My Good School, 29th March 2026

Sunday morning with Karkit Bajoria

To learn proposal writing and discuss book reading with Kartik Bajoria and Jugjiv Singh.

Key Takeaways

• Frame requests as opportunities: Present your need as a valuable opportunity for the recipient, not a subservient request.

• Use a 5-part structure: A proposal should include Context, Proposition, Recipient Advantages, Preemptive Solutions, and a “Big Idea” conclusion.

• Predict and solve problems upfront: Address potential recipient concerns directly in the proposal to demonstrate foresight and save time.

• Adopt a “parallel career” mindset: Turn negative self-talk (“I can’t”) into a concrete goal (“I will”) to overcome inertia and pursue dreams.

Topics

Proposal Writing Strategy

• Core Principle: Convert requests into opportunities for the recipient.

• Key Elements:

  • Context: Provide relevant background to justify the request.

  • Proposition: State the request clearly and concisely.

  • Recipient Advantages: Detail 2–3 unique benefits for the recipient.

  • Preemptive Solutions: Address potential problems before they are raised.

  • Big Idea: Frame the proposal as part of a larger, meaningful movement.

• Practical Tips:

  • Tone: Communicate on equal terms; avoid subservient language.

  • Language: Use cautious phrasing (“great likelihood”) instead of promises, as emails are legal documents.

  • Format: Use simple salutations (“Dear Sir/Ma’am”) and sign-offs (“Regards”).

Case Study: Tennis Academy Proposal

• Scenario: Propose a 10-day coaching camp to the Mahesh Bhupati Tennis Academy.

• Brainstormed Ideas:

  • Context: New school courts, rising student interest, and local players succeeding on the international stage.

  • Recipient Advantages: Access new markets (e.g., smaller towns) and recruit future talent.

  • Preemptive Solutions:

    • Concern: Low student turnout → Solution: Invite other local schools.

    • Concern: Poor infrastructure → Solution: Highlight recently built, world-class courts.

    • Concern: High resource investment → Solution: Offer school faculty to assist coaches.

Book Reading: “What You’re Looking For is in the Library”

• Plot: Ryo, an accounts clerk, dreams of opening an antique shop but lacks the courage.

• Key Learnings from Yasuhara (bookshop owner):

  • Parallel Careers: A second job provides mental fulfilment, making the primary job less burdensome.

  • Courage of Conviction: Act on your beliefs, even when difficult.

  • “Turn the Don’t into a Goal”: Reframe negative self-talk into a concrete objective.

  • Start Now: Don’t wait for the “right time”; connections and opportunities arise from action.

Next Steps

• All Participants:

  • Write a reflection on the session’s takeaways.

  • Send reflections to Manisha Khanna for publication on the website.

  • Research: How much of a plant’s mass is in its roots?

• Manisha Khanna:

  • Publish submitted reflections on the website.

• Kartik:

• Lead an in-person session at the April 10-14 My Good School Retreat.

• 
  FATHOM AI-generated summary, read with care.

What You’re Looking For in the Library, and a Hindi story from, “The Whistling Schoolboy”

Sunday School of 1st March 2026

To read and discuss two books, focusing on themes of ambition and school life.

Key Takeaways

• Low Attendance Due to Exams: Final exams for classes 9 & 11 (home) and 10 & 12 (board) significantly reduced student attendance.

• Dual-Book Format: The session featured two books: a Japanese novel, What You’re Looking For in the Library, and a Hindi story, “The Whistling Schoolboy” from Kabhi Kabhi School Masti Ka Adda Lagta Tha.

• Core Themes: The English novel explored ambition vs. responsibility through protagonist Ryo’s dream of opening an antique shop. The Hindi story used humour to highlight the fun, non-academic parts of school life, like plays and food.

• “Parallel Career” Concept: A key idea from the English novel, a “parallel career” (coined by Peter Drucker), was introduced as a way to pursue two complementary careers without one being secondary.

Topics

Context: Low Attendance & New Participant

• Low student attendance was attributed to ongoing final exams across many schools.

