निराशा से सफलता तक: कभी हार न मानने की ताकत - रीना देवी

 

"The one who stops trying is the real loser."

जीवन में निराशा आना स्वाभाविक है, लेकिन उसी निराशा में डूबे रहना सही नहीं है। जब भी हम किसी काम में असफल होते हैं या कोई उम्मीद टूटती है, तो मन निराश हो जाता है। उस समय हमें याद रखना चाहिए कि हर रात के बाद सुबह जरूर आती है। महान लोग भी अपने जीवन में कई बार असफल हुए हैं, लेकिन उन्होंने हार नहीं मानी। अगर वे निराश होकर बैठ जाते, तो आज दुनिया उन्हें याद नहीं करती। हमें अपनी गलतियों से सीखकर आगे बढ़ना चाहिए। हर असफलता हमें कुछ न कुछ सीखकर जाती है, इसलिए जीवन में कभी हार नहीं माननी चाहिए, क्योंकि कोशिश करने वालों की कभी हार नहीं होती। ईश्वर ने हमें इतनी ताकत दी है कि हम हर मुश्किल का सामना कर सकें। अगर मन में विश्वास और धैर्य है, तो मंजिल दूर नहीं। इसलिए मैं यह सोचती हूं कि चाहे कितनी भी कठिनाई आए, निराश नहीं होना चाहिए, क्योंकि सच्ची जीत वहीं है जो कठिनाइयों को पार करने के बाद मिलती है।

"Little steps you take, big changes they make. The one who never quits, in golden pages sits."

रीना देवी

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations - ललिता पाल

ज़िंदगी में हर किसी को कभी न कभी मुश्किलें और असफलताएँ झेलनी पड़ती हैं। ये हालात हमें तोड़ने नहीं, बल्कि मजबूत बनाने के लिए आते हैं। जब हम निराश होते हैं, तो हमें ऐसा लगता है कि अब कुछ नहीं हो सकता, लेकिन सच तो ये है कि हर अंधेरी रात के बाद ही उजाला होता है। निराशा एक ऐसी स्थिति है, जहां इंसान अपनी उम्मीदें छोड़ देता है। लेकिन जो व्यक्ति इस निराशा के अंधेरे में भी एक छोटी सी आशा की किरण ढूंढ लेता है, वही आगे चलकर सफलता की ऊंचाइयों तक पहुंच पाता है। हमें यह समझना चाहिए कि हर असफलता कुछ सिखाकर जाती है। जहां लोग हार मान लेते हैं, वहीं अगर हम थोड़ा और प्रयास करें, खुद पर भरोसा रखें और ईश्वर पर आस्था रखें, तो रास्ता जरूर निकलता है।

"इसलिए निराश होने के बजाय खुद को और बेहतर बनाने का संकल्प लें। जीवन के हर मोड़ पर सीखें, आगे बढ़ें, कभी हार न मानें।"

कभी-कभी हम ज़िंदगी से इतने हार जाते हैं कि लगता है अब कुछ खत्म हो गया और जैसे ज़िंदगी थम सी गई हो। फिर वही कहावत याद आ जाती है, "अंधेरी रात के बाद सुबह, और दुःख के बाद सुख जरूर आता है।" लेकिन इसके लिए हमें अपने अंदर एक आशा की किरण को जगाए रखना पड़ता है और हिम्मत नहीं हारनी होती है। फिर तो मुश्किलें जरूर होती हैं, लेकिन नामुमकिन कुछ भी नहीं है।

"Good times come to those who work even in bad times." 🙂

ललिता पाल

निराश नहीं होना - साक्षी खन्ना

जीवन में कठिनाइयाँ आती हैं, लेकिन हमें कभी हार नहीं माननी चाहिए। हमें खुद पर विश्वास रखना चाहिए और आगे बढ़ते रहना चाहिए। जीवन एक यात्रा है जिसमें कभी सफलता मिलती है और कभी असफलता। लेकिन जब हम असफल होते हैं या हमारी मेहनत का तुरंत फल नहीं मिलता, तो हम निराश हो जाते हैं। यह निराशा हमें अंदर से कमजोर बना सकती है, लेकिन अगर हम चाहें, तो इसी निराशा को अपनी ताकत बना सकते हैं।

निराश नहीं होना का मतलब है हमें हर परिस्थिति में उम्मीद बनाए रखनी चाहिए। हालात जैसे भी हों, अगर हम धैर्य रखें और प्रयास करते रहें, तो सफलता जरूर मिलती है। हर असफलता हमें कुछ सिखाती है और हर ठोकर हमें मजबूत बनाती है।

Those who never give up are the ones who succeed in the end.

