Can I do, what I want to do?

One of my cousins, Vandana was forced into an arranged marriage, when she was just 15. Until then both of us were living in a dream world unaware of the threats to our future. Witnessing Vandana’s wedding I resolved to dream with open eyes.

I respected everything my parents wanted for me. I respected all marriage offers that started coming from my adolescence. Offered tea, sat in front of them as a showpiece so that they could see me and mark their checklist. Fortunately, no offer materialized but in the eyes of my relatives that turned out to be my fault. I was labeled as stubborn, cold-hearted and impolite.

I took a conscious decision to not let that happen to me. I decided to test my determination against every challenge that came my way, and not to give up on my future. I was looking for an opportunity that could show me the right path and motivate me to improve my skills and give wings to my dreams.

What I wanted was to find new things about myself. I joined Down To Earth non-profit organization when I was 11 years old. It focused on building the courage, character, and career of a child. Ultimate Frisbee was one of the tools of practicing it. The only game where the girl and a boy play on the same team and each gets the opportunity to make their points. Here I practiced to speak up when it is needed for the team and self.

I kept hearing from my family and relatives that no books and games are going to help me out in my future, listening quietly I continued what I wanted too. My days used to be full of activities including Saturday and Sunday, but that never became a hurdle for me. I got a first-class in 10th SSC board which lead me to Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai and Playing Gheun Tak, the national tournament which was held in Mumbai.

During my college vacation, I joined Bombay International School (BIS) as an intern. The internship was a very new concept for me and my family. My parents were not happy that I was working for free and even using my pocket money for traveling. But I continued and learned to teach. Sometimes, I just walked to school because I was afraid to ask for money from my parents. They could stop me from going. I also felt that I was not in a position to explain to anyone why it was important for me. There I gained the confidence of seeing my self not less than anyone,I got to learn things that I had not learned in my school days, I managed to travel myself, accepting things the way it was and managing students and their parents, planning activities and curriculums and exploring technologies like projector, printer and designing worksheets on computers. During the 12th standard fees for the classes were so high, I choose to do self-study and take help from Down To Earth teachers.

During my first year of Bachelor of Commerce (2015), I got the job of teaching in a virtual class. I realized I cannot teach through a screen, I wanted to be in the classroom with my kids. Although the payment of 14 thousand was beyond mine and my parent’s expectations, I left the job and started teaching at Bombay International School as RTE Aid Teacher for two thousand rupees.

After my graduation, I had the choice of being a full-time teacher and a well-paid salary at Bombay International School. I decided to step out again, serve the ones in need and explore further. I was scared of telling my dad that I have decided to move out of the town, so one day wrote a letter to my father, with a promise that I will not misuse the time and will not let him down. Volunteering at Lok Biradari Prakalp Ashram Shala in the dense forest of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, I learned Madia and Gondi and taught Ultimate Frisbee because I felt the need for mixing of boys and girls. I worked with the children on the theme of transformation through activities that lasted an entire year. Where I was scared of staying alone and standing next to animals, I had started living in a room without light at night for hours and feeding animals.

My quest for further exploration made me look for a platform that could give me a broad understanding of different aspects of education. I reached out to my mentor who led me to join the Punjab Youth Leaders Program (PYLP). At PYLP, we are working towards transforming Punjab into the land of hope, courage, and possibilities. Over 5 years, 100 other young leaders like me will form a community and lead various development initiatives.

During the six-week-long PYLP induction, I met many experienced people and listened to their inspiring stories, which allowed me to set my priorities, re-visiting my dreams and making plans. During the practice of theatre sessions, I explored and experimented with my body, I realized how I had restricted my body not to do so many things just in fear of what another person will think about me. For the first time, I visited government officials and interacted with them. As a part of the induction, we always took time to sit in silence, observe and reflect. I am sure in the next two years, I will gain the experience to walk confidently in the government offices, ask my questions, make my points, take big decisions on the spot, solving problems of others and myself.

During induction, I also got the chance to participate and learn different games. Every morning, we played Kho-Kho, Football, Surr and also created a new game mix of Frisbee and human-Chain. I also introduced the Ultimate Frisbee to my colleagues at PYLP. By the end of Induction, I was familiar with Punjab, my team members, systems map of primary education and the practice of action, reflection, and silence. How can I forget to mention that I also visited Aam Khas Bagh, Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Rauza Sariz Darga at Fateh Garh Sahib and Ber Sahib and many more at Sultanpur Lodhi, traveling and engaging in games are few of the things that I enjoy the most, by coming to PYLP, I am not defying my parents, but following my dreams.

All these practices help me strengthen my confidence and self-esteem, exploring new places, new things and interacting with different kinds of personalities. I want to empower myself so much that I share my story with others without hesitation and scenes of self pride.

Opening my dream school. The motive of the school will be to prepare individuals to face the challenges of life with courage and humanity. I want to break as many stereotypes as possible to understand, experience all aspects of life and enable others to think differently and to try something that they never allow themselves to do. Also, I want to work on my writing skills so that one day I will publish my own novel full of exciting and inspiring stories.

Last but not least Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said “Dream is not that you see in sleep, is the thing which doesn’t let you sleep”