively we answered it easily.Soon other questions followed and we answered with ease.In this preliminary round my contribution was bit less compared with others.We qualified easily in this round.Having cleared the prelims we were in a relaxed state of mind.There was still time for the main round to start.
The time for the main round finally came.There were many round each dealing with different fields.There were many tough questions but my reading habit came to my rescue many times.I knew many answers from the novels that I had read.We were competing well.The audience was comprised of two sections of people.One section was supporting the home school,Mumbai.The other was supporting all the teams other than Mumbai.The mumbai crowd was bigger and was much more vocal of their support.Every correct answer was greeted by loud cheers,whistles and claps.Round after round we answered well and slowly we were inching to the top of the points table.Soon the last round came and We were trailing the home team by 2.5 points and the contest was heating up.There was one question left to be asked to the Mumbai team and were hoping that they not answer it and the question get passed to the other teams.In that way if we could answer it we still had a chance to win.Finally the quiz master asked the final question.As soon as I heard the question my heart rate increased cause I knew the answer.I also knew the question was a tough one and the answer was something that couldn't be guessed.What we hoped,happened.Mumbai couldn't answer it and one by one the question got passed by the other teams and was approaching us.With each 'pass' my expectations increased and I was already thinking of our win.After what seemed like an eternity our turn came.I took the mike in my trembling hands and with a shaky voice I answered.I knew the answer was correct and with the QuizMaster's confirmation my heart beat just shot up further.It was over.We won.All the teams supporting us started whistling and clapping.There were handshakes all around.Pats on the back and shouts of congratulations.I was feeling like a hero of a movie.It was a joyous moment for us.Here we were,tagged as no hopers we comprehensively beat all the so called big teams.As I came down the stairs of the stage a strange feeling came over me,I became calm and just a smile appeared on my face.No shouting,no dancing.Perhaps it was the shock of winning an India Level event.Later one of our teacher's told me that I should have been a bit more expressive while the event was going on.Well,I thought I was here to try and win and not put up a show for the audience.But anyway the joy of leading your school to victory comes once in a lifetime and I was truly proud and haapy that I had the fortune of doing it.
While I was going out of the venue, more good news came.One of our school mates and friend Trisha came hopping around and informed me that her team had also won the first prize in Debate.We high fived and congratulated each other.The campaign of Manuguru was well and truly off.We won a lot of prizes in other events too.After a memorable last dinner party we returned to Manuguru with the trophies in hand.While coming back my school mates started pestering me for a treat celebrating my win.I gave a small treat hoping to give them a big one later.But I couldn't and thats one regret I still have even to this day.Off all the compliments I received I remember Amulya madam's.She said 'you guys smashed them' I was filled with pride and happiness on hearing these words.This win in Mumbai was one of my life's best moments.It changed me in many ways.I made new friends,discovered aspects of myself that I didnt know existed in me and got a lot of confidence.
(Moazzam,Bhuvan,Trisha,Nikhil,Hemant,Yashwant,Ananjay,Sumedha,Niharika,Anjali,Vidhi,Abhijeet,Shahsank,Abhuday,Abhay Prabhu,Abhijeet,Vineet,and my quiz team mates all made this trip memorable for me.Thank you guys!)
Watch a short video of the trip here-
My quizzing journey started back in my 9th class.I got third position in a written quiz conducted by the Library Dept of our school.And there was a big Quiz contest coming organised by 'The Hindu' in Hyderabad. I was hoping to attend the selection trials for that and was upbeat about my chances.But to my dismay I found out that our school had already selected a student and was sending him without conducting proper trials.I moved on and in my 10th there was a intra school Quiz Competition.Our house was conducting selection trials and I attented them.There were four people to be selected to form a team,Many students attended and soon the first three positions got filled up.The fourth was left.I beat many others and finally it was between me and another boy.The selector asked us the tie breaker question.We both couldnt answer.She asked another.Now we both knew the answer.She asked another and this time I answered and was in the team.I was delighted and finally my dream to be on a quiz team finally came true.The day of the tournament came and our house won the first prize with me playing a significant role in our win.After this win I constantly participated in other quiz contests and won a number of them.
In my Intermediate days I heard about the upcoming Mumbai Youth Fest where a number of competitions would be organised.It was a four day extravaganza and when I heard that quiz was going to be a part of it I was very excited.Soon the expected call up came and I was one of the first team members to selected for Quiz.I was also selected for Debate for which I declined saying I was much better performer in quiz than in Debate.I was given responsibility of the Quiz team being the senior most member and was given a say in the selection of other members.I selected some but due to their participation in other events They couldn't make it in my team.Finally after a lot of deliberations a four member team was formed comprising of Netrav Gupta,Sreenidhi,Venella and myself.All three of my teammates were excellent in studies.I was good at academics but nowhere near to my three teammates but in terms of General Knowledge we all four made a good team.Now with the team in place we were told to practice which we did but in our own way.We never really sat together and practice.All three of them were busy with their other commitments and all I could think was about going to Mumbai.Finally the day of departure came and we were off to Mumbai.My favorites teachers Amulya Ma'am and Hemamalini Ma'am were also accompanying us.It only made my the trip more enjoyable.There were only two members from Intermediate second year.Ananjay and myself.So we had a bit of responsibility on our shoulders.