हम सभी के जीवन में ऐसे स्थान आते हैं जब चीजें हमारी उम्मीदों के अनुसार नहीं होतीं। हम पूरी मेहनत करते हैं, सपने देखते हैं, योजनाएँ बनाते हैं, लेकिन परिणाम हमारे पक्ष में नहीं आते। ऐसे समय में दिल टूटता है, मन उदास हो जाता है, और निराशा घेर लेती है।

परंतु यही वह समय होता है जब हमारी असली परीक्षा होती है।

Disappointment does not stop us; it inspires us to move ahead.

साक्षी खन्ना

असफलता से निराश नहीं होना चाहिए - रुबल कौर

 

हमारे जीवन में कितनी भी मुश्किलें हों, लेकिन हमें हमेशा एक नई शुरुआत करनी चाहिए। इसलिए कभी भी निराश नहीं होना चाहिए।

निराश नहीं होने का अर्थ है कि यह हमें यह बताता है कि हमें मुश्किल समय में भी हिम्मत रखनी चाहिए और कभी भी निराश नहीं होना चाहिए। यह हमें यह सिखाता है कि हमें जीवन की चुनौतियों का सामना करना चाहिए।

असफलता से निराश नहीं होना चाहिए:

सफलता और असफलता जीवन का हिस्सा हैं। असफलता हमें अपनी कमजोरियों को समझने और उन्हें सुधारने का अवसर देती है, ताकि हम भविष्य में सफल हो सकें। जब हमें जीवन में असफलता मिलती है, तो हमें निराश नहीं होना चाहिए। बल्कि, उस कार्य को फिर से करने की कोशिश करनी चाहिए। अगर हम बार-बार प्रयास करेंगे, तो हमें सफलता भी प्राप्त हो जाएगी। हमें अपने आप पर विश्वास रखना चाहिए कि चीजें बेहतर हो सकती हैं। अगर हम अपने आप पर विश्वास रखेंगे, तो हमें सफलता भी मिल जाएगी। हमें सफलता प्राप्त करने के लिए कड़ी मेहनत और तपस्या करनी पड़ती है, और हमे कठिनाइयों का सामना करना पड़ता है। हमें अपने जीवन में निरंतर प्रयास करने चाहिए और कभी भी हार नहीं माननी चाहिए, भले ही रास्ते में कितनी भी कठिनाइयाँ आएं। हमें ईमानदारी और सच्चाई से अपना कार्य करना चाहिए।

We should not be disappointed; we must not lose hope.

रुबल कौर

निराशा नहीं होना - स्वाति

 

जीवन में कई बार ऐसा होता है जब सब कुछ मुश्किल लगता है। हम मेहनत करते हैं, लेकिन सफलता नहीं मिलती, तब मन में निराशा आती है। पर हमें याद रखना चाहिए।

"Every failure is a step closer to success."

निराशा होने से कुछ नहीं बदलता, लेकिन सकारात्मक सोच रखने से रास्ता जरूर निकलता है।

"Hard times don't last, but strong people do."

इसलिए मुश्किल समय में भी खुद पर विश्वास बनाए रखना बहुत जरूरी है।

"Hope is the only thing stronger than fear."

