The Power of Association

 The Power of Association

The influence of social connections significantly impacts the learning journey of high school students. Allow me to illustrate this with a story.
In ancient India, a powerful king ruled over a kingdom in the southern lands. Within his royal menageries, he kept many elephants, and one of his favorites was Elliephant. This gentle giant captured the hearts of all who encountered her with her kindness, affection, and playful nature.

One fateful night, a gang of robbers descended upon the elephant shed, shrouded in the darkness of the night’s silence. Their rough talk and discussions about dominance over others became a regular occurrence, unknowingly influencing Elliephant, who listened attentively. Her indifference turned into keen interest as she absorbed their talks of violence and dominance.

The following day, when the mahout (the elephant’s caretaker) came to train Elliephant, her mind was filled with the echoes of the robbers’ discussions. Suddenly, she attacked the mahout, seizing him in her trunk and inflicting serious injuries upon him. News of Elliephant’s sudden violence spread quickly through the city, causing fear and confusion among the people who once adored her. Few people ventured out, fearing they might meet with the same fate.

As the city grappled with the dilemma of what to do with the once-beloved elephant, the wise council of ministers intervened. Approaching Elliephant with gentle words, they noticed a subtle change in her ferocious demeanor. Sensing an opportunity, the ministers advised that Elliephant be placed in the company of kind and gentle monks, hoping to influence her behavior positively over time.

Through patient and compassionate companionship, Elliephant gradually transformed back into the gentle and sweet elephant she once was. This tale serves as a reminder that the company we keep can greatly influence our behavior and character. Wrong friends may have a negative influence on behavior, attitude, and may also risk alienating us and holding us back from reaching our full potential. It's crucial to pay attention to what we hear and who we hear it from. Trusted sources will support positive growth, share similar values, and contribute to a healthy and fulfilling life. Just as Elliephant was guided back to her gentle nature by the presence of kind companions, so too should we choose our friendships wisely, as they shape our journey through life.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Courageous Chikki

Image
Hey everyone! As exam season is approaching rapidly for people of all ages, I wanted to share a short story that contains some advice I hope you'll take to heart. In a big banyan tree by the edge of a quiet village school lived a young sparrow named Chikki and her family. Chikki was very bright but also very tiny. Compared to her peers, she wasn't as strong or as capable. To overcome this, she decided to work as hard as possible to rise above any barrier between herself and her classmates. With this mindset, she breezed through the year but as the school year came to an end, she became increasingly anxious about how she would perform on her flying exam. “What if I don't fly high enough to make my parents proud?” she chittered to herself. “What if I’m the only one who can’t fly?” Her thoughts were clouded by the fear of failure. Every night, Chikki stayed up late reading her books under the moonlight, barely getting any sleep. Her wings drooped with exhaustion, her eyes coul...
Read more

You Can’t Make Everyone Happy-And that's ok

Image
Hi Everyone, Have you ever felt like, no matter what you do, there’s always someone ready to judge? It’s like you just can’t win! High school’s no different. There’s a classic story about an old man, his grandson, and their donkey that perfectly captures this struggle. One day, an old man and his grandson were walking to the town square with their donkey. Wanting to be kind, the old man let the boy ride the donkey while he walked alongside. As they made their way down the road, a group of people saw them and started laughing. “Can you believe that boy?” they scoffed. “He’s so young, yet he’s making the poor old man walk!” Feeling bad about their words, the old man told his grandson to get down and decided to ride the donkey himself. They continued on, but soon enough, they ran into another group who looked at them with disapproval. “What kind of man makes a little boy walk while he rides the donkey? That’s so selfish!” they muttered. Now more confused than ever, the old man had his gra...
Read more

A Pit of Panic

Image
Hello, dear readers! 🌿 Let me share a story that explores themes of fear, critical thinking, and the importance of questioning what we’re told. In a world where it’s so easy to get swept up in the panic of the crowd, this classic tale reminds us that taking a moment to think for ourselves can make all the difference. Hope you enjoy reading! Once, in a big, thick forest, there was a fox named Wiley who was always up to something. Wiley loved finding food and going on new adventures, and he thought he was pretty smart. One day, while wandering through the trees, Wiley wasn’t paying attention and accidentally fell right into a deep, dry well. He tried everything he could think of to climb out, but no matter how hard he scrambled, he just couldn’t make it. As he sat at the bottom of the well, Wiley heard the sound of animals passing by above. There was an elephant, a lion, a deer, and a few snakes slithering nearby. Wiley called out to them for help, but none of them wanted to get too clo...
Read more