Before the events started there was going to be a big display of tableaus from the various participating
schools.Our school was also making one.We had a skit to be performed on the truck.I was given the role of a British Officer.Two funny incidents happend regarding my role.One when I was walking by on the roads of the colony from the hostel where I got my costume on towards the venue of the tableu,many people mocked me and playfully hurled abuses at me.Someone shouted 'angrez ki aulad bharat chhod' someone else shouted 'simon go back' someone even threw some stones at me.I had a good laugh at this.Another thing to happen was to change into my costume my teacher called me to the girls hostel.I changed into my costume and forgot my T-Shirt there.The next day I casually mentioned in front my friends that I forgot my T-shirt at the girls hostel.They were like 'Dude how did your shirt end up in the girls hostel' and I had to start from the
beginning and stop their overworking brains to jump to conclusions.
By the Second day Our school had participated in almost
all of the events and were still to open our account of wins.Our event was on the second day.First there was a preliminary round.I was expecting the boring written round but to my delight I found out that it was to be a stage round.We were discussing amongst ourselves of clearing the prelims nevermind winning the whole contest.We were in the sixth round of eliminators.In it the first question asked to us was about the origin of names of months of a calendar and collectively we answered it easily.Soon other questions followed and we answered with ease.In this preliminary round my contribution was bit less compared with others.We qualified easily in this round.Having cleared the prelims we were in a relaxed state of mind.There was still time for the main round to start.
The time for the main round finally came.There were many round each dealing with different fields.There were many tough questions but my reading habit came to my rescue many times.I knew many answers from the novels that I had read.We were competing well.The audience was comprised of two sections of people.One section was supporting the home school,Mumbai.The other was supporting all the teams other than Mumbai.The mumbai crowd was bigger and was much more vocal of their support.Every correct answer was greeted by loud cheers,whistles and claps.Round after round we answered well and slowly we were inching to the top of the points table.Soon the last round came and We were trailing the home team by 2.5 points and the contest was heating up.There was one question left to be asked to the Mumbai team and were hoping that they not answer it and the question get passed to the other teams.In that way if we could answer it we still had a chance to win.Finally the quiz master asked the final question.As soon as I heard the question my heart rate increased cause I knew the answer.I also knew the question was a tough one and the answer was something that couldn't be guessed.What we hoped,happened.Mumbai couldn't answer it and one by one the question got passed by the other teams and was approaching us.With each 'pass' my expectations increased and I was already thinking of our win.After what seemed like an eternity our turn came.I took the mike in my trembling hands and with a shaky voice I answered.I knew the answer was correct and with the QuizMaster's confirmation my heart beat just shot up further.It was over.We won.All the teams supporting us started whistling and clapping.There were handshakes all around.Pats on the back and shouts of congratulations.I was feeling like a hero of a movie.It was a joyous moment for us.Here we were,tagged as no hopers we comprehensively beat all the so called big teams.As I came down the stairs of the stage a strange feeling came over me,I became calm and just a smile appeared on my face.No shouting,no dancing.Perhaps it was the shock of winning an India Level event.Later one of our teacher's told me that I should have been a bit more expressive while the event was going on.Well,I thought I was here to try and win and not put up a show for the audience.But anyway the joy of leading your school to victory comes once in a lifetime and I was truly proud and haapy that I had the fortune of doing it.
While I was going out of the venue, more good news came.One of our school mates and friend Trisha came hopping around and informed me that her team had also won the first prize in Debate.We high fived and congratulated each other.The campaign of Manuguru was well and truly off.We won a lot of prizes in other events too.After a memorable last dinner party we returned to Manuguru with the trophies in hand.While coming back my school mates started pestering me for a treat celebrating my win.I gave a small treat hoping to give them a big one later.But I couldn't and thats one regret I still have even to this day.Off all the compliments I received I remember Amulya madam's.She said 'you guys smashed them' I was filled with pride and happiness on hearing these words.This win in Mumbai was one of my life's best moments.It changed me in many ways.I made new friends,discovered aspects of myself that I didnt know existed in me and got a lot of confidence.
(Moazzam,Bhuvan,Trisha,Nikhil,Hemant,Yashwant,Ananjay,Sumedha,Niharika,Anjali,Vidhi,Abhijeet,Shahsank,Abhuday,Abhay Prabhu,Abhijeet,Vineet,and my quiz team mates all made this trip memorable for me.Thank you guys!)
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| Our Team- Team Orange |
You made me recall my schooling during which I put myself first in participation. One was Art and the other being Quiz.
ReplyDeleteGood that YOU GUYS SMASHED THEM as your ma'am said...
Thanks !
DeleteThe good old days!!!! I remember students and teachers form other teams coming and congratulating you people, saying for once, someone showed the Mumbai schools a bit of "DUM"
ReplyDeleteGood blog... keep the good work... May I share a blog about Tokyo Disneyland in http://stenote.blogspot.com/2018/05/tokyo-disneyland-at-castle.html
ReplyDeleteWatch also the video in youtube https://youtu.be/ilDiFkV61rY