हर दिन एक नया रास्ता है कुछ अच्छा करने का। जब हालात हमारे खिलाफ होते हैं, तब मन में निराशा घर कर लेती है। लेकिन वहीं समय होता है, जब हमें सबसे ज्यादा हिम्मत और धैर्य की आवश्यकता होती है। Hope एक ऐसी शक्ति है, जो हमें अंदर से मजबूत बनाती है। जब हम सोचते हैं कि अब कुछ नहीं हो सकता, तब अगर हम थोड़ा सा भी विश्वास रखें, तो रास्ते अपने आप बनने लगते हैं।

"हर रात के बाद नई सुबह होती है।"

इस तरह, हर कठिनाई के बाद एक नया अवसर आता है। हमें सिर्फ अपने सपनों पर यकीन बनाए रखना है और मेहनत करते रहना है।

जब आप थक जाएं, तो आराम करें, लेकिन हार मत मानें।

"Don't quit. Sometimes, the last key opens the lock."

स्वाति

Failure is not the end, it's a new beginning - Sakshi Pal

 

'Failure is not the end, it's a new beginning.'

जीवन एक संघर्ष है, और इस संघर्ष में हर किसी को किसी न किसी मोड़ पर कठिनाइयों का सामना करना पड़ता है। कई बार हम पूरी मेहनत और लगन से कुछ पाने की कोशिश करते हैं, लेकिन फिर भी हमें वैसी सफलता नहीं मिलती जैसी हम उम्मीद करते हैं। ऐसे समय में मन में निराशा आना स्वाभाविक है। हम सोचने लगते हैं — "Why is this happening to me?" या "I did everything, still I failed." पर इस विषय ने मुझे सिखाया कि असफलता जीवन का अंत नहीं है। Failure is not the opposite of success, it is a part of success. हर बार गिरने का मतलब यह नहीं है कि हम हार गए, बल्कि यह दर्शाता है कि हमने कोशिश की। और कोशिश करने वाले कभी हारते नहीं। जब हम निराश होते हैं, तो हमारी आत्म-शक्ति कम होने लगती है। लेकिन अगर हम believe in ourselves और keep trying without giving up, तो कोई भी मुश्किल रास्ता आसान बन सकता है। मुझे यह समझ में आया कि असफलताएं हमें नया अनुभव देती हैं, और अनुभव से ही हम मज़बूत बनते हैं। अब जब भी मैं किसी परेशानी या हार का सामना करती हूं, तो मैं खुद से कहती हूं — "It's okay to fall, but not okay to quit."

"Try again, you are stronger than you think." यह विषय मेरे लिए सिर्फ एक प्रेरणात्मक विचार नहीं है, बल्कि यह अब मेरी सोच का हिस्सा बन चुका है। इससे मुझे यह समझ में आया कि जीवन में जीतने से ज्यादा ज़रूरी है — never to stop trying. क्योंकि अंत में जीत उसी की होती है जो आखिरी कोशिश तक डटा रहता है। इसलिए अब मैं जीवन की हर चुनौती को एक अवसर की तरह देखती हूं, और हमेशा खुद को यही याद दिलाती हूं — "Never be discouraged, because every fall teaches you how to rise."

Sakshi Pal

जीवन में निराशा नहीं - सिमरन कौर

 

मैंने इस पाठ से यह सीखा है कि जीवन में कभी भी निराश नहीं होना चाहिए। चाहे जीवन में कैसी भी परिस्थिति क्यों न आ जाए। जीवन एक ऐसी प्रक्रिया है, जो निरंतर चलती रहती है, तो आशा और निराशा भी कहां से जीवन में प्रवेश करेंगी। मनुष्य का जीवन है, तो सब कुछ है, क्योंकि आशा और निराशा भी जीवन से ही जुड़ी हैं। जैसे अपना काम कुछ भी हो, हमें खुद से आशा और उम्मीद है कि हम इस काम को कर सकते हैं। लेकिन आशा या उम्मीद ही रखने से कुछ नहीं होता, किसी काम को करने का जज्बा भी होना चाहिए। अगर वह काम नहीं हुआ, जिसे हम करना चाहते हैं, तो हमारा मन उदास हो जाता है। हम यह सोचते हैं कि हमने इस काम से उम्मीद और आशा रखी थी कि हम इस काम को करने की पूरी कोशिश करेंगे। अगर वह काम कोशिश करने के बाद भी न हो, तो ऐसा महसूस होता है कि हमने अपने जीवन में इतनी कोशिश करने के बाद भी कुछ पाया नहीं है। और ऐसा महसूस होता है जैसे हम असफल हो गए हैं। ऐसा सोचकर मन उदास हो जाता है। लेकिन जीवन में धैर्य रखना चाहिए कि जब अपना काम करने में हमने कोई कोशिश छोड़ी नहीं है, तो फिर मन उदास नहीं करना चाहिए। यह सोचना चाहिए कि जब हमने किसी काम को करने में पूरी कोशिश की है, तो उस काम से हमें असफलता भी जरूर मिलेगी। अगर मन उदास हो, तो अपने आप से यह उम्मीद रखनी चाहिए कि अगर आज हमने किसी काम को करने में मेहनत की है, तो हमें अपनी मेहनत का फल जरूर मिलेगा। अपने अंदर हिम्मत रखनी चाहिए और अपने मन को उदास नहीं करना चाहिए। निराश नहीं होना चाहिए।

