Y yens YESTERYEARS

“Once you leave from here, you won’t ever return to even say hello. Nobody does.” Those words cut like a knife. I was screaming in my head, not true. I will come back. I promised myself, I would. The year was 1992. I was passing out of my school. And those were the parting words of a teacher we greatly feared.ย 

And then you know how it is. You ramble, you live, you learn and then you earn. I got busy with my life. But somewhere, I had this nagging feeling, I wanted to return back to my Alma Mater. It wasn’t until 2009 and thankfully for Mark Z and his FACEBOOK, that I managed to do something about it. A random statement, saying I was planning to form the Alumni of our school, got me in touch with a few like minded people. We stuck it out for the next year and a half, and finally October 23, 2010 weย officiallyย formed ‘Josephites of Yesteryears.ย 


Our Alumni Logo designed by yours truly ๐Ÿ™‚

It had not been an easy journey. All of us were in varied industries and hence, timezones. We were made of different stuff. The one thing common we had, was the love for the school. We decided to have the first ever reunion in the history of 104 years of St. Joseph’s High School, Juhu.ย 
What were we thinking? We were 6 of us. We were coordinating across batches and trying toย traceย teachers who’d long left the school or retired. Was it even possible from non existent phone numbers? Well, there was only one way to find out. January 8, 2011 was the D day. And then what followed can only be termed as a single minded devotion to say ‘Thank You Teachers’. We had a whopping response of about 250 ex students from various batches. Right from the catering to the photography, we had ex students participating everywhere. The REUNION was held in our school hall. The place that had witnessed the best of our performances and debates. Our teachers and staff came from all corners of the city and beyond, taking the number up by another 100 attendees. The ones who could not, made it a point to send messages. We honoured students who had made our school proud. We danced, we chatted, we hugged and we cried. We had a student from the 1969 batch. We had 3 generations of students who came too. We met all the ancillary staff who blessed us with moist eyes. We had an evening we can never forget. It wasย Yesterday Once More.
The Dream Team
The Teachers having a field day.
Our starย performersย with their fav students
Come one, come all,ย camaraderieย across batches
Batch Photo after 20 years of leaving school, priceless!
Today, JOY Alumni as it is fondly known is very much active. We had a follow up reunion in 2012. We’ve managed to upgrade the staff room. We have started an annual Talent Contest. We have also tutored kids. We are looking atย sponsorshipย of deserving kids this year. Step by step, we have been growing. We are looking at making a difference to a school that we proudly belong to. And finally, I could tell that teacher of mine, Ma’am, we came back.ย 

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48 responses to “Y yens YESTERYEARS”

  1. PhenoMenon avatar
    PhenoMenon

    I have been to many schools all across India and now settled in Bangalore where I have never studied !! So attending reunions is quite difficult. My dad used to joke before hat if I dont get any job I still could try as a school inspector considering the 9-10 schools I went to ๐Ÿ™‚

    PhenoMenon

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      I can imagine. We had quite a few of those kids. But then again, the school that you pass out from has the most cherished memories, as one of them told me. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Corinne Rodrigues avatar
    Corinne Rodrigues

    Truly a moment of joy. The pictures say it all. The logo is brilliant! Another stunning achievement, my dear lady!

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Ah, I had to sift 400 pics to put up these. Can you imagine? Yup, it is something I am very, very proud of having created, after T. ๐Ÿ˜€

  3. Meena avatar
    Meena

    I went back to school afte rmore than a decade! I was teary eyed to meet my fav teachers … haa the momories that buildings hold

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      I can totally identify with that feeling Meena.

  4. Suzy avatar
    Suzy

    Awesome and congrats – re-unions are just so much fun. I love love love the logo. thanks for sharing your yesterday once more that took me back to my yesterday once more.

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      I am so glad it did Suzy ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Shail Mohan avatar

    *Applause* What an achievement! I simply love the logo.

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Thanks Shail. Yup, it was an achievement all the way, for all of us. The logo represents the 4 house colours and our growth as individuals. I am so glad you liked it. ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Afshan avatar

    wow !!
    Doing such things makes us feel young and alive !!
    fantastic
    I wish U meet every year
    good day

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Yes, it does Afshan. Every year, the logistics are crazy but yes we are connected.

