Everyone is an achiever in the pioneering lexicon of this Jamshedpur school.
On the sidelines of felicitating academic toppers of Classes I to XII at Michael John Auditorium in Bistupur on Friday, ADLS Sunshine School also conferred medals of honour on 75 students who have acquired a behavioural breakthrough.
So, while Class IX boy Harsh Kumar, who was a notorious truant prone to self-harm a year ago, went home with the Smile Award and certificate for remarkable transformation, tenth grader Aastha Sethi, a victim of panic attacks, bagged a trophy for being able to dance away her psychological debility. Yet another Class X girl, Ria, who dreaded speaking in public was honoured for her decision to participate in a debate.
Principal Indrani Singh said ADLS Sunshine had last year introduced report cards for emotional well-being. "School counsellor Tulika Mukherjee developed psychological tests for children of different age groups to assess their abilities and weaknesses. Those in need were counselled and encouraged. The results are showing."
Harsh, whose emotional growth had been hindered by peer comparison at home with his aunt always praising his cousins, recalled how he overcame a gnawing feeling of isolation to win the award at Moharik, Friday's school function dedicated to self-motivation.
"I stay away from my parents. My aunt was nagging all the time and the pressure to perform felt like a burden. I became rude with others. I lost friends. Rigorous counselling for months has helped me control my demeanour. And, today I am smiling," said the student who is a role model for many.
Aastha was always a good dancer, but she suffered from a psychological condition that made her think she would commit a mistake. Once her school introduced the emotional well-being analysis and counselling, she found a way to battle her panic attacks.
"I always had this fear of getting tongue-tied in front of a large audience. I was scared of being heckled. My throat went dry every time I wanted to speak in class. But, on Republic Day this year, I gave a speech in front of the whole school, thanks to regular counselling. My teachers were so proud. It felt so good," said Ria.
School counsellor Mukherjee said most youngsters these days were under extreme duress owing to a variety of reasons - from bullying to trolling on social media; from self-doubt to body shaming; and so on - that earlier generations were blissfully unaware of.
"These things affect a child's emotional development and here, at ADLS Sunshine, we strive to undo the damage. The concept of emotional report cards is revolutionary. We appreciate the support of parents. They have helped us in bringing out the best in their children," Mukherjee said.
The programme Moharik boasted the theme Trauma to Triumph. Students participated in a smiley procession. The chief guest for the evening was Rajen Chaudhary, general manager of Tata Main Hospital, while the guest of honour was D.P. Samaddar, chief indoor medical services of the hospital.
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