सिमरन कौर

Puberty and Perspective: Learning, Questioning, and Growing with Confidence - Nikunj Gupta

Today's session really helped me make sense of the changes I’m going through—both in my body and emotions—as I experience puberty. I learned that it’s all a normal part of growing up, mostly driven by hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

I also found it fascinating how our culture can shape the way we respond to things, even something as simple as food. One part that stood out to me was the example about deworming horses—it showed how the same word can mean completely different things depending on the context.

Overall, I feel more comfortable now discussing these topics and know it’s okay to ask questions or seek help when I need it.

Nikunj Gupta

Class VII

Sunbeam Suncity School

Understanding Puberty: Navigating Change with Awareness and Empathy - Vishakha Singh

Good morning & Jai Hind,

Today's session was really very important, especially for our students. It discussed the changes that occur during puberty and their longer-term impact.

Sharing my opinion & reflection related to today's session:

The session on puberty and the changes that occur during it was both informative and eye-opening. It provided a safe space to learn and discuss the physical, emotional, and social changes that occur during this crucial stage of development. Understanding these changes helps reduce confusion and fear, especially as many young people experience them for the first time.

One key takeaway was learning how puberty can affect friendships. As we grow and change, our interests, moods, and the way we relate to others can shift. Sometimes, friends might grow apart or misunderstand each other due to emotional ups and downs or different paces of development. However, learning about these changes can help us become more patient and understanding with our friends, strengthening those relationships instead of losing them.

The session also helped highlight the importance of emotions during puberty. Emotions can become stronger or more unpredictable due to hormonal changes. Learning to recognize and manage emotions, especially through open communication and self-care, is crucial for maintaining mental well-being. It was helpful to know that feeling overwhelmed or confused at times is completely normal.

I also explored the meaning of happy emotions, such as joy, excitement, and contentment. These emotions are important because they help us build positive relationships, motivate us to achieve goals, and give us a sense of purpose and connection. Understanding that it’s okay to experience a range of emotions, including happy and difficult ones, can make this stage of life easier to handle.

Overall, the session was valuable in helping us understand ourselves and each other better during puberty. It reminded us that we are not alone in our experiences and that emotional and social support are essential during this time of growth.

Thank you.

Regards,

Vishakha Singh

Educator

Sunbeam School Ballia

Puberty and Growing Up: Understanding Changes with Confidence and Care - Sunbeam School Ballia

Today's session was really informative.

The resource person, Ms. Shikha Agnihotri, began by explaining what puberty is – a stage of physical and emotional development where children transition into adulthood. Students were told about the emotional ups and downs they may face, such as mood swings, increased sensitivity, self-consciousness, and anxiety.

The session also covered how puberty affects behaviour. Children may start seeking more independence, feel peer pressure, or become more private and less communicative with parents or teachers. The facilitator encouraged open communication and reassured students that it’s okay to ask questions or feel confused during this stage.

Most importantly, the session focused on creating a safe and respectful environment where students could express their doubts and emotions freely. It emphasized that growing up is a journey, and with the right guidance and support, it can be a smooth and confident one.

Regards,

Pooja Pandey

Educator

Sunbeam School Ballia

Today's session on "Puberty and Its Impact on Emotions and Behaviour" was both engaging and informative.

