A new year, a wiser you

Dr Amita Chauhan, Chairperson

As we bid farewell to one year and step into another, we often make resolutions about our habits, success, and progress. Yet, the greatest power that shapes our future - and indeed, our destiny - already lies within us. It is our intellect, or buddhi. It is this inner wisdom that allows us to understand our fears, emotions, and behaviours, and then gently guide them in the right direction. It is the intellect that frees the mind from its own limitations. To achieve true success in life, academic excellence is not enough. Degrees and medals shine only when knowledge is used meaningfully. I have seen brilliant minds fail not because they lacked intelligence, but because they could not control their impulses or emotions. History, too, has several examples of exceptionally talented people who often collapsed under pressure. Hence, true wisdom lies in knowing oneself and working consistently to improve. For instance, Sachin Tendulkar is a name revered by millions of people all over the world. He was not worshipped merely for scoring centuries; he became legendary because he analysed every failure and returned stronger each time. That is the real power of intellect - transforming setbacks into stepping stones.
My dear Amitians, let this new year mark not just a change of calendar, but a renewal of self. Use your intellect to observe your thoughts and behaviour. Maintain a journal, reflect daily, seek guidance from teachers, parents and friends. Strengthen habits that uplift you and gently discard those that hinder growth or hurt others. When intellect leads the mind, dreams acquire meaning and life finds purpose.

Culture crossed

The Innumerable Worlds Of Third Culture Kids

Raj Chandra, AIS Vas 1, X B

A short word like hometown can suddenly feel like an exam. I pause not because I don’t know the answer, but because I’m unsure which one people want: the place I was born, the country I lived in the longest, the language I think in, or the place that feels like home but only in memory.
For many like me, growing up across borders is not a glamorous mix of airport lounges and passport stamps. It is beautiful, but also messy, and sometimes lonely. We are children who spend a large part of childhood moving from one place to another. We don’t fully belong to either parents’ homeland, the first culture, or the country we grow up in, the second. We are Third Culture Kids (TCKs), a hybrid of both cultures.
There are millions of us. UNICEF reports that over 220 million children live outside their birth country. International school enrolments have doubled, and 41% of Gen Z has lived in more than one country by age 18. We are a growing global identity.
But living everywhere can also mean belonging nowhere. I was born in the USA to Indian-origin parents, moved to Canada at six, and came to India at eight. Coming home was harder than going abroad, a reverse culture shock. I did not know Hindi. I couldn’t figure out what my classmates were saying, and they could not understand my accented English.
Eight years later, I speak English at home and a mix of English and Hindi at school. My playlists are multilingual, my friendships global, and my accent still confuses people. When someone asks “Where are you from?” I hesitate not because I lack identity, but because I have too much of it. Moving often makes us flexible, curious, and able to blend anywhere. Yet, farewells hurt. We learn to say goodbye early. Home becomes a feeling we chase across cities and years. I am still learning traditions that others know from childhood.
Despite our growing numbers, TCKs often feel scattered and isolated. Gen Z TCKs have turned to Reddit and Discord to build a community. Famous TCKs, including Freddie Mercury, Emma Watson, Barack Obama and Kobe Bryant, have called their background a major influence on life.
This mosaic identity has taught me that belonging is not geography; it is connection. I have pieces of myself scattered across continents, friendships that have endured time zones, and a worldview shaped by cultures that never claimed me, yet defined me. So if someone pauses before answering “Where are you from?”, do not assume they are lost. Perhaps, like me, they carry many stories - too vast and rich to be narrowed down.

The power within

Raina Krishnatray, Principal, AIS Vas 1

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes
This quote highlights the significance of  resilience and personal development, reminding us that obstacles are actually opportunities for growth. The truth is that no adversity can stop our pursuit of learning, for at our core lies an unstoppable force that renews and strengthens us. In moments of crisis, we are lifted by a mysterious energy that reaffirms our conviction: where there is will, there is always a way. This perspective highlights the hidden power within us, waiting to be awakened and channelised toward growth.
With the inspiration of our Founder President and the blessings of our Chairperson, Dr (Mrs) Amita Chauhan, we are committed to building a stronger nation. Our vision is to nurture conscientious, intelligent, and confident citizens who will make us proud through their multifaceted growth. While we impart education that keeps pace with technological advancement and globalisation, we also guide our children forward with Amity’s enduring ethos of moral values and essential life skills.
With that in mind, the editorial board poured their earnest energies and unbridled enthusiasm into completing every task successfully, while creating memories of a lifetime. I also applaud the effervescent resilience of the GT team. Dear students, the ‘Making a Newspaper Contest’ is an opportunity to derive lifetime worth of education - learning to be team players, trend-setters, and task managers. May you all achieve success.

A symphony of expressions

Debosmita Mukherjee, GT Coordinator

Another enthralling edition with a gamut of experiences and a whole lot of exhilaration has made the school’s editorial members true journos in every possible way. Each mind held a universe of ideas and artistic tastes, converging together into a  symphony of expressions that you see beautifully flowing across this edition.
From the very first meeting in school to the final edit meet, the team displayed unbounded enthusiasm and  outstanding team spirit. Students crafted each page with remarkable diligence and dexterity, infusing the edition with oomph factor.
Through GT, students learn to report from ground zero, curate lively articles with smart captions, create intriguing visuals, design trendy graphics, and shoot candid photographs - skills that give their work a professional touch and make them committed individuals. This edition opens the door to optimism, creativity, and progress, setting the perfect tone for a remarkable new year ahead.