Learning Outside the Classroom

Learning outside the classroom is known to have significant educational benefits.

Learning Outside the Classroom

Do you know boredom is a common by-product of the traditional education system and affects students of all age groups?

In the book '21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times', the authors Bernie Trilling and Charles Fadel affirm, “the world has changed so fundamentally that the roles of learning and education in day-to-day living have also changed forever”.

Customized outdoor-learning activities not only break up the monotony of indoor learning, but also help students develop confidence and connect with their course-content perfectly.

According to an article by Gary Stidder, learning outside the classroom is known to have significant educational benefits. It helps learners develop a can-do-attitude that can be applied to all aspects of life.

Working outside of the classroom with diverse groups of individuals allows students to gain more self-confidence and appreciation for others' differences and similarities.

Research suggests that these outdoor activities positively impact students' emotional, intellectual, social, and inter-personal development.

Recently, we conducted a fun outdoor teamactivity 'Leadership Turf' that witnessed an overwhelming participation of our students.

The objective of 'Leadership Turf' was to promote creativity, inspire motivation, and give students a new perception of learning.

Customized outdoor-learning activities not only break up the monotony of indoor learning,
but also help students develop confidence and connect with their course-content perfectly.

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 Remember that the audience wants you to succeed.

 Important Tips for Effective Public Speaking

Do you fear public speaking? Here are some practical tips for you to follow to make your mark in your next presentation,

- Look at your audience.

_ Pause after important points.

- Speak with conviction and enthusiasm.

- Be natural and sincere.

- Smile.

- Use props, stories, questions, clips, examples etc.

- Practice ...To overcome nervousness.

- Use occasional “spice” or “pace breakers” like Humor, Pictures, Sound, Animation, Questions (Not just Yes/No).

- Be passionate about the topic.

- Relax and use nerves to your advantage.

- Breathe deeply, and pause as needed.

- Face audience more than slides.

- Get honest feedback from someone you trust.

- Remember that the audience wants you to succeed.

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Dear Mohit, I'm Proud of You!

On the occasion of his parents' 25th wedding anniversary, he gifted them a house.

Dear Mohit, I'm Proud of You!

On the occasion of his parents' 25th wedding anniversary, he gifted them a house. 

Dear teachers, trainers, and mentors!

This story is of a middle class young man who had dreams and a passion for making his dreams come true.

He was hard working, sincere and dedicated, but was suffering with self doubt and low confidence.

He knew he was not industry-ready and job-fit at that point of time. All he required was a little push and the right skill set to establish himself as a professional, and achieve wonderful things in life.

Recently, when I received this message from him, I just got reminded of the fact that how much important role teachers, trainers and mentors play in one's life.

I still remember how he always used to give his best during the training sessions, and was always the first one to approach me with one common question every time, "How can I become better?"

As teachers, trainers and mentors, we also have another very important role to play: To Prepare Our Students for LIFE.

This young man's journey is a testimony of the fact that building relevant skills is more important than a fancy resume.

Wishing you all a very happy World Youth Skills Day!

May you keep inspiring and igniting the spark in youth today and forever.

Dear Mohit, I 'm so so proud of you. May you always keep moving forward :)

Dear Mohit, I 'm so so proud of you. May you always keep moving forward.

 ******

Vocational Education in India

There should be a balance of both hard skills and soft skills in any curriculum.

Vocational Education in India

A lot is being said about the gap between #education and #employability — how can India bridge the gap and make graduates more employable?

"We need to acknowledge that one of the biggest barriers to access in India is that learners themselves may not view skilltraining as a route to a better livelihood, so we need to invest in changing #attitudes.

There should be a balance of both #hardskills and #softskills in any curriculum. Some people may ask how does one measure soft skills?

It can be measured through different ways such as #formative, #summative and diagnostic tests, which are competency based. Other ways of testing include role-play, scenario and response to different environments, among others.

I see no difference between #vocationaleducation and skills training. It is all about acquiring #knowledge and application of the skill repetitively and at the same level, at all times.

