Vacations and work is quite the paradox! A workshop that would be conducted a week before the official re-opening of college?? A workshop that would cut short our holidays? A workshop that is likely to impart knowledge, improve our skills, impress upon us- work culture and ethics, when alternately we could be idling away our time? Who would wish that? Surely, not us!
Honestly, we (the students) weren't very receptive or responsive to the computer workshop that was being organised by the Christ computer department.Complaints and criticism were the foremost thoughts and expressions about the workshop, even prior to it taking place!!
Personally, i was excited about meeting my friends a week earlier, but not exactly enthused about the classes, nor did i anticipate any masti stemming from the actual workshop!
It is after all my opinion that counts, considering it's my blog, so controversial as this might be and contrary to my own aspersions and and preconceived notions, I have to admit- The workshop was actually interesting, value additive and even fun (at times!)
All credit must go to the computer department and all its teachers for their tireless efforts, personal interest and involvement and high tolerance levels that made the workshop less work and all value.
Theory classes were made interesting with quizzes, thought provoking questions and interactive activities. Practical classes were competitive and really honed our logical thinking and programming speed and skills! What truly made the workshop worth it though was the additional training and inputs we got, in terms of presentation practice, leadership coaching, all of which were activity based, interactive and illustrative.
Another special aspect to the workshop was the fact that a combination of known and new teachers handled our various sessions. The sessions handled by teachers already known to us, allowed for a free flow and familiar and easy rapport between the teacher and students. The teachers new to us were equally approachable and amiable and provided a professional feel during their sessions!
All in all the workshop was a success and well worth the missed movies, lost hours of sleep and usual holiday capers. The computer workshop was 42 hours of well distributed work and play, that has enriched all of us in more than few ways.
So thank you to all the teachers who also gave up a week of their vacations and time with family, to be with us and who truly made the whole experience much more than a workshop and imparted life lessons and skills that will stay with us well beyond these six days :)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Happily Ever After
It was only as I finished watching Prison Break (a t.v. serial) finale, that I realized how important a happy ending is, to me. This particular t.v. show appealed to me on a lot of levels, emotionally, intellectually and even personally. It’s genre, if I must put a label on it, would be- thriller, and thrill it certainly did. Twists and turns in every episode, season after season, kept me guessing and on edge, itching to know- what came next!
Only at the end of the finale, did I finally breathe- long and hard, but heavy it was, for the protagonist who had survived four prisons, murderers, brutality and betrayals, finally succumbs to death and that too, at his own hands. Over the course of four seasons, four years, I had grown attached to the characters and the death of possibly my favorite character, deeply affected and depressed me.
On an intellectual level, I understand that it is only a story. On a technical level, I can comprehend the ironic, twist in the tale technique used, but at a more fundamental, emotional and human level, I mourn the death of ‘Michael Scofield’- A brilliant mind, a good looking guy, a loving brother, a loyal friend and an amazing and awesome hero.
Disease and death might be realities and ones that I am bound to encounter in the course of my life, but I turn to books, t.v. serials and movies, for an escape from reality! I don’t want to watch the suppressed, oppressed woman being battered by her husband, mistreated by her mother-in-law and discriminated against. Children, being abandoned, corruption prevailing. Robbery, rape, murder, betrayal, torture, terrorism, we see it all on the news, why watch it for entertainment too? I want fantasy, possibility, hope, miracles! Not death and defeat and destruction.
There are enough evils, villains and hardships in the real world to drive any person into the deepest, darkest abodes of depression, so when I read or watch a work of fiction, I want a sense of hope, a silver lining to the cloud-that is life.. I want the frog to turn into a prince, the prince to find his princess or whichever way you perceive it, but at the end of the day or at the very least, at the end of the story/ serial/ movie/ play, I want a happily ever after!
Even the Grimm Brother’s- ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’ was adapted from the original version with Snow White being squeezed to death by a too tight corset, to being poisoned with an apple and magically brought back to life by her true love’s kiss, in order to be a more accessible and accepted ‘happily ever after’. And honestly, who doesn’t want a happy ending? No one really wants difficulties, desolation, depression, disease and death!
Many movie makers and script writers believe that award winning stories are those that culminate in a sardonic, ironic, tragic, realistic end.
