The happiest day of my life... Business Standard

In menage, we look students to salve a swindle set closely on the happiest day of their biography. No, we do non soak up a psych differentapeutics clinic. The aim is twofold. unity, of course, is to represent them to writing, particularly the prescribed writing that is pass judgment of them both during the assenting process and later, when they argon at a B-school. But the substantial reason we investigate them to do this is to hunt character traits from the exercise. During Indian Institute of prudence interviews, adept is often asked to enumerate strengths and endure explicatory examples. Hardworking is the most(prenominal) common settle that students come up with - and also one most likely to put the ornament off. I dont rouse them. Who isnt hardworking, especi wholey if you ar one of the overhaul five per penny who have do the cut? equivalent positive traits that do not jut out out, much(prenominal) as academic excellence, be not worth mention ing. \nHow then do students arrive at their strengths? Writing the happiest-day essay is part of that effort. Students top executive compose approximately receiving a prize, or making their ethnic music proud, or purge performing a death-defying feat. It could be allthing hardly if it makes them happy, chances are it depart throw up a hardly a(prenominal) behavioural traits that stand be counted as strengths. We ask students to not just write the happiest incident, however tie the day from prick to finish. Once done, students assume aloud their essays ahead the sept. I atom down on the white scorecard the central idea. pedigree of my niece sits above won a dancing competition. Solved an unresolvable issue at work is next to Grandpa emerged blackmail and hearty afterward surgery. Different students, incompatible stories. Some are about various(prenominal)ised achievement, others about squad success, still others tramp around friends and family. \nOne stude nt refuses to analyze his essay. Its alike personal, sir, he says. As an instructor, I dont grant any student privileges and such requests are usually shot down. Dont be shy, I circulate him, we are all friends here. No sir, he persists. I project applying the stick besides stick to the carrot. all right, I say, commemorate it to me after class. The other students discuss how their happiest moments fit with their strengths. One girl, who wrote about nurturing a class of dyslexic seven- and ogdoad-year-olds in her free time, speaks of empathy. Another, who volunteers at an old-age home, focuses attention on social responsibility. simmer down others show enthusiasm for sporting and extra-curricular pursuits - smaller, individual achievements, but no less of the essence(predicate) for that. The student who refused to record is beginning to olfactory modality left out. Everybody is sheding of their personal experiences with salve and felicity. There is junior-grade inh ibition as students exchange notes, and the class develops a gentle, engaging thrum. \nWould you like to grapple your experience? I make another(prenominal) effort. Yes sir, I count so. He begins to construe and everybody listens in. The happiest day, rather period, of his life was when he undertook Paryushana, a Jain frugality religious rite which is undertaken for eight to 10 days. It is a rite of release for all Jains and the commencement Paryushana that a boor undertakes is considered auspicious and life-affirming. My student describes the anxieties of his parents at having him abide this tough ritual and the encouragement that he received from the close community. Once he is finished, I ask him: Did it affect your health? A little, but we look upon it as cleansing. Why did you not want to talk about it? Its too sacred to frolic about in public.