Temperance poster contests during my School days

 My school (Seventh day adventist- Madurai Central) conducts the Temperance contest every year. It was part of the International Temperance association of Seventh day adventists' annual event across all SDA schools and institutions worldwide.

There was both speech and poster (painting) contests. The themes usually chosen were to bring awareness about the dangers of smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking coffee,tea & drug abuse, need for exercising,  etc 

 In 1988 I was in the 8th std and participated for the first time in the poster contest. The topic was 'dangers of Drug abuse'. 

I depicted drugs as a giant anaconda swirling around an addict,  ready to swollow him! I won the 1st place and went on to represent my school in the South Tamilnadu level competition that was held in Thanjavur. Here I replaced the anaconda with a giant Octopus and won the 1st place. Adventistian Milka Singh (Addi) my classmate had won the speech contest and together we had a memorable time in Thanjavur! Addi was a legend on stage in those days...he used to literally set the stage on fire with his fiery speech!

First place School level 

First place- South Tamil section 

The next South India union level competition was held at Hubli , Karnataka. Here I changed the octopus to a giant dragon holding the addict by its tail ready to blow fire into his face! Here too I won the 1st place and helped our school lift the overall trophy! 

This was my first competition outside my school and outside my state!

First place- South India union level 

 my small achievement was published in the Anaikadu Uravinmurai Jan 1989 journal !

First place school level - 9th std

A rare 3rd place in my XI std - 

Too much of drawing competitions had given me a kind of mental fatigue. The topic was also quite boring - something to do with the benifits of sunlight...so I had not enrolled my name for the contest.

Mr.Kalaimani, the staff coordinator, who came to know just before the event that I had skipped participation,  called me to the Bio-lab and literally ordered me to participate. I told him I had not prepared but he was not in a mood to listen! So I had to rush home during lunch to get my painting kit and managed to participate... and get a lucky 3rd place!

3rd place school level - XI std

The next memorable year was 1992 when I was in the 12th std. This time I was in a mood to finish with a bang! I think the topic was about the benifits of exercising. 

I managed to win upto the South India level and help lift the overall shield for my school. The South Tamilnadu level was held at Usilampatti and the South India level was held at Kottayam.  I have great memories of the Kottayam trip ... my friend Nelson Nathan was there too for the Speech contest.

School level certificate - XII std

  

First place - South Tami section

First place- South India Union level