There is a misconception that people have around parity of vocational education and skills, but people must know that vocational education/skill-based education is more likely to provide them with a #career that they can grow and develop in.

A lot is being said about the gap between #education and #employability — how can India bridge the gap and make graduates more employable?

A robust participation of the employers in the education system can make a difference. Also, the #curriculum has to be oriented to the needs of the #industry.

We need to promote #rolemodels of vocational/skills education so that more students get into skilling themselves. Also, helping students understand what work is like while they are still studying is important."

- Chris Jones, former CEO and director-general, City & Guilds, UK

A to Z HR FAQs (for Customer Service Job Interview)

A to Z HR FAQs
(for Customer Service Job Interview)

Here is a compiled list of HR FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) generally asked during the HR round (for jobs related to Customer Service profiles):

(a) Tell me about yourself. 

(b) Why are you interested in this role? 

(c) What are the qualities that a Good System Support Specialist must possess?

(d) How would past coworkers describe you? 

(e) Have you undertaken other duties beyond the scope of your work? 

(f) Can you tell me about a time when you worked well under pressure?

(g) Besides the ability to deal with technology, what is the most important attribute for a technical support specialist? 

(h) How do you troubleshoot an issue? 

(i) What does good customer service mean to you? 

(j) Describe a time you collaborated with a peer to solve a problem? 

(k) Can you describe a time when you resolved a challenging IT-issue? 

(l) What would you do if you were faced with a technical problem you could not fix? 

(n) Do you think people skills or technical skills are more important for this role?

(o) Describe a mistake you made handling a customer service problem and how you would handle it now? 

(p) Why do you think you'd be a good fit for this role?  

(q) Tell me about your previous customer service experience if any. 

(r) What makes you qualified for this job?  

(s) This position requires customer service skills. What does good customer service mean to you?  

(t) Tell me about your experience with an irritating customer. How did you handle it? / Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult customer, and how you handled it. 

(u) Describe a time when you went above and beyond to help a customer. 

(v) What would you do if you did not know how to help a customer? 

(w) How do you communicate with customers who aren't tech-savvy? 

(x) Why should we select you? 

(y) How do you keep yourself updated with the current/ latest technology trends?

(z) Any questions for us?

*based on previous HR interview rounds

Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.

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Be the Best Intern: Why & How

Working as an intern helps you significantly improve your skills and career prospects.

Be the Best Intern: Why & How

An internship opens new doors for students to learn crucial skills that differentiate them from their counterparts in the job market. Here are 15 important quick pointers to be the best intern and contribute as per your maximum potential.

Graduates who complete two to three internships are
more likely to secure a full-time job.

According to dictionary.com, an internship is defined as “any official or formal program to provide practical experience for beginners in a professional setting.”

In today's super-competitive world, just having a good degree is not sufficient to secure that all-important graduate job offer. There is plenty of research supporting the crucial role that interning at an organisation plays in a student’s life,

• According to the State of Millennial Hiring Report, "Graduates who complete two to three internships are more likely to secure a full-time job."
  
  
• As per NACE’s Student Survey, "81.1% of graduates say that working as an intern has helped them significantly improve their skills and career prospects."
  

Long story short, an internship opens new doors for students to learn crucial skills that differentiate them from their counterparts in the job market.

Here are 15 important quick pointers to be the best intern and contribute as per your maximum potential,

1. Do some additional research on the organization's history and culture. By being prepared, you will feel more confident going into the internship.
   
   
2. Focus on your communication skills, both written and verbal. Proofread your written work carefully. When communicating with your coworkers choose respectful and decent language. 
   
   
3. Use professional communication when sending emails or even through online chat. Another form of professionalism is responding to messages promptly.Don’t wait for a superior to follow up on a task. 
   
   
4. Be presentable even in your virtual internships where you may have limited interactions with your supervisor and the rest of the team, there can be extra attention paid to your timeliness, personal appearance and participation in online meetings. 
   
