15/07/2026
When young minds begin to ask questions, real learning begins…
The last two days have been incredibly enriching and deeply fulfilling.
I had the privilege of serving once again as the Resource Person for the ANWESHAN programme, organised by Growth from Grassroots NGO where I conducted interactive online sessions on “Child Psychology and Understanding the Turbulent Adolescent Age.”
This association is especially meaningful to me because I was invited by the organisation as a Resource Person last year as well, when I conducted a single session. I am truly humbled that, based on the response and feedback from the previous programme, the organisers entrusted me with a significantly expanded role this year.
This time, I had the privilege of conducting four interactive sessions over two consecutive days—two sessions each day for students of Classes VI–VIII and Classes IX–XII—making me the only Resource Person entrusted with this extended format. I sincerely appreciate the confidence the organising team placed in me and accepted this responsibility with great commitment.
Across these four sessions, the programme reached approximately 2,900 students from 13 centres, making it one of the largest school mental health awareness initiatives I have had the opportunity to be a part of.
While the numbers are encouraging, what left the deepest impression on me was the enthusiasm of the students. The sessions became highly interactive, with a large number of students coming forward to ask thoughtful questions on a wide range of topics—from emotions, stress, friendships, self-worth, relationships, social media and mobile addiction to memory, nightmares, manipulation, the influence of the home environment on personality, and even pursuing psychology as a career. Their questions reflected not only curiosity but also a genuine desire to understand themselves, their relationships, and the world around them. It reminded me that adolescents are not reluctant to talk about mental health; they simply need safe spaces where they feel heard without judgment.
Personally, I cherish the question-and-answer sessions the most. Every time a student gathers the courage to ask a question, I see curiosity, trust, and hope. Perhaps it touches me so deeply because I remember my own teenage years, when many of us had countless questions but very few safe spaces—or trusted adults—to ask them. Today, if I can offer these young minds guidance, reassurance, or simply the confidence to keep asking questions, I feel I am giving them something I wish many of us had while growing up.
As I looked through the screenshots after the sessions, I realised they didn’t just capture an online workshop—they captured hundreds of young minds choosing curiosity over silence. Every question represented a student who felt safe enough to ask, and to me, that is the true success of any educational programme.
The discussions throughout these sessions reaffirmed something I deeply believe: mental health education is not merely about creating awareness; it is about creating psychologically safe spaces where young people can understand themselves, express themselves without fear, build resilience, make informed choices, and know that seeking help is a sign of strength—not weakness.
My heartfelt gratitude to Growth from Grassroots NGO for their continued trust and confidence, to the organising committee, school authorities, teachers, coordinators, and every student who made these two days so meaningful.
I return home with a heart full of gratitude, hope, and renewed faith in the next generation.
Because every meaningful conversation we have with a young person today has the potential to change a life tomorrow.
Here’s to many more conversations, many more classrooms, and many more young minds discovering that it is okay to ask questions, to feel deeply, to seek help when needed, and to keep growing.
