BY : MISS ZAINAB MUHAMMAD 

I clearly remember the 17th of August, 2016.
As I was climbing the flight of stairs to reach VIIIB , which was supposed to be my first class in BHS, the wind blew dramatically. I was reminded of an above average rated Hollywood horror movie where the heroine is cautioned by the nature that she is going to be slain.
This was the day when I first met them as VIII (A &B) . A bunch of students who could be categorized as overtly energetic, cheerful, fun-loving and very jocular then…..
The first 45 minutes with them were grueling and arduous as I had expected and heard about them. The moment the bell announced the period to be over, I literally dashed towards the staff room to seek refuge. Once inside the staff room, I sank into the chair, all drained out of the energy which I knew myself for.
The day got over but my perils lived. I dread the onset of the approaching dawn which brought me nearer to that ROOM and those CHILDREN. No matter what I tried, they never paid attention. No matter what I did, they never looked at me.
In normal circumstances, I love to take risks. Adventure, for me, is the definition of life. But, somehow, I was unable to speak a single word in those 45 minutes. Girls, on the other hand, were really eager and keen. They were inquisitive every single day to know, to contemplate, to question newer stuff.
In VIII A, we were running at a speed of one unit per lesson. On the boys` side, my progress was not worth mentioning. We weren’t even crawling let alone run.
On one of those worried Wednesdays when I had a block lesson with VIIIB, one of the children did a stunt in the Classroom, when I was trying to explain the very critical conversion of an active voice sentence into passive voice. The NOT-NEEDED stunt blew my fuse. The Class also sensed that a storm was brewing. I dug my nails in my palms and stomped out of the classroom.
That day, I resolved I AM NOT GOING BACK THERE AGAIN.
I conveyed my resolution to the Head of Section, expecting her to be sympathetic towards a helpless teacher like me. To my astonishment, she told me what was conveyed by me has been narrated to her by 4 teachers. I grimaced.
Upon seeing the intensity of my reaction, she gave me a glass of water, which I gulped down my dry throat. She asked me, “Zenab ben, uptill now, how many strategies have you tried?”
I actively started counting, “Ben I have tried giving them double homework, penalties, fine, disciplinary actions and interactive lesson plans too. Everything fails there.”
She nodded and said, “Fine. You are working hard. But there is one thing I am sure you haven’t tried yet.”
I chortled, “Please tell me something that works in that territory.”
She responded, “Try friendship.”
Immediately, my bellowing, shrieking nervous system calmed down. She was right. I had not tried friendship.
Thursday was a different day as I entered the room with a smile on my lips, which was very brave, I dare say. The children sensed the change and their faces radiated. This is how we embarked on a journey of friendship.
These children are in Grade X currently. They have left the school but the corridors echo with their laughter.
In this three year friendship with these children, I learnt a lot of things. They made me believe in the thought that teachers also learn from students.
Each one of them kept amazing me every single day. Zakir-e-Hussain, poets, artists, debaters, athletes, orators, painters, leaders, team players, logical thinkers, managers, and what not….
I taught them less but learnt more. Unity, compassion, having fun in the most stressed out time, helping each other to complete their assignments, sharing lunch…. 
I will treasure the friendship. I wish they treasure it too.