   
5. For video meetings, show up on time and with your camera on to indicate that you’re ready to work and be seen. Keep your eyes directed at the camera so that you can show your attentiveness to the speaker. 
   
   
6. Remember, your work has an impact on the organization and you're learning in an active, real-world environment. There is no harm in treating the internship like a real job. 
   
   
7. Sometimes, you might have a lot on your plate, so it's important to be well-organized and practice good time management. 
   
   
8. Use the 'Pomodoro Technique'​ for enhanced productivity. To practice this, set a timer for 20-25 minutes and work on a given task without distractions for that entire time. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the time goes by when using this technique. 
   
   

   

   When you leave, be sure to ask your supervisor for
   a letter of recommendation.

9. At times, you may be asked to take on several tasks that are new to you or even take on additional work. As long as it is within reason, take on the responsibility with a positive attitude. 
   
   
10. Take advantage of your student status and don't be afraid to ask questions about everything you don't understand. It shows that you're willing to learn and have a genuine interest in your work. 
    
    
11. You can even create an e-Portfolio of your entire internship experience, accomplishments and learning takeaways. 
    
    
12. Do networking and make valuable connections. Take the opportunity to build as many quality relationships in your internship as possible. 
    
    
13. As an intern, you may not have a formal review until the end of your internship program - so it's important to ask for feedback on a regular basis.
    
    
14. When you leave, be sure to ask your supervisor for a letter of recommendation and keep in touch so that you can call upon him/her later when you are in need of a reference. 
    
    
15. And last but not the least, don't forget to enjoy your exposure and your real-time learning experience. Have fun and make the most of this opportunity.
    
    note: Cover Picture (from left to right) has following Star Performers (selected on the basis of their overall classroom performance in 'Leadership and Teamwork'​ course),
    
    Mansi Gupta, Vagisha Khandelwal, Sayan Das, Ashutosh Kumar Rai, Anuesh Pattnaik, Anusha Guha, Harshita Saxena, Ira Yadav, Kasturee Hajra.
    
    Pratha V S S Sri Varshini, Khyati Verma, Silpa Suman Pati, Ashwin Samant, Aditya Acharya, Anshika Awasthi, Deepasha Baral, Piyush Kumar, Gursheet Singh Sethi.
    
    *School for Life, UPES offers a unique learning opportunity to students through Social Internship Program 'Srijan'​. Under this, all first year students are required to go through 6-8 weeks long work internships with social sector organizations.
    
    

    

    An internship opens new doors for students to learn crucial skills
    that differentiate them from their counterparts in the job market

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15 Sure-fire Ways to Improve Your English Grammar

English is the 44th most widely spoken first language although it’s the second-most widely spoken second language.

15 Sure-fire Ways to Improve
Your English Grammar

No matter how long you've been learning, you can always brush up your grammar skills. Here are 15 sure-fire ways to help you improve your English grammar skills.

According to the report, English is the 44th most widely spoken first language although it’s the second-most widely spoken second language.

Grammar is essentially the backbone of a language. It’s important to know that proper grammar is necessary for flawless communication. 

No matter how long you've been learning, you can always brush up your grammar skills. Here are some quick tips to help you improve your English grammar skills.

1. Make a commitment. Learning English grammar needs self-motivation. Once you start studying, stick by it until the end.
   
   
2. Carry a basic grammar book. Having an English grammar book allows us to revise what we have forgotten, as well as force us to learn grammar as often as we can.
   
   
3. Know the parts of speech. These are the types of words that make up the language, and they are nouns, adjectives, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections, and sometimes articles. You must know what the parts of speech are and how they are used.
   
   
4. Read regularly. It's true that leaders are readers. Reading in English is a great way to get an idea of the different styles of sentence structures and see how to use words appropriately. 
   
   
5. Read children’s books. Children’s books are the best resource to learn the basics of language, including fundamental words and spelling, regular and irregular nouns and verbs, and sentence structure.
   
   
6. Try reading aloud so that you also get an idea of how the language sounds in conversation. Read newspapers, listen to podcasts, and watch televised news programs daily as well.
   
