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. 

Voices of Sunbeam: A Reflection Compilation by Students

Voices of Sunbeam: A Reflection Compilation by Students

At Sunbeam, we believe that students who think together, grow together, and learn together. This compilation brings together the thoughts, reflections, and creative expressions of our students, showcasing how shared experiences foster deeper understanding and personal growth. Each voice here represents a step in our collective journey — one of empathy, curiosity, and learning through connection.

Embracing Uniqueness with Kartik Bajoria - Sunbeam School Balia

 

🌿 Reflection: "Knowing Ourselves and Finding Our Path"

In today’s fast-moving world, it is more important than ever to truly know ourselves. We often get caught up in the noise of society, expectations, and comparisons, but deep down, discovering who we are is the foundation of building a meaningful life. Our career choices shouldn’t just be about money or trends — they should reflect our passions, strengths, and values. A certain amount of self-awareness is not just helpful; it is necessary.

Sadly, many teenagers today face constant stress and confusion, trying to meet standards they don’t fully understand. Our parents sacrifice so much to give us a life they never had — not to control us, but because they want to see us happy and secure. That makes it even more important to stop, reflect, and ask: “What do I really want? Who am I becoming?”

Knowing ourselves isn’t selfish; it’s the first step toward living with purpose and making our parents’ sacrifices truly worthwhile.

~ By Astha Mishra, Grade 9

Sunbeam School, Ballia

It was a truly inspiring session. In this two-hour session, we first listened to the powerful experiences of Mr. Kartik Bajoria by watching his video: https://youtu.be/G5kT99UEux0?si=RDWcHfKW_BoJOR1K, which gave us the idea of embracing our own uniqueness. He was also present with us during the session, watching along and answering all our questions wonderfully.

Along with him, we were joined by Mr. Jugjiv Singh, Mrs. Manisha Khanna, Mrs. Brinda Ma’am, and nearly a hundred students from different schools.

Kartik Sir shared an incident where someone asked him, “What are you really? A singer, a teacher, or a managing official?” His answer was, “I am all of these — and I could also be a farmer someday!” What he really meant was that it's okay to have multiple interests. You can pursue one thing passionately, get tired of it, and then move on — and that's completely normal. It's perfectly fine to explore different fields and follow what excites you.

~ Akansha Grade IX-C

Sunbeam School, Ballia

My Good School, Sunday the 15th June 2025

 

🐾  "A Pet Like No Other"

The villagers found a baby monkey near the forest and decided to keep it as a pet. At first, it was fun—swinging on curtains and eating fruit from her hand. But soon, the monkey began to act wild, biting furniture, screaming at strangers, and trying to run away. The villager realised love wasn't enough—what the monkey truly needed was its natural home.

🧠 Reflective Questions:

1. Focus on Curiosity and Choices
   Why do some people bring wild animals into their homes, even when it may not be the best choice?

2. Focus on Natural Behaviour and Environment
   What challenges arise when a wild animal is taken out of its natural habitat and brought into a home?

3. Focus on Responsibility and Consequences
   How did the decision to keep the monkey affect both the villagers and the monkey in the long run?

4. Focus on Care vs. Freedom
   Can love and care replace the natural freedom and environment a wild animal needs? Why or why not?

5. Focus on Learning and Growth
   What lesson can we take from the villagers' experience about the kind of pets we choose and how we care for them?

Hope you enjoyed today's session! 🌈 Now it's time to share your reflection 📝. Please write a few lines about your key takeaway from the session. 

If you have a pet, do share a cute picture along with a fun or unique behaviour that makes your pet special 🐾📸 — we'd love to see it! Additionally, include one line on how reflection helps develop 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, empathy, creativity, and communication 🌍💡.

📧 Kindly email your reflection to: mk@learningforward.org.in

Let's continue to learn, grow, and share together! 💫

Meet and Greet with Kartik Bajoria

https://www.youtube.com/KartikBajoria

Play on YouTube

My Good School, 16th June 2025

Karthik's Passion and Mental Wellness

The meeting began with introductions and a discussion about last week's activities. Karthik, a guest speaker, was introduced and shared his background, including his work in advertising, film, and television, as well as his transition to teaching and his mental wellness initiative, Driveway Devi. The group watched a TED Talk by Karthik from 2016, which discussed finding one's passion and following it. The session concluded with plans to engage in a Q&A session after the talk.

Embracing Uniqueness and True Passions

Kartik shared three pivotal moments in his life where he learned to embrace his uniqueness and passions. At boarding school, he initially felt out of place but found his true self through music, winning a competition and gaining the acceptance of his peers. He later realised his mismatch with a business-focused college course and switched to English honours, finding fulfilment in writing. Despite a successful career in media, he ultimately discovered his true calling in teaching and writing, moving back to Jaipur to pursue these passions.

Embracing Passions and Unique Paths

Jugjiv discussed the importance of embracing one's uniqueness and passions to lead a fulfilling life, urging others to acknowledge and take pride in their natural leanings. Kartik shared insights on pursuing passions despite parental concerns, highlighting the changing landscape of careers and the role of technology in democratising talent exposure. He advised seeking unbiased feedback and maintaining realistic expectations about one's goals. Rishona asked questions about the perception of stress among younger generations and how to cope with the fear of change, to which Kartik responded, emphasising the importance of self-awareness and resilience.