The speaker beautifully explained that puberty is a natural phase of life during which children experience significant changes in their bodies, minds, and emotions. Due to hormonal shifts, they may sometimes feel angry, sad, confused, or shy without any clear reason. The session helped us understand that these changes are a normal part of growing up, and with proper guidance and support, this transition can be managed smoothly and positively.

Thank you,

Anurag Tripathi

Educator

Sunbeam School Ballia

Navigating Puberty: Embracing Emotional Growth with Support and Awareness - Shahar Banu

Today's session on Puberty and Its Impact on Emotions and Behaviour by Ms. Shikha Agnihotri was truly interactive and engaging.

Ma’am ensured active participation from everyone, and rightly so—the topic itself sparked genuine curiosity among the listeners. She emphasized how puberty influences not just physical growth but also significantly impacts one’s mind and behaviour.

I was especially glad to witness the enthusiastic involvement of the students throughout the session. It has certainly made it easier for me to approach this sensitive topic with more confidence and clarity in the classroom.

A heartfelt thank you to My Good School for inviting such insightful speakers to address relevant and timely issues.

Regards,

Shahar Banu

Dean Academics

Sunbeam School, Ballia

Embracing Change: Understanding Puberty with Confidence and Respect - Astha Mishra

The session on puberty was very informative and eye-opening. It helped me understand the changes that happen in our body and mind as we grow from children into teenagers. It also taught me the importance of involving an adult whenever we make any important decision.

Overall, the session helped me feel more confident and less awkward about this stage of life. It also taught me to be respectful and understanding toward others who are also going through these changes. I now see puberty not as something to be scared or ashamed of, but as a natural and important step in becoming a responsible and mature individual.

~Astha Mishra

Class IX

Sunbeam School, Ballia

My Good School, Sunday 29th June 2025

YES Workshop with Shikha Agnihotri of Right Side Story

Discussion on puberty, growing up, and adolescence with high school students, led by Shikha Agnihotri from Right Side Story.

Key Takeaways

• Puberty involves both physical and emotional changes that are beyond one's control; understanding these changes helps normalise the experience ("puberty is not a race")

• Students shared insights on mood swings, emotional changes, and physical transformations during puberty, demonstrating awareness but also misconceptions

• The session emphasised communication as a crucial strategy for managing challenging emotions and relationships during adolescence

• Gender differences during puberty were discussed, including societal expectations and biological variations, with an emphasis on respect for all genders

Topics

Understanding Puberty and Growth

• Puberty is defined as a "software update" in the mind and body, signalling the transition from childhood.

• Students recognised that puberty is influenced by genetics and occurs at different ages for different people.

• Physical changes discussed included body odour, voice changes such as the Adam's apple in boys, and muscle development.

• Brain "rewiring" during puberty leads to feelings of independence and new emotional experiences.

• Girls and boys experience different physical changes, but both face hormonal shifts (testosterone vs. estrogen)

Emotional Changes During Puberty

• Students identified negative emotions experienced: anxiety, jealousy, frustration, irritation, depression.

• Positive emotions noted: happiness from recognition, validation, success, and achievement.

• Discussion of mood swings affecting both genders, not just girls, as commonly believed

• Students expressed challenges with controlling emotions during puberty

• Shikha emphasised that emotions during puberty are often temporary but intense, requiring patience

Friendship and Relationships During Adolescence

• Students debated whether friendship affects puberty or puberty affects friendship

• Trust issues in friendships were highlighted as a challenge during puberty

• Advice given: when hurt by friends, communicate within 24 hours rather than avoiding the issue

• Self-inflicted independence during puberty can strain relationships with parents and authority figures

• Importance of finding trusted adults to discuss difficult decisions emphasised

Self-Image and Body Awareness

• Students noted increased focus on appearance during puberty (clothes, hygiene, physical features)

• Discussion about boys becoming more conscious about their physical appearance (muscles, height)

• Girls discussed increased attention to skincare, makeup, and fashion choices

• The importance of hygiene is emphasised, especially regarding body odour, which increases during puberty

• Both genders experience increased self-consciousness and concern about how others perceive them