   
7. Choose books or articles with topics that interest you the most. Learning shouldn’t be boring. Read each text several times to make sure you understand how to use new words and expressions in the text.
   
   
8. Keep a notebook for registering new words. Every day, everywhere, you will see new words. When you write them down, you have a record of them that you can use again. Set a target for yourself to learn and use 10 or 15 new words every day.
   
   

   

   Grammar is essentially the backbone of a language. Proper grammar is necessary for flawless communication.

   
   
9. Learn a new word along with its all the forms (Ist form, IInd form, IIIrd form), meaning and the prepositions that are usually used with it. (For example, rather than just the word ‘depend’, make a note of: to depend on, to be dependent on, a dependant.)
   
   
10. Listen in English. Remember, we can learn English all day, every day by looking at and listening to what is happening around us. Keep your mind, ears and eyes open and you will be amazed how much English, you will pick up.
    
    
11. Try and communicate in English with the people around, whenever you have an opportunity. The more time you spend practicing conversational English with your colleagues and friends, the better you would start understanding grammar rules.
    
    
12. Pay close attention to how other speakers talk. Listen to how other people construct sentences, where they place words in sentences, how they say common phrases, and the vocabulary they use. 
    
    
13. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you have any. Try parroting what other people say by repeating it in order to understand how sentences are formed and to expand your vocabulary. 
    
    
14. Write at least one to two paragraphs (on any topic of your choice) in English. One simple way to practice writing is posting your Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter status in English, leaving English comments, replies instead of in your mother tongue.
    
    
15. Seek every opportunity in your daily activities to practice these skills. Remember,
    

    "The more you practice the better you’ll be,

    the harder you train the great in you they’ll see."

    
    
    

Practical Tips for Your Next Promotion Interview

It's also important to give examples of successful accomplishments and projects, the goals you've met,
and your achievements in your current position.

Practical Tips for 
Your Next Promotion Interview 

A promotion interview is conducted for internal employees who are applying for a new job role or position that has more responsibilities within their department or outside of their current department.

A promotion interview is conducted for internal employees who are applying for a new job role or position that has more responsibilities within their department or outside of their current department. Here, I'm sharing some practical tips for your next promotion interview. Hope you find them useful.

• Please prepare your introduction well in advance. You are not only supposed to share professional details about your current role, but also the human side of yours (by sharing things like your strengths, your achievements etc.) 
  
  
• It might sound like a lot of content, that's why you need to rehearse a little bit and keep it balanced. 
  
  
• Keep a few points (related to your deserving-ness and suitability for the offered role) ready to add to your conversation. 
  
  
• Also keep a few points ready to share (with appropriate numbers) in terms of your contributions to your present organization and current role so far. 
  
  
• Don't forget to have a pleasing personality (with the help of a positive body language, smile, and a confident outlook). 
  
  
• Remember, most of the jobs now-a-days involve public dealing, behave and speak accordingly.
  
  
• Remember, you already work for the company. Differentiate yourself from the competition by mentioning your company-specific experience, knowledge, and skills when you answer the interview questions. 
  
  
• It's also important to give examples of successful accomplishments and projects, the goals you've met, and your achievements in your current position. 
  
  
• You do not necessarily have to wear your typical interview outfit, but do make sure to dress professionally. Here's a good rule of thumb: Dress to match what the people interviewing you typically wear to the office.
  
  
• Here are a few Promotion Interview questions, for your reference:

1. What do you like best about your current position at the company? 
2. What was your biggest success story in the ABC department? 
3. What makes you interested in the offered role? 
4. Can you tell me what you know about the position you are being considered for? 
5. How about your teamwork? 
6. Why should we consider you for this promotion? 
7. If we were to ask the folks in your department to describe you, how would they do it? 
8. Are you the right candidate for promotion? Why? 
9. How will you handle it if you don't get the promotion? 
10. If you were promoted, what would you seek to accomplish in your first three months in this role? 
    
    Remember, "Fortune favours the brave and the one who is well-prepared."
    
