Q My daughter is a student of Class VIII. The teaching method in her school is so bad that she needs tuitions in almost all subjects. She is a bright child but is exhausted from all the travelling to tuitions she has to do. She cannot study much and is also losing interest in Physics, her pet subject. Is there a way out?

Sumita Roy Choudhury

I am assuming that changing her school is not really an option. If there are limited choices in terms of good schools in an area then, unfortunately, students will have to rely on self-learning.

You could buy her a diverse range of books to learn from while a fast Internet connection can help her access well-taught lessons on YouTube. She could even create some flashcards or small notes, which she could revise while travelling. If possible, download some audio books (fiction and non-fiction) she can listen to while travelling. This could help her widen her horizons.

As a parent, it is important at this stage to keep her emotionally strong. Young people should be encouraged to realise that many high achievers in this world have been self-taught. They have become successful despite their lack of opportunities. It is not always the people who went to the best schools or had access to the best teachers who achieve success in life. In my opinion, success is the privilege of those who work the hardest, come to terms with their challenges and persist in becoming the best they can be.

A positive attitude and the willingness to learn come what may is very often worth a lot. It is this determination that can help people move mountains. So please keep your daughter motivated and inspired. As Robert Schuller says, "tough times don't last but tough people do".

Shivani Manchanda has master’s degrees in career counselling and child development. She has been counselling about opportunities in India and abroad since 1991. Mail questions to telegraphyou@gmail.com