Reality bites, to be sure! No doubt, we can relate to the harsh realities, but ultimately relating and realizing won’t change reality, Action will! So why not end a tale with a happily ever after and affect change on a high, with hope, happiness and wholeheartedness!?
Only at the end of the finale, did I finally breathe- long and hard, but heavy it was, for the protagonist who had survived four prisons, murderers, brutality and betrayals, finally succumbs to death and that too, at his own hands. Over the course of four seasons, four years, I had grown attached to the characters and the death of possibly my favorite character, deeply affected and depressed me.
On an intellectual level, I understand that it is only a story. On a technical level, I can comprehend the ironic, twist in the tale technique used, but at a more fundamental, emotional and human level, I mourn the death of ‘Michael Scofield’- A brilliant mind, a good looking guy, a loving brother, a loyal friend and an amazing and awesome hero.
Disease and death might be realities and ones that I am bound to encounter in the course of my life, but I turn to books, t.v. serials and movies, for an escape from reality! I don’t want to watch the suppressed, oppressed woman being battered by her husband, mistreated by her mother-in-law and discriminated against. Children, being abandoned, corruption prevailing. Robbery, rape, murder, betrayal, torture, terrorism, we see it all on the news, why watch it for entertainment too? I want fantasy, possibility, hope, miracles! Not death and defeat and destruction.
There are enough evils, villains and hardships in the real world to drive any person into the deepest, darkest abodes of depression, so when I read or watch a work of fiction, I want a sense of hope, a silver lining to the cloud-that is life.. I want the frog to turn into a prince, the prince to find his princess or whichever way you perceive it, but at the end of the day or at the very least, at the end of the story/ serial/ movie/ play, I want a happily ever after!
Even the Grimm Brother’s- ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’ was adapted from the original version with Snow White being squeezed to death by a too tight corset, to being poisoned with an apple and magically brought back to life by her true love’s kiss, in order to be a more accessible and accepted ‘happily ever after’. And honestly, who doesn’t want a happy ending? No one really wants difficulties, desolation, depression, disease and death!
Many movie makers and script writers believe that award winning stories are those that culminate in a sardonic, ironic, tragic, realistic end.
Reality bites, to be sure! No doubt, we can relate to the harsh realities, but ultimately relating and realizing won’t change reality, Action will! So why not end a tale with a happily ever after and affect change on a high, with hope, happiness and wholeheartedness!?
On your mark, Get set, GO!
My first ever blog!!!
Gives quite a rush, I must say.
I realise that blogs are public forums and someone who is considering writing as a career should maybe give a little more thought to grammar and punctuation, but it's so time consuming and syntax and semantics totally kill the style and spontaniety of expression. So, i'm going to take all the liberties that poetic licence offers and probably take it even a few steps further! So keep in mind, i'm not really bad at grammar, it's just that i'm making a statement... Language should be a canvas for creativity and expression, not a constraint and a stickler for rules and format !
So don't ignore the punctuation omissions, or spelling errors, or syntax faux-paus; Instead, spot them, laugh at them, revel in the rebellion, embrace them as a tribute to freedom of thought, speech and expression,[WARNING: do not emulate them in examinations (examiners will not be amused!!)] and most importanly forgive and forget them!!
Now, that the foundation has been laid and excuses and explanations extended i can peacefully and attrociously blog to my heart's content :)
Till next time then!
-Chimiti
Gives quite a rush, I must say.
I realise that blogs are public forums and someone who is considering writing as a career should maybe give a little more thought to grammar and punctuation, but it's so time consuming and syntax and semantics totally kill the style and spontaniety of expression. So, i'm going to take all the liberties that poetic licence offers and probably take it even a few steps further! So keep in mind, i'm not really bad at grammar, it's just that i'm making a statement... Language should be a canvas for creativity and expression, not a constraint and a stickler for rules and format !
So don't ignore the punctuation omissions, or spelling errors, or syntax faux-paus; Instead, spot them, laugh at them, revel in the rebellion, embrace them as a tribute to freedom of thought, speech and expression,[WARNING: do not emulate them in examinations (examiners will not be amused!!)] and most importanly forgive and forget them!!
Now, that the foundation has been laid and excuses and explanations extended i can peacefully and attrociously blog to my heart's content :)
Till next time then!
-Chimiti
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