"Great teachers are demanding in terms of standards, but also create an environment where students experience learning as a privilege and a pleasure" ❤️

The Conscientious Student

28th October 2025

#inclasstoday

Today in my class I was asking students to guess the meaning of the word ‘Conscientious’.

In fact, the trigger for the question was my happiness on seeing a large bevy of students turn up for their classes today, in spite of the torrential downpour that continues to lash the city and its suburbs for the past 48 hours in a row, now!

“My goal is to help students balance the joy of learning with the practicality of finding a career path,” says Daniel R. Schwarz - who has been teaching with Cornell University New York for 47 years now – in his book titled, How to Succeed in College and Beyond: The Art of Learning.

Some lovely excerpts from his book -

Curiosity, desire for knowledge, and the ability to solve complex, thought‐provoking problems are important life skills.

Conscientious students need also to be skeptical, innovative, and imaginative; really distinguished thinking, even in high school, comes from questioning what one is told, reading further in classroom topics, and, on occasion, going beyond accepted formulations as they are presented.

Studying well is a matter of learning how to concentrate and block out everything else.

Most people do better when not listening to music, but some people do seem to benefit from listening to soothing music when studying.

Using study halls and homeroom periods to study, rather than wasting time on video games or social media, is a good way to be time efficient.

Even now when English is becoming the basic language of the world, it is important to study a foreign language.

For one thing, it will help you understand the world better because you will learn something about another culture.

You will be preparing yourself for more possible choices if you decide to do a junior year – or junior semester – abroad as well as for more future career opportunities.

Be alert about who are the best teachers, and take advice on who they are from the best students.

Great teachers are demanding in terms of standards, but also create an environment where students experience learning as a privilege and a pleasure. Getting to know some of your teachers well will give you the necessary sources of recommendations for your applications.

Participate in extra‐curricular activities such as varsity sports, the school newspaper, drama and choral groups, orchestra and band, debating, and student government. Developing skills and competence in these areas builds self‐ confidence.

Moreover, selective colleges favour for admission those who play leadership roles in such activities; colleges do so in part because leaders, at a more advanced level, play a vital role in college life and in part because the best advertisements for a college are alumni who have leadership roles in their communities and on the state and national levels.

College admissions departments are also favorably impressed with applicants who volunteer in the community beyond school by tutoring children or reading to those adults who for various reasons cannot read, working with the disabled, or giving some time at the local hospital or hospice.

Meaningful summer and after‐school paid jobs, such as working as a counsellor for younger children or in a hospital lab, are also seen as a plus by those deciding admission. But the more important reason to volunteer or take jobs is that doing so will enlarge your perspective and create experiences that will enrich your life now and later.

In short, conscientious students develop a robust sense of responsibility and commitment. This self-discipline translates well beyond the classroom, preparing them for the demands of the workplace and life, 

says Schwarz.

In this regard, I wish to make mention of the elite group of conscientious students who made their teacher happy today, by coming to class, in spite of the torrential downpour that pounded Chennai for 24 hours continuously.

Even this morning, while I was entering class, I could see umbrellas of all hues and shades, adorning the MA English classroom on all sides, thanks to the incessant spell of rains.

I also permitted late-comers to class today, thanks to the rains. 😊

I MA English

E. Angeline Ebenezer

V. Jovita

C. Christian Jeremiah

Daphnie Ida D

Naveena Deborah D

Deepika M. R

R. Jothika

Nihita Chinnu Sibu

Sarah Saju Oommen

Aarthi KPB

Rangineetha Ramalingam

Venkata Vishnu Priya D

G. Rakshaya

J. Jessica

A. Abisha

D. Ebenezar Dhanaraj

II MA English

Amy J Davinia

Anagha Anil

Ann Mariah Sunny

Dency Jebagnanam S

Nikita S

Preethika Nandini D

S V Nivedhaa

Sharon Rubina

Shobhana P

Surisha K

Terese Maria Broosily

Dhanush Kumar P

S Harish Rajan

So proud of you our dear students. Keep it up!