    

    

    "Fortune favours the brave and the one who is well-prepared."

    
    
    
    
    ******

Motivation Tips to Clear Government Exams

These are those motivation tips that helped my students achieve their career goals.

Motivation Tips to Clear Government Exams 

Recently, I was approached by one of my former students, who has been preparing for government exams. Though she has been doing her best in terms of her preparations; yet, at times, she felt quite demotivated and disheartened. Here is what I shared with her. These are those motivation tips that helped my students achieve their career goals.  

Dear _______,

Thanks for reaching out to me, and sharing your concerns. I can understand what you are going through these days.

I strongly believe that you have got a lot of potential, and what you exactly need is 1. Self-affirmation, 2. Proper Planning, and 3. Consistency.

1. Self-affirmation:
Believe it or not, this is one of the most powerful ways to keep yourself on track. It means you need to keep reminding yourself of your goal at least four times a day. You can do it in various ways. The most effective way is to have the pictures of the successful candidates in front of you (as a collage and putting it on a wall in your room). Another way is to write a self-affirming letter to yourself as if you have already cleared the exam and now how you are feeling. And put all those joyful feelings of your ultimate achievement and happy emotions (after succeeding) on paper and read that letter at least 4 times a day.

Self-affirmation is one of the most powerful ways to keep yourself on track.

2. Proper Planning: I do not doubt your present planning, yet try to think of ways how you can prepare and plan better to succeed in your next attempt. Take your time and think of your areas of improvement, your shortcomings, your drawbacks, your weaker parts and then make strategies. Schedule and plan your whole day according to your strategy and prepare hard. Even if you study just for a few hours, make sure to give your best and make the most of those few hours. There is no point in dragging along the whole day and getting just insufficient returns, and then feeling unhappy (and guilty) with yourself by the end of the day. Also, keep up with the previous year questions papers and sample papers. Read online blogs and interviews of successful candidates not only for inspiration, but also to know their success strategies and then make due modifications/ changes in your strategies.

Read interviews of successful candidates not only for inspiration, but also to know their success strategies.

3. Consistency: And last but not the least, here comes the most important thing called 'Consistency.' I promise you if you follow point (1) and point (2) and remain consistent, nothing can stop you in achieving what you have aimed at. For sure, you need to be consistent, whether it's your daily schedule, your daily preparation, your daily timetable, your daily self-affirmations and, so on and so forth. Keep yourself on track. Once this whole thing becomes your habit (or say, your addiction), you will rather even start enjoying every bit of your preparation-journey. Remember, you have a lot of potential, you just need to focus all your attention and energies towards one aim, one target, one objective, and You Can Surely Do It!

All the best!

Remain consistent, and nothing can stop you in achieving what you have aimed at.

******

What I Learnt from My Learners (Part III)

What I Learnt from My Learners (Part III)

As a trainer cum teacher, it's always a pleasure to come across exciting ideas and insightful thoughts that my learners share during classroom discussions. Recently, we had an amazing discussion over '360 degree feedback' as a leadership tool; and here in this series of 'What I Learnt from My Learners', I'm featuring some of the brilliant responses. Enjoy the read!

As a trainer cum teacher, it's always a pleasure to come across exciting ideas and insightful thoughts that my learners share during classroom discussions.

I usually take this as an opportunity to know their perspectives, and learn from them too. Being a life skills coach, it's great to train my learners for 21st century life skills.

One most crucial life skill is 'Leadership' that has been constantly ranked as One of Top 10 Skills of 2025 by World Economic Forum. Recently, I had an amazing discussion over '360 Degree Feedback' as one of the major elements of 'Leadership Toolbox'.

This process is useful for all individuals because it helps them understand their strengths and weaknesses and how to progress in their life. Here in this series of 'What I Learnt from My Learners',

I am featuring some of the brilliant responses by my amazing young learners. Enjoy the read!

