Aishwarya Balasundar
In April of 2019, I set foot into DPS Dubai for eleventh grade, marking the start of a new and enriching journey. Moving to a new school and a new country leaving behind my comfortable nest in Bangalore, posed questions I had no answers to. Little did I know, the immense growth and experience I was going to gain that has shaped me into the person I am today.
As a new student, I had my doubts about the environment I was stepping into. To my surprise, I felt extremely welcome by the teachers and students alike. Slowly but steadily, I was able to explore my interests and find my ground. With collaborative students and engaging teachers who taught with passion, I quickly began to cherish learning in the school environment. Actively participating in classroom activities, and seeking opportunities to participate in competitions and external examinations imbibed immense confidence in me.
During the school annual day, I strayed away from my natural inclination to take part in academic projects and took part in the āMental Health Awareness Educationā Drama Club ā a thoughtful initiative by DPSD to raise mental awareness. The theme assigned to my team was the importance of mental health, catering to gender roles in society. As a young Indian girl, I witnessed men being shunned while expressing their mental fragility while women were given the license to feel vulnerable. Realizing that this play provided the perfect platform to help debunk this social stigma, I immediately volunteered to be the lead scriptwriter for the play. Thought-provoking discussions before agreeing on a storyline taught me the value of listening carefully to everyoneās opinions and vantage points. When we received the award for āBest Messageā, I realised the value of leading a team and working diligently and empathetically to ensure every member has their voice heard and presence acknowledged.
Just when I was looking forward to a new school year filled with new adventures, the world was faced with a challenge like never before. Going from catching the school bus to school every morning, to waking up to a computer screen early in the morning to attend classes, the COVID pandemic impacted lives in unimaginable ways. While some were fighting the infection, some others were learning to deal with the ocean of loneliness that washed over while being separated from friends, teachers and acquaintances. Discovering how the internet could bridge the gap between our teachers and students was an experience like none other. I found myself looking forward to the little interactions over online classes that felt like therapy sessions. Be it online yoga sessions in between classes or monthly talks between the class teacher and students, our school ensured that all students had their voices heard and emotions grieved.
Like all others, I did have my low times trying to adapt to the air of uncertainty and the absence of day-to-day interaction. However, I saw potential in new-found time in my hands to develop myself. In the pursuit of self-discovery, I uncovered peace in journaling and passion for psychology. Drawing from the knowledge imparted effectively through online classes, I was able to draw connections between the knowledge I gained and apply it to real life. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the accumulation of disposable masks has created an environmental challenge. Thus, I developed a biodegradable transparent mask prototype with a novel blend of cornstarch and agar-agar, housed in a 3D printed PLA shell. This mask could also cater to sign language users who may need to lip-read. Through 3D-printing my wildest imaginations, exploring digital-art, and programming autonomous robots, my self-taught explorations flourished with liberation in spontaneity.
Building resilience over the pandemic was no easy task. Dealing with university applications and uncertainty around board examinations, I would not have managed to maintain my consistency in my school performance if not for the self-confidence I had gained over the two years at DPSD. With everything slowly getting back to normal and having secured a place in my dream university, I realized that my teachers and the DPSD community were the unsung heroes behind my overall success. With their immense efforts trying to engage with students over the internet and ensure our comfort, they left no stone unturned. In hindsight, my time at DPS Dubai gave me the perfect platform to explore my interests, step out of my comfort zone and build my overall personality.
These few months taught me to find joy in mundane interactions, appreciate untold efforts of those around me and view challenges as another way of exploring my capabilities. My growth throughout this journey has imbibed confidence in my capabilities and a yearning to serve society. With this new mindset, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for lifeās challenges and look forward to many more that will mold my personality for the better.
