Schools Out.

"Dont cry because its over, Smile because it happened"

Schools out. 

Since the inception of this blog, every time I have mentioned school, it has reflected as to how big a bane it has been in my life, but this entry is quite the reverse. Sweet justice really that my last attendance was marked exactly where I was marked the first time. 20th September 2010, oh boy it seems like yesterday.The people around me looking like aliens, everyone announcing their GPA's, man I felt out of place. Mr. Haroon Rashid walked in, along with Ma'am (I dont remember her name), and silence. The next 3 hours, if anything made me realize how I just might have fooled everyone and was sitting in a very jaiz place and secondly, I super sucked at finance. 

While I have been very vocal about what NBS has taken from me, I will never be able to do justice to what NBS has given me. By some a long shot, two of the most glorified years of my life. As I stepped out of the seminar hall today, I cant really explain how emotions really overtook me, finally realizing its over. I never really thought that leaving this place would mean so God damn much. 

In my time at NBS, not a single day, not one day has gone without something eventful happening, every day a surprise of sorts waiting, I am going to miss it. 

Graduating from FAST-NU, I figured that I will miss the friends I have made and to be honest, not to put statements without merit, thats the only real thing I miss about FAST-NU. Each and every moment spent there was a blessing, but in contrast, NBS was/is the total package. I might go overboard on this one today, as I am pretty emotional today, but really, NBS has given me a lot.

A myth of sorts is, that one doesnt make friends in masters, well "myth shattered". Where and how should I start with the people I have met. Lets just say "jaiz" has been my way out of everything, the word is minute in the case. The group I have come to call the "jaiz boys", are beyond a shadow of a doubt the greatest people I could ever intend to meet. Each of everyone of you, I am grateful to God that we have forged a bond which shall last a lifetime. The moments spent together, on the huts, table tennis table, classes, jungle spot, cafe, (special shoutout: Headoffices) and everywhere, man its been a blessing.

The class as a whole, I wonder what someone like me has been doing, be it internal or external, I can vouch that never before and never again will there be a batch like ours. The greatest set of minds, absolute geniuses, by far the most talented people I have ever met. Tell me if there is anyone who can make a slide or come up with better marketing techniques than Nabil Toor, tell me if there is anyone who has the marketing mind as Arsalan Asad, Raheel Ali's charisma, Bilal and Qazi's vocals, Waqas with his marketing guruism, Abdullah Masood with his miserliness, Afridi with his dumbness, Osman with his "ganda" dhimagh, Osama- Bashat, I could frikking go on and on and on. These being like a bit part of the jaiz boys circle, (disclaimer: Abdullah Masood isnt a Jaiz Boy, He was unceremoniously kicked after his dunkin donuts antics). To put it right, every single day I shared a seat in a class with you all, each and everyone of you, it was an honor. I am indebted to all of you, one way or the other. To be honest, I didnt belong with you folks, you people are head and shoulders above anything I can even imagine. Thank you.

NBS, made me realize a couple of dreams. First of the bat, ICU, the play I directed. It was the most fulfilling experience of my life. I always, ALWAYS wanted to be on stage performing and NBS gave me that shot. Unfortunate thing is that I have not been able to see what I did up there over the course of all this time, as we didnt get to record a video somehow, but the standing ovation at the end of it all, still sounds afresh in my ears. The event as a whole, was beyond jaiz. Everyone stepped up and we produced an amazing, amazing event. The name of the whole thing was a bit dodgy, but with Hamid Sahib as our instructor, what can one expect, (No offence Rehman Bhai).

Secondly, NUMUN12, I have said this before, but FAST-NU didnt let me conduct a NUMUN there in 2008, and by some wonder of God, the Director General seat fell in my plate here. No words can express my gratitude to Ma'am Maria, for allowing me to paint a picture on the NUMUN canvas. For those who dont know, while speaking at the closing ceremony, telling how it was a dream coming true, my legs were trembling, hands shaking and a tear or two might have trickled down. Thank you NBS, I am going to be chairing apparently at NUMUN13, cant frikking wait.

Fact: Grade 3, Islamia English School, Abu Dhabi, a young boy was asked to come up on stage to say "Takbeer", he moved towards the stage and when he grabbed the mic, he choked. Not a single word came out of his mouth, the whole school from grade 1 to 7 laughed. The boy has come a long way since.

I love to present, yes, this might sound self obsessed, but its a high for me. I want to be on stage, its something that cant be put to words. The last presentation on wednesday, hmmm, man I didnt want it to happen, I texted my group members that it might not go great, Because deep down it was the last time, I would hit that stage and perform my ritual (please refer to my facebook status). thank you, for being a amazing audience, whether it was a class presentation, a regular speaking thingy, a welcome speech or a farewell address (dream stuff, although I know many of you have your reservations about it), thank you for making me feel that there was one thing I could do. 

I cant stress on how much the table tennis table has played its role in the friendships we've made, the third semester passing on the table. Every time I pass by that table, it just doesnt feel right that its not us playing there. It brings back too much.

Okay, special mention, to the MBA marketing class, or is it the MBA marketers. Folks, you people are amazing, I know many of you dont like me, and surely have good reason to, I apologize, it has to be my fault. We couldnt hold that event, I know deep down, that it would have been the greatest event ever done. The classes each and everyone of them, in the year we spent together has been a amazing experience, be it the tantrums from the instructor, the presentations, the waqas ki baisti from Ma'am AP, man it has all been so amazing. You all are amazing or if im right in saying, you people are peach, peach melba.

For those who I used to rant to and hopefully will, thank you for listening and suggesting, You are awesome. For those I couldnt become friends with, I hope we do. For those who I really love, You are special. For those I have great respect and regard for, You have earned it. For those who I shared a memory with, Thank You. For those who I shared a smile with, you made it possible. For those who hate me, I aint that bad. For those I could help, I tried. For everyone in NBS, Im humbled. 

*(I just backspaced a Abdullah Masood joke here, I could keep going on forever with the "for" thingy)

Hmmm, this is getting a bit weird now, like I dont know if this post even is making any sense, but thats the beauty maybe. 

I think I shall try to bring it to a close now, the final day today was amazing, it was perfect maybe, the water fight (I was totally against it, but Osman Baber is one weird cat, he somehow convinces people to do crazy things, thanks mate, though you still are the most mentally disturbed guy I have ever come across) was so much fun, till it lasted, it was jaiz. I never knew that it could be that much fun, the expression on Sohaibs face when I threw water on him, priceless. The icing on the cake, being the amazing pictures, thank you arsi, if it wasnt for you, our facebook display pictures would be stagnant and boring. 

The table shall stay and new folks will start playing on it, the huts will be occupied, the back benches in the seats will be filled, people will conduct events, Abdullah Masood will never learn, students shall smoke in the washroom upstairs, water fights will happen, farewell and welcome will come and go, friends will be made, dinners and trips will be arranged, everything will move on, but coming from me, by God as my witness, I will never ever forget a single second spent at NBS. 

Hopefully, everything works out for everyone. NBS gave us a platform to know each other and become friends, lets not end it within these boundaries.

Folks its been peach and InshahAllah, its just a start of things. I am so sure everyone will go on and be great, its just a matter of time. 

To bring closure, I shall pull off a repeat (creative suicide), but lets just go with it.

"Dont cry because its over, Smile because it happened"

Folks, Be Kind, Be Humble. Help Out, Reach Out, Stand UP & ALWAYS Speak UP.