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NITIKA BHAMBRI explains, "My 360-degree feedback enabled me to have a deeper insight into what my team members and family think of me and what are my weaknesses that I need to work upon. It made me understand how I am portrayed in front of others...I realized what my team members felt I was lacking in my leadership and hence it gave me a chance to improve myself. This feedback was offered to me by 7 people including family, teammates, and myself. I realized my brother felt that even though I understand others' opinion, I should put forth my opinion too and work accordingly. Many other things were highlighted as well, and I hope I am able to improve my weak points and become a better person."

KASTUREE HAJRA mentions, "Well, I also received my 360 degree feedback from five individuals who happen to be my mother, my three teammates and myself. I got a lot to know the kind of a person I am (as perceived by others) vs. what I actually am. Honestly, the feedback from my three team mates was so sweet and true, I felt like hugging them...My mother's one, I was expecting much worse but surprisingly I am not as bad as I think myself to be. She along with Baba gave me points which I never thought I was good at or need to improve upon. I was so happy and overwhelmed to see my true self which they see each day. I have thought on how to improve myself on the points stated by myself, by my mother and my teammates. At times I self doubt myself a lot and also I do not analyse things properly, so I have started giving more time to myself to improve upon it." 

SILPA SUMAN PATI asserts, "I got it done by three of my team mates, one from my younger brother and one I filled by myself. And I must say I felt like I visioned another side of myself because when I matched the answers that I got by others, I really came across a lot about my good and about some personality traits which I have to improvise. Most of them said I am good as a person and my brother especially said that the one personality trait that I have to work more upon i.e. I have to be stronger rather than being emotional and should build up trust in myself. My team mates said that I am patient and have good interpersonal skills...The thing which I feel I really have to work upon is being patient because sometimes being in a rush I tend to lose my patience. And I have to be confident enough to overcome any obstacle in my life rather than being emotional and losing confidence in myself." 

According to KOMAL SOLANKI, "This 360 degree feedback that I received from people, it includes me, my mother, my close friend and my team mates. For me, the feedback strongly focused on how I should improve on being ASSERTIVE and include that in communicating in a healthy way. This is something which I am already aware of, (of what I lack) and I've been working on it for quite some time...This feedback form felt like it was specially designed for me, and I am GLAD that I got to have such remarks about myself. Because I used to believe that this is just my opinion but now since i got a similar response from few people, I believe I can improve and I must! Things I need to work on after getting a feedback from the people - Being patient with others and their opinions - Anger management - Identifying red flags of people. All the qualities mentioned, are essential to be a good leader and have helped me in becoming one." 

To conclude, here is what KHYATI VERMA has to share, "I found this kind of revelation is very interesting. I received my feedback from 5 people in total including my father, three of my teammates and myself. I got to know many things as such I should really keep control on my emotions which I totally agree to. I should not let somebody have the leash of controlling me due to my emotions. Also that I tend to be a short tempered person and I will definitely try to improve that. Plus, I need to be a little more punctual that I will definitely improve. This activity helped me find my short comings and what people think about me and I will try to improve for sure." 

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I personally think, the inputs from these young minds are truly wonderful, and teach us quite insightful lessons on leadership. 

Next time, when you hear anything wonderful from your learners, do feel free to share with the world; because, 

In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.

- Greg Enriquez 

note: All the above-mentioned learners are presently pursuing Bachelors in Clinical Research, Microbiology, Food technology, Food Nutrition and Dietetics from UPES (University Of Petroleum And Energy Studies).

******

What I Learnt from My Learners (Part II)

"In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn."

What I Learnt from My Learners (Part II)

As a trainer cum teacher, it's always a pleasure to come across exciting ideas and insightful thoughts that my learners share during classroom discussions. Recently, we had an amazing discussion over 'Being a Player or Being a Victim', and here in this series of 'What I Learnt from My Learners', I'm featuring some of the brilliant responses. Enjoy the read!

As a trainer cum teacher, it's always a pleasure to come across exciting ideas and insightful thoughts that my learners share during classroom discussions. 