• Shailaja from Holi Sai International School (Chennai, IGCSE) joined for the first time to observe the session.

• Jugjiv Singh provided an overview of the program’s goal: using books to spark dialogues on life skills and socio-emotional learning.

English Book: What You’re Looking For in the Library

• Recap: The session began by reading student blog reflections to recap the story.

  • Plot: Ryo, stuck in a finance job, dreams of opening an antique shop.

  • Librarian’s Role: Ms Komachi gives Ryo a book on worms and a felted cat, prompting him to discover a cat-themed bookshop, “Cats Now Books.”

• Reading & Discussion:

  • Ryo’s Work Stress: Ryo is burdened by his boss’s lack of software skills and an unmotivated assistant.

  • Hina’s Family Pressure: Hina’s parents see Ryo as a “steady chap” and hint at marriage, creating pressure that conflicts with his dream of running an antique shop.

  • “Parallel Career” Concept: Ryo learns this term from Peter Drucker, defined as two complementary careers in which neither is secondary.

Hindi Book: Ekanki Swang - Natak

• Pre-Reading Quiz: A quiz on “fun school moments” served as a warm-up, with students identifying activities like sharing jokes and playing during free periods as key to enjoyment.

• Reading: The story, read by Manisha Khanna, used humour to describe the author’s experiences at boarding school.

  • Plays: Rehearsals were a fun escape from mandatory study.

  • Food: The author would intentionally finish last in races to stop at a tikki/samosa stall, highlighting the importance of food in school life.

  • Library: The library was a favourite place, made lively by the senior master, Mr Knight.

• Discussion: The story sparked a discussion on the importance of food in boarding schools, with participants sharing anecdotes about hunger and the quality of school meals.

Program Calendar & Logistics

• Manisha Khanna shared the March calendar to provide context for new participants.

• Weekly Schedule:

  • Sundays: Dual book readings (English & Hindi).

  • Saturdays: Professional learning for teachers and a masterclass for students.

  • Fridays: “Brewing Knowledge” meet-and-greets with published authors.

• Upcoming Event: A retreat is scheduled for April 10–14 at Mayoor School Jaipur.

Next Steps

• Students: Write and submit reflections on the stories.

• Manisha Khanna: Publish student reflections on the program blog.

No job is menial, no work is small - Rishona Chopra

Image sourced from Google Search by Rishona

When one has to choose a career path, one would often think of the following things: "Doctor, Engineer, Astronaut, Scientist" but would never dream of saying "I want to be a plumber, an electrician, a restaurant waitress, a security guard for a local shop". Why? Because these jobs are what we think of as "menial". Ask the people around you if they would ever want to be a plumber, a house nanny, a school bus driver, etc, and the answer will be out instantly.

This whole perception of how these jobs are "inferior" is just a societal stereotype. The truth is, we NEED these people. Yes, we need doctors and scientists, but we need these workers just as much. We rely heavily on those who do these so-called "menial" jobs. We rely so much on them to fix our home wiring, solve the issue of a clogged toilet, clean our home, and cook our food. Yet, for some reason, we can't imagine being a hotel receptionist and being proud of it.

Another reason for this is the job pay that comes with it. We don't respect these workers and their worth in our lives. Hence comes the low wage. Their work requires hard work, patience, strength, and much more. It's tiring and taxing and, unfortunately, not as rewarding. And where is this constant negative energy about these "menial" jobs leading us? Unhappy workers. Workers who aren't happy in what they do and don't know their value and society is to blame for it.

Why should a factory worker be paid minimum wage while a CEO is paid millions? Those factory workers are the backbone of that place, and in the end, those workers have to bear the brunt of it all.

The problem is that we don't realise that we need them. We need all those people who we would never want to be. That's the irony of life.