Developing Resilience and Discernment

Kartik discussed the importance of developing a thick skin. He shared personal experiences of being judged for his music choices, emphasising the need to be aware of one's tendency to be overbearing when offering support to someone experiencing mental health challenges. He advised tailoring the approach based on the individual's personality. Kartik also explained the difference between judgment and opinion, and highlighted the importance of discerning between normal sadness and depression by considering factors such as duration and intensity of symptoms.

Balancing Work and Smart Work

Kartik discussed the importance of combining hard work and smart thinking in today's world, using examples from his teaching experience. He explained how he initially encouraged students to use the internet for research but later banned devices due to the over-reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT, which he felt was not promoting genuine intellectual effort. Kartik emphasised the need for students to use technology wisely, combining it with their own critical thinking and personal insights. The session concluded with Kartik sharing tips on overcoming stage fright, such as knowing one's material well and taking a moment to centre oneself before speaking.

Animal Learning and Behaviour Insights

Brinda led a reading session on animal upbringing, sharing insights from "The Inner Life of Animals" about how animals, like humans, learn and adapt to their environments. She discussed her experience with a small herd of goats, highlighting how their behaviour improved after they had kids and learned from their mothers. Brinda also explained how insects, mice, and larger mammals, such as wolves and deer, learn survival skills from their elders, challenging the notion that animal behaviour is purely instinctive.

Animal Education vs Human Schooling

The discussion focused on comparing animal education and human schooling, with Brinda explaining that while animals don't attend formal schools, they are trained by their parents through natural instincts and discipline. The class discussed how animals, particularly mammals and birds, prepare their young for independence, with Brinda sharing personal experiences about goat rearing and how mothers gradually wean their offspring. The conversation concluded with Brinda suggesting that the class read Gerald Durrell's books for further insights into animal behaviour, particularly regarding how animals handle the transition of young ones leaving their parents.

Bees and Fawn Life Stories

Brinda discussed the life cycle of bees, focusing on the role of drones and the process of removing them from the hive as winter approaches. She also shared a story about a fawn that was mistakenly taken in by humans, highlighting the different ways mother love can be expressed among mammals and the potential dangers faced by fawns in modern times.

European Wildcat Conservation Discussion

Brinda discussed the European wildcat, highlighting its conservation success and distinguishing features, noting that positive identification requires genetic testing. She explained that while wildcats and domestic cats can interbreed, wildcats are generally more aggressive and unsuitable for domestication, leading to a discussion about the challenges of keeping wild animals as pets. The session concluded with Manisha requesting participants to share reflections about their pets and maintain respect for speakers in future sessions.

Next steps

• Students: Practice staying muted during online sessions and raising hands before speaking
• Students: Share pictures and stories about their pets and observations of pet behaviour before the next Sunday session
• Manisha: Publish shared pet pictures and stories from students
• Students: Submit reflections on the session through writing, doodling, or other creative ways
• Brinda: Prepare Gerald Durrell's "My Family and Other Animals" for future reading sessions

AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy.

A Reflection on Growth and Curiosity - Aayush Kumar Singh

 Good morning and Jai Hind dear readers,

I am Aayush Kumar Singh of Class 10-A, and this is my reflection on the session organised by My Good School.

So, last Sunday, June 8th, was an excellent session! We kicked things off by chatting about everyone's holiday plans and catching up on personal matters. Then, we dove into a website called The Joy of Learning, which got us thinking about why it's so great to continue learning throughout our lives.

We spent a considerable amount of time going through a chapter about Carl and Sabine Gruber, really delving into their story and relationship. And to wrap things up, Manisha Khanna Ma'am led this fantastic, interactive session with riddles that got our brains really working!

Essentially, the key takeaways centred on personal growth, continuous learning, and finding happiness in viewing things from diverse perspectives. Everyone was encouraged to try out new skills, pick up some books, and just stay curious over their holidays. It was a really inspiring meeting!

Good day and Jai Hind

Aayush Kumar Singh

Class 10-A

Sunbeam School Ballia

दूसरों को खुशियां देना- Sakshi Khanna

 

The greatest joy comes from making someone else happy ☺️

दूसरों को खुशी देना एक ऐसा कार्य है जो न केवल सामने वाले व्यक्ति को आनंदित करता है, बल्कि देने वाले के दिल में भी एक विशेष प्रकार की संतुष्टि और सुकून उत्पन्न करता है।

यह कार्य किसी बड़े तोहफे या भारी मदद के लिए नहीं, बल्कि एक छोटी मुस्कान या मदद के लिए बढ़ाया गया हाथ है। जब हम किसी और की भलाई के लिए कुछ करते हैं और वह भी बिना किसी स्वार्थ के, तो वह करुणा और इंसानियत की भावना को बढ़ावा देता है। दूसरों को खुशी देना हमारे समाज को अधिक जुड़ा हुआ और दयालु बनाता है।

Kindness is spreading sunshine into other people's lives, regardless of the weather.

जब हमें यह महसूस होता है कि हम किसी की मदद करते हैं या उन्हें हंसते हुए देखते हैं, तो हमारे अंदर भी शांति और संतोष की भावना जगती है। यह प्रक्रिया हमें हमारे जीवन में अर्थ और उद्देश्य का एहसास कराती है। हमारी छोटी-छोटी क्रियाएं भी किसी के जीवन में बड़ा अंतर ला सकती हैं।

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of someone else's.

साक्षी खन्ना