Walls have ears
One of the first things I noticed as I stepped into the school compound last year was the constant whispers echoing around the school complex. Don鈥檛 get me wrong - my secondary school had its fair share of gossip; this wasn鈥檛 the first time I was exposed to stories (often false ones) about people whose names I鈥檇 never heard. However, the various branches and extensive roots of ACSI鈥檚 rumour mill transported gossip from the old block to the IB block and back at lightning speed, like nothing I鈥檇 witnessed before. From confession pages to screenshots of close friends鈥� list stories circulated, no one seemed to be safe from our school鈥檚 rumour mill.
While the startling speed at which news travelled throughout our rather massive campus intimidated me initially, it soon became a somewhat comforting constant. Two weeks into orientation, and the ears and mouths connected to every wall by an invisible thread became a round-the-clock presence. I was well-aware that 鈥渢he walls鈥� picked up the faintest of wishes, secrets murmured by students under their breaths, but this was no longer a threat.
Now, the corridors where I catch up with friends from different classes to exchange the latest news are probably one of my favourite places in school. During the transit between lessons, the tittle-tattle is a welcome pause.
ACSI鈥檚 culture of gossip isn鈥檛 all that toxic or inane. It spices up our school life and adds giggles to the mundaneness of IA submissions and timed practices. Countless times, it鈥檚 provided me with respite from the stress of IB, the monotony of studying the same 6 subjects non-stop. Speculating who the latest couple or how the most recent breakup occurred are interesting occasionally.
Plus, there鈥檚 always an opt out option! It鈥檚 much easier than it seems to disconnect yourself from the seemingly endless string of speculations and bavardage. Simply plug in your earphones, play your favourite tunes, kick back your feet, and tune out.
In case you鈥檙e interested in keeping up with the rumour mill but not sure how to prevent yourself from getting too caught up, here鈥檚 a quick guide on surviving ACSI鈥檚 notorious rumour mill 鈥�
- Don鈥檛 believe everything you hear.
- Be careful what you wish for (out loud).
- Choose your friends (and your fellow tea[1] 鈥� steepers) wisely.
All the best navigating through ACSI鈥檚 walls, ceilings, and doors. 馃槈
Remember the importance of detoxing every now-and-then and not getting too distracted by it!
Ananya Saha 6.15
[1] tea: informal, gossip