Now, ignorant fellows often claim that there is possibly nothing that they can do about these matters, but there is something that we can do. We can help, respect, and care for these workers. Whatever we may be in our lives, we are still human. Let's act like it. Rishona Chopra Grade IX Gyanshree School School Captain My Good School

Our Voice about YES - Anmol Kashyap

 I have made this presentation to show case the contribution done by the Good School Alliance for the youth to be engaged with the society for its development and also for fostering their skills in the field of service. It is important because it helps in nurturing the youth for their career and its betterment.

Anmol Kashyap 9 D
Sunbeam Hostel Lahartara

Reflections from Sunbeam Lahartara

Sunbeam School and Hostel Lahartara in Varanasi share #JoyOfLearning in their maiden newsletter!

Newsletter July 2024

Newsletter July 2024 by Rishona Chopra

Great Nourishment and more from Sunbeam School Lahartara

GREAT NOURISHMENT

I as a learner, feel immense pleasure to be a part of a My Good School reading program; it helps me enrich myself with ethical thoughts. It provides supplements to grow healthy, think healthy, and be healthy.

It inspires me with great motivational stories. In every session of good school. I learned something new.

I enjoy being a part of it, reading stories every Sunday.

RUDRANSHI 9-D 

A CAREER TRANSITION PROCESS

A career transition refers to the process of discovering and pursuing a new career. Also known as a career shift or change, a career transition entails the act of seeking an occupation other than your present one. For instance, you start your career in accounting and subsequently move into technology.

ANKIT RAJ 8B

STORY OF FANTASY

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island... "

I used to love to hear stories or novels from others, but I was much happier when a book was written for me. I love when students go to the library and search for books on me and try to find them on the internet. I love when some schools ask for books with stories about fantasy, and they crave me. It gives me immense happiness.

Also, children of all ages take a lot of interest in reading me and sometimes melt into my world and feel happy. I feel really content to be with enthusiastic children.                 

MRIDUL MAHESHWARI IX-D

THE ANTIDOTE 💊 - Tenzin Nyingsel

Whatever we do in our lives costs one or more of the other important things we possess. There is always a hidden cost, whether it's the capital or the time. Our possessions should always be spent on the right things; we will only start putting our hearts into them. Later, we get the passion for it, and we never know how that becomes a career in our very lives.

If we keep these essential points in mind whenever we choose to do something, we shall never need an antidote to continue what we are doing or about to do.

"A samosa doesn't cost £15, it costs your health.

YouTube doesn't cost £300-£400; it costs your health.

Social media isn't free; it costs your focus."

As a result, remember that "There is always a hidden cost."

Tenzin Nyingsel
Pestalozi Children Village Society
Class X

Why you should join My Good School? - Anusha Jain

Anusha Jain 

Class 10

Ahlcon Public School

My Good School works for the personal and social development of every individual. Find out how we work and what is in store for you?
Discover more www.GoodSchools.IN

 

Find Your Calling - Rishona Chopra

Based on the chapter Find Your Calling from Is your child ready to face the world by Dr Anupam Sibal.

We all are here to play our part. We are born to discover, create and learn. We are born to dream, but

we must not choose it under pressure to turn to our profession. We must stick to our true calling.

People might say even our parents might say, “ Be a doctor.” But you actually want to be an engineer. 

When people don’t do what they want to do, they are not happy and might fail too! 

Everybody takes time to decide some at high school others at a very young age, but we must choose

our true calling...

Now I’d like to present a story..(not a true story but can be)

                                        Choosing my calling  

I was pressured to be an engineer as the growing technology amazed people as a child. 

I wasn’t really interested in technology. I wanted to save lives and be a doctor. Although this made

people impressed, my parents said, “ For years, people have been engineers in the family, and we need

this to continue.”

I knew being an engineer would not make me happy at all, and that was not my calling. 

That night, I told my parents that I genuinely wanted to be a doctor that helps people more; screens damage

eyes and I could cure that. Listening to that, I thought my parents felt proud and disappointed

at the same time, but they supported me!

Now I am a successful neurosurgeon! Imagine if I didn’t choose my calling would I be happy? 

I don’t think so.

Although we might be pressured, we must choose what really makes us happy.

Rishona Chopra

Grade V

Gyanshree School