Gerald D'Cunha

“ If you can gift your son or daughter only one gift – let it be enthusiasm.” Bruce Barton W hy only to son or daughter?   Most of us know what a valuable gift enthusiasm is. So, be it our students, employees or associates – for that matter, anyone who comes in contact with us - gifting away enthusiasm is one of the most empowering acts you and I can carry out. By the way, does it work other way round, too? Do our young sons and daughters, our students, associates and employees, too, gift us enthusiasm? I believe, they do. Just as parents gift their children, teachers gift their students and employers gift their employees this valuable gift – enthusiasm, children, students and employees, too, gift their counterparts the same. So, it works from both the ends. Because, on both the ends, there live humans… They all need to be charged… enthused! As a teacher, I have survived for over four decades, not only due to my own enthusiasm, I have survived...

M y wife and I were invited for a Holi lunch at our friends’ place. They are a lovely couple with two little-children. They had invited four other couples who, too, were present along with their respective children. We wound up at 6 almost! What makes such sittings, special, I think, is the warmth and simplicity at hosts’ place. Lavish spread of dishes and cosmetic hospitality sends you home with that lingering emptiness when you leave the party. But, true warmth sends you home with fullness… My wife and I had such an experience, today! During our post-lunch discussion, a part of our discussion revolved around the ‘better school’. One of the lady-guests found the present ICSE-Board school ineffective and was asking if a certain SSC-Board school was a better option. All had a take on the subject. Bad-quality teachers, excess hype and empty promises, exorbitant fees and even a tough syllabus – yes, the particular ICSE-Board school scored low on all counts acc...