"MY PAATASHAALA STORY"

Varun's Story

Since childhood I always felt like I am slower than others. I am not good enough. for example, my younger brother knew multiplication tables when he was in 6th std…. I however struggled to remember 7 tables even though I am 3 years older than him. I struggled to socialize with my classmates. People would make fun of me. I was made to sit in brother’s class or nursery class or even once in front of toilet to complete my notes.

In 8th std I failed in math. For the first time in my life I saw my father cry. I knew I let him down.

I was asked to change from CBSE to state syllabus. And I managed to maintain around 70% marks. But compared to my overachieving brother, it was not enough. So, in 10th std I fought with my parents, teachers and my headmaster to give me permission to stop coming to school and join a particular program instead. This program promised me that I can get 90% using their memory technique. But even so I got 70%.

So, in 11th std I bunked for 6 months straight. And I flunked again. And I then I got into NIOS. By this time, I had stopped caring. I went to a place for NIOS tuitions, but we were treated like hopeless losers and no-one really cared. My father asked to go to Bangalore and study with my cousin instead. So I did. But since he had set up a new business recently, he introduced me to Paatashaala for tuitions.

For the first time, I felt like I was treated with respect, I was asked about my dreams and I made to believe in myself and love myself again in Paatashaala. I felt as if I belonged here. I was able to make genuine friends. In Paatashaala they didn’t just work on my studies but also with my self-esteem, my goals and made me accept myself as I am. It didn’t happen overnight of course. But slowly, little by little I believed in my potential… it is till a work in progress but now I finished my 12th, my degree and now I am teaching kids like me in Paatashaala, kids who have faced similar issues as me. I treat them the way I wanted to be treated. I teach them the I wanted to be taught. I am not perfect but that’s ok. Since I was able to accept my student as they are, they are able to accept me as I am. And we both work to better ourselves.