  7. JANU avatar

    Hat’s off Vini fo your dedication. Cheers!

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      I think when you have a single minded goal, dedication has to follow. ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Ritu avatar

    Wow, I was the proverbial rolling stone, a year in one place at the max. I have never developed a sense of belonging to any one institution, Wonder where my fellow students are. Managed to locate just two through FB.

    Your post managed me make me wish to belong someplace …

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      I can completely understand that Ritu. 12 years in one institution, till I got married it was my longest relationship. Wait, it still is. I am married for 11. ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Bhav.Zz avatar

    Wow, proud of you. And I love that logo you’ve made, it does convey the JOY you have had the privilege of enjoying ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Thanks. Yes, it does ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Laxmi Chundi Addanki avatar

    The logo rocks and so does all your collective effort ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Aye, aye captain, to both ๐Ÿ˜€

  11. Dinesh Pal avatar

    Hope many more Josephites join and take it off from here.

  12. Shilpa Garg avatar

    WOW!! A spectacular achievement indeed! What JOY it must be!! Way to go, lady! ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      It indeed is ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. G Angela avatar

    fantastic ! what a beautiful moment to bring everyone together,great post, loved the pictures and your sharing !

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Thanks G. It was a great feeling, can only be felt and not described.

  14. Melody avatar

    Oh, my! What a wonderful post! I am so glad your reunion efforts were successful and are continuing and expanding! This was inspiring. And the logo you created is outstanding! Thank you for stopping by my blog. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Thanks Melody. It was quite an achievement for all of us. Yup, I love the logo too ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. goingbeyondthepages avatar

    Wow! what great work… Fantastic and the logo is superb.

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      thanks so much ๐Ÿ™‚

  16. Naina Madan avatar

    Brilliant work. So glad to read that it all worked out and how! And this is the moment when you thank social media!!

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Oh you are so true in saying that Naina. Mark Z definitely helped ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. Rickie avatar

    Our school batch has been trying to do something similar, but without much success yet. But, we did managed to have two reunions of just our batch – those went off fantastic!

    Do I have permission to share this blogpost on my batch’s home page on Facebook? Kafi motivate ho jayenge sab log!

    Fantastic post – love the alumnus name!

    I wonder what you are planning for ‘Z’ tomorrow…

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Of course, Rickie, please share it. I’ll be happy to help in whatever way I can too. Apart from two open reunions, I have also managed to do batch reunions (almost singlehandedly)You see when the Queen summons, you have to be present.

      And about tomorrow, it’s a post that I promise you’ve never seen before ๐Ÿ˜€

  18. Rainbow Hues avatar

    Great post, great initiative..

    I’d love to go back to my school someday with my batch mates. Love the logo, its a very thoughtfully done one.

    Great!

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      You should return. It is an awesome feeling.

  19. nd60 avatar

    That is such a wonderful post… Inspiring too ๐Ÿ™‚

    I am sure you had a lot of fun and satisfaction on that D day !

    We need to do this for our school.. I can see all my old crushes that way ! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    btw you didnt write about any of urs ๐Ÿ˜›

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      The crushes are reserved for the book. You better pay to get to know more. ๐Ÿ˜›

  20. Cynthia Rodrigues Manchekar avatar

    Vinita, this post brought tears to my eyes. My congratulations to you not only for creating an alumni association, and that stunning logo, but also for the joy on all those faces.

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Thanks Cynthia. I totally get the feeling. Yup, JOY all the way.

  21. sharmila k avatar

    Proud of you Vini <3 .. few people can put their heart into something and really make it happen as planned.

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Thanks Sharmila. I am glad I ventured here and got the job done.

  22. Priya Sreeram avatar

    oh lady – you are a gem; loved your spirit and verve and the logo too…. Keep the fire burning vinita ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      Ah, I think it has a great deal to do with the generation we were born in ๐Ÿ™‚ thanks none the less.

  23. Roshni AaMom avatar

    Love, love that you did that for your school!

  24. Me avatar

    Took me back to my school!

    Reunions sound so fun and needless to add that logo is simply outstanding ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Blogwati Gee avatar

      They do, don’t they? Thanks so much for the kind words.

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