Reading Session: Animal Behaviour and Taste with Brinda Ghosh

• The second half of the meeting featured a reading from "The Inner Life of Animals" focusing on taste in animals

• Discussed how animals have different taste preferences than humans (example: crows eating seeds from horse excrement)

• Explored how taste is adapted to different species' needs and evolutionary history

• Reading skills were emphasised, including proper use of punctuation and expression while reading

• Importance of regular reading beyond textbooks (15-20 minutes daily) was encouraged

Next Steps

• Shikha proposed separate follow-up sessions for boys and girls to discuss puberty more openly

• Future session on pronunciation and reading skills to be conducted by Brinda

• After completing the current book, the group will read Gerald Durrell's works about animals

• Students are encouraged to practice communication skills when dealing with emotional challenges

• Students advised to develop reading habits beyond textbooks (15-20 minutes daily)

Learning Life Lessons with My Good School - Viraaj Rai

 

In this session, we learned about loyalty. We understood that animals are often more loyal than humans. Another important lesson was that every person has at least one exceptional talent. We also learned about the importance of reading. Reading helps us gain knowledge that can be useful in the future.

What I liked the most was how the teachers explained the topics — everything was clear and easy to understand. The question-and-answer part was also exciting. The teachers answered all our questions patiently and kindly. I enjoy the My Good School sessions on Sundays. They are very informative and well-organised.

I liked this session a lot.

Thank you!

Viraaj Rai
Class: 5th B
Sunbeam Ballia

My Visit to Ahmedabad: A Memorable Experience at the Sort My College Summit

On June 21st, I took a train to Ahmedabad, often referred to as the Manchester of India. I was heading there to attend the Sort My College  (SMC) Summit, one of the leading youth festivals that brings together young minds for discussions and brainstorming. The summit is hosted by my friend Daksh Kala, the founder of Sort My College.

I arrived in the city early in the morning during a refreshing downpour—the raindrops felt like a warm welcome from Ahmedabad itself. After reaching, I went to meet my sister at Gujarat University. She tied a rakhi on my wrist, which I believe would help me perform better at the event. We enjoyed breakfast together before heading to the venue.

The conference featured an exciting lineup of speakers and performers. We heard inspiring talks by RJ Krutarth, Rishabh Jain, Anand Kumar, and Arjun Vaidya. To lighten the mood after all the serious discussions, there was a fun stand-up comedy act by Shlok, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

On the sidelines of the event, I also had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people. We shared ideas, discussed our work, and I spoke about the Good Schools Alliance, trying to spread the word about our mission.

I want to extend my gratitude to Mr. Dutt for this wonderful opportunity. I’m thankful for the chance to learn, connect, and grow through this experience.

- Kunal Rajpurohit, Fellow and Analyst at the Learning Forward India Foundation

Joy of Learning Calendar July 2025

My Good School

6^th  July 2025
Book Reading- The Door-To-Door Bookstore
Book Reading- क्या आपका बच्चा दुनिया का सामना करने के लिए तैयार है?

13^th July 2025
Book Reading- The Inner Life of animals
Book Reading- क्या आपका बच्चा दुनिया का सामना करने के लिए तैयार है?

20^th  July 2025
Amardeep Singh Screening of Episode 19 निमृत प्रभाव (विनम्रता की छाप) 
Book Reading- The Inner Life of animals

27^th   July 2025
We aim to inspire young minds, helping them navigate while embracing their dreams and aspirations.
The YES workshop with Shikha Agnihotri, founder of The Right Side Story
Book Reading- क्या आपका बच्चा दुनिया का सामना करने के लिए तैयार है?

The Teacher's Academy

Brewing Knowledge Fridays at 5.30 PM: Book Reading with Sandeep Dutt:

• What Did You Ask At School Today: A Handbook Of Child Learning; and 
• The Book of Rumi 105 Stories And Fables That Illumine Delight And Inform

Saturday Masterclass Webinar at 5:30 PM: Productive Failure - Design for and turn your failures into meaningful learning experiences

GSA Squad Meetings

At 5:30 PM every Monday on Zoom - GSA Coordinators, Volunteers and Mentors. #JoyOfGiving Review programs and plan for the coming week.

