In a heartwarming gesture, students from Don Bosco Higher Secondary School (DBHSS), Kohima, specifically from Class 4 sections A and B, garnered attention with a letter addressed to their principal, requesting permission for a friendly football match between the two classes.
The handwritten application, crafted by Pelelhu and Avizo of Class 4A, as well as Tsojamo and Viketou of Class 4B, simply stated, “Prayer for a football match between 4A and 4B.” In their earnest plea, the students assured the principal, “We assure you that if permission is granted, we will play in good team spirit and we will also study hard for our end exams.”
The letter quickly went viral, culminating in the much-anticipated match that took place today. Class 4A emerged victorious in a thrilling penalty shootout.
Reflecting on the events, Father TP James, the principal of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, expressed his surprise upon receiving the application. “I was taken aback when the students handed me the application letter,” he shared. “The moment I received it, I uploaded it on my WhatsApp status, expressing my appreciation for the Bosconian spirit of enthusiasm. And I think someone took a picture of it and it went viral. Soon, I got calls from past teachers and students, friends and families.”
Father James further recollected fondly that in the application they have also said, “All portions of the subjects have been covered” and that he promptly received the application, recognizing the need for necessary actions.
Shedding light on the motivation behind the students’ appeal, he explained, “Our school plays a yearlong event. We divide them into various categories depending on their classes. Normally the friendly matches are held before the final exam and this time, the particular class did not get to play and hence, they made that special request”.
Responding to inquiries about any rivalry between the two classes, he emphasized their friendly nature. “They are all friendly,” he stated. “During the commentary of the match today, I told them that until now, you are friends, but once the football matches happen, you will be rivals. In the field we really feel the pulse. They were so serious that they came with uniforms. It was just a beautiful moment to witness, with parents and past students in attendance.”
Regarding the students’ motivation and his relationship with students, Father James remarked, “It was a spontaneous outflow of their desire to showcase their skills. These young people have a subgroup among themselves, and when they cannot come to me by themselves, they seek help from the teachers.”
In this engaging experience, Father James found beauty in the students upholding the ideals of “Father and founder Don Bosco, who always tells young boys, play, run, jump, and do whatever you like but do not commit sin.” He added, “In this exercise, young people are engaging in doing useful and frantic work, avoiding activities that may lead them away from the love of God.”
“I also told them that every activity, I take it as 3Es – to get themselves entertained apart from classroom learning, to get themselves educated, and, lastly, the summary of the two, to get themselves enlightened,” he said emphasizing the holistic approach to education and personal development that the school fosters through such spirited initiatives.