I usually take this as an opportunity to know their perspectives, and learn from them too. Being a life skills coach, it's great to train my learners for 21st century life skills. 

One most crucial life skill is 'Leadership' that has been constantly ranked as One of Top 10 Skills of 2025 by World Economic Forum. 

Recently, I had an amazing discussion over 'Locus of Control' as one of the major components of 'Leadership Toolbox'. This concept was developed by Julian B. Rotter in 1954, and has since become an aspect of Personality Psychology. 

This concept is usually divided into two categories: internal and external. If a person has an internal locus of control, that person attributes success to his or her own efforts and abilities. 

A person with an external locus of control, who attributes his or her success to luck or fate, will be less likely to make the effort needed to learn. 

Here in this series of 'What I Learnt from My Learners', I am featuring some of the brilliant responses by my amazing young learners. Enjoy the read!

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Talking about being a player or a victim, Nandini Asthana shares her honest confession, "I can't say straight if I'm player or a victim; and also can't choose because it depends on the situation, sometimes I stand alone and think out of the box. That time maybe I'm a player and sometimes I do things what others are doing whether they are wrong or right, so here maybe I'm a victim." 

Jahnvi Singh confidently remarks, "My life has taught me quite a lot till now and all the hurdles that I faced, have only made me stronger and more aware about people and the society alike. I was always a curious child and always raised questions for stuff that I just didn't get. I feel I'm 75% player and 25% victim and I think it's is a good number at this stage of my life, and I know there's scope for improvement and I am definitely up for it." 

Manasvi Mudgal asserts, "My attitude towards life has always been to look at the bright side of the things and stay motivated and positive as a person. I think I’m a Player, not a Victim. I believe that whatever happens, happens for good only..." 

According to Dipasha Gautam, "Life is a game, all you have to know is to how to play it. Well, I have felt like a victim at times, but I’ve been a player too. Thinking back now, I have apologized to my mother upon breaking a vase saying, 'I broke the vase by mistake.' which may look like I took the responsibility for my actions completely but I didn't. The truth was that I broke the vase by my carelessness although it was still unintentional and a mistake. I want to start building up my mindset as a player and start taking control over things that are in my grasp."

Diksha Jain mentions with a sense of conviction, "I believe that sometimes there are situations which make us victim and we can't do anything as they are beyond our control. A person is not a player all the time. I think at times I am a player, and at times I am a victim. I know there is a great scope of improvement and I am working on it. I am ready to take all the challenges for my improvement."

Vagisha Khandelwal has something interesting to share. She says, "The word ATTITUDE itself tells us: Active Teens Taking Initiative To Understand Driving Experiences. To be very honest, I am a positive mindset person, but by seeing some situations, I sometimes think negative. I never quit easily; I try to complete my work until the end and always try to think of something new and creative. Most of the time, I am a player because I understand my responsibilities, and perform my duties." 

To conclude, here is what Ritika Srivastav has to share, "I have played the role of a victim in early years of my life. Later, I changed my way of thinking and started having a more positive outlook towards life. Today, I understand the value of responsibility and I believe I have become a player now." 

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I personally think, the inputs from these young minds are truly wonderful, and teach us quite insightful lessons on leadership. 

Next time, when you hear anything wonderful from your learners, do feel free to share with the world; because, 

"In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn."

- Greg Enriquez 

note: All the above-mentioned learners are presently pursuing Bachelors in Journalism & Mass Communication, and Bachelors in Digital and Mass Media, from UPES (University Of Petroleum And Energy Studies).

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What I Learnt from My Learners (Part I)

What I Learnt from My Learners (Part I)

As a trainer cum teacher, it's always a pleasure to come across exciting ideas and insightful thoughts that my learners share during classroom discussions.

I usually take this as an opportunity to know their perspectives, and learn from them too. Being a life skills coach, it's great to train my learners for 21st century life skills.

One most crucial life skill is 'Leadership' that has been constantly ranked as a high priority life skill by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers), Pennsylvania, United States.

Recently, I had an amazing discussion over 'Leadership and Teamwork' with my learners, and here in this series of 'What I Learnt from My Learners', I am featuring some of the brilliant responses.

Enjoy the read!

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Talking about leadership, Aditya Jagtap mentions, "I think it's very important for a person to have leadership qualities. There is no exact definition for what a leader does.

Each leader's style of leadership is influenced by his/ her personality and the challenges he/ she is faced with. A great leader can motivate others to realize their full potential.

While some team members may express self doubts when approaching new challenges, a leader will do his/ her best to instill confidence in them. Leadership is something that you implement in your everyday life, even if you don't realize it.

Examples include creating to-do lists, tutoring others and taking steps to care about your environment. Leaders inspire members of the society to pursue their dreams.

Leaders build unity and enthusiasm among team members. Leaders are at the forefront of creating positive working environment. That's why leadership is an important life skill."

Ashwin Samant says, "I believe in the motto 'Leading to Learn, Learning to Lead' and Leadership Skill is something that has made me who I am today.

I lacked self-confidence back in class 9, but after witnessing what leaders can do, I had this sudden desire to take up leadership role, whether it's helping out my peers, or my juniors or interacting with the school staff.

That's what landed me my role as a Head Boy and Vice Head Boy position. I believe leadership is absolutely necessary to pursue and possess."

On leadership traits, Anushree Juyal asserts, "If I as a teacher, need to explain what leadership means, I will say that life places us in positions of leadership everyday.

For instance, parents are leaders to their kids; often, our friends do seek our advice and counsel. And as we grow older, parents, who used to be our leaders when we were kids, start looking up to us for guidance.

In everyday life, the question is not whether we are leaders — that we are, in any case — but whether we are good as leaders or not.

Here is a story,
...A little girl was helping her mother do the dishes when a cup accidentally slipped out of her hand. It fell on the floor and smashed into pieces. Before she could even cry, the mother picked up another cup, threw it to the ground, and said, "See? It doesn’t matter."

This is a simple story that is a part of everyday life. What does it illustrate, though? Most apparently, the story is about how the mother reassured the child that material things do not matter and that all of us make mistakes.

...We can also argue that the mother’s action conveys she is not angry with the child. But at a deeper level, this story is about a lesson in leadership: Specifically, about how someone in greater authority handles a subordinate’s mistake; and more generally, about how one handles unforeseen, unfortunate turns in life. This experience must have formed a 'lesson' in leadership that would stay with the girl for decades."

To conclude, here is what Gaurav Bharali says, "Leadership is a quality that comes with proper practice and perseverance. One needs to be dedicated and passionate to be a leader.

I believe leaders are everywhere, but what makes one unique is his/her style of leadership. Everybody is a leader in themselves, but what makes us stand tall and not look down is the way we see through our problems and try to find a solution with maximal beneficiaries."

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I personally think, the inputs from these young minds are truly wonderful, and teach us a lot about leadership and the role of a leader.

Next time, when you hear anything wonderful from your learners, do feel free to share with the world; because,

In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.

- Greg Enriquez

note: All the above-mentioned learners are presently pursuing Applied Petroleum Engineering (with specialization in upstream) from UPES (University Of Petroleum And Energy Studies).

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Success Story: Hima Das

"If you want to achieve something great, you have to work hard for it. It is as simple as that."

Success Story: Hima Das

It doesn’t matter how much obstacles come in between you and your goal. You will find a way to achieve your goal. 

"I am a low-key girl from a middle-class family of a small village. I know my family's condition and how we struggled."

- Hima Das

Remember the golden girl who amazed the whole world by grabbing back to back five Gold Medals within 19 days?!

The same girl who couldn’t afford a good pair of spikes and used to practice barefoot in fields, signed endowment deal with global shoe brand Adidas.

And recently, Hima Das has been appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police of Assam.

Strong determination and honest hard work could make anyone achieve impossible. 

Hima Das didn’t have necessary resources, she could have easily walked out, but her strong will kept her going.

Strong determination and honest hard work could make anyone achieve impossible. 