Good Schools of India

Are you signed up for the Good Schools of India Weekly yet? Don't miss out on valuable insights—published every Monday at 7:00 AM! #JoyOfLearning Subscribe at: www.GSI.in

My Good School, Sunday the 22nd June 2025

Sunday school session focused on reading, reflection, and discussion of "The Door-to-Door Bookstore" by Carsten Henn and Is Your Child To Face The World? by Dr Anupam Sibal (Hindi edition)

Key Takeaways

• Emphasized importance of reading, listening, and reflection for personal growth and learning
• Discussed themes of perseverance and not giving up in the face of challenges
• Explored how reading and listening complement each other to improve communication skills
• Encouraged participants to write reflections and engage actively in discussions

Book Discussion: "The Door-to-Door Bookstore"

• Continued reading Chapter 4, focusing on Carl's evolving relationship with Schascha
• Explored themes of sadness, intuition, and the power of human connection
• Discussed Carl's changing perspective on Schascha, from avoidance to missing her company
• Analyzed the character of "the reader" and his hesitation to share his writing despite its quality

Importance of Reading and Listening

Manisha Presented slides on benefits of reading and listening:

• Enhances language skills, vocabulary, and grammar
• Improves overall literacy and comprehension
• Introduces new concepts and enhances critical thinking
• Complements each other for better communication

Reflection on "Never Give Up" Story

• Shared inspiring stories of medical breakthroughs and patient resilience:
  • Stephen Hawking's life with ALS
  • Lorenzo Odone's parents' fight against ALD
  • Jodi Miller's hemispherectomy for Rasmussen's encephalitis
• Emphasized the importance of perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges

Participant Engagement

• Encouraged participants to unmute and share thoughts
• Discussed the importance of expressing emotions and not hiding feelings
• Addressed concerns about shyness and difficulties in self-expression

Next Steps

• Participants to write and submit reflections on the session
• Encouraged various formats for reflections: writing, drawing, voice notes, or videos
• Next week's session to continue book reading and feature a guest from "Right Side Story"
• Participants to come prepared for more interactive discussions and reflections

Beyond Ordinary: The Century School’s Chronicle of Inner Light

Each person is born with special qualities that make them different from others. The foremost step to discovering one’s uniqueness is self-awareness. One has to observe what they enjoy doing the most—whether it’s a talent, a skill, or a hobby. Feedback also plays a crucial role in discovering one’s uniqueness.

Sometimes, this journey becomes difficult due to fear, lack of awareness, or parental pressure. It may be the fear of judgment or the feeling of not being “good enough.”

In the journey of discovering your uniqueness, don’t forget—never compare yourself with anyone. Be honest, curious, and confident. The real talent lies within, and the key to unlocking it is to believe in yourself and move forward with courage.

Anshika Sharma

The Century School, Karnal

—-

Kartik Bajoria shared how everyone possesses something unique and explained how he discovered his own. He is right in saying that instead of trying to fit in, one must embrace their differences.

His message is a powerful life lesson—that one’s uniqueness is not a flaw but a strength that leads to the true path of life.

Pranit Batra

The Century School, Karnal

Looking Back: Reflecting on the Journey - Sunbeam School Lahartara

At  Sunbeam School, Lahartara, we believe that  true learning begins when students pause to reflect. Reflection transforms experiences into insight, moments into meaning, and interactions into personal growth. Our recent  Meet and Greet session with Mr. Kartik Bajoria—a celebrated  coach and mentor—was not just an event; it was a mirror held up to every student’s thoughts, expressions, and aspirations. His words didn’t merely inform—they inspired, provoked questions, and awakened self-awareness. After the session, students took time to write, discuss, and share their reflections. This deliberate act of looking inward helped them:  Recognise how communication shapes confidence.  Acknowledge their own strengths and fears.  Connect what they heard to who they are becoming. Each reflection was a beam of light—unique, honest, and glowing with possibility. At Sunbeam, we don’t just teach students what to think; we nurture how they think. And through reflection, they grow not just smarter—but wiser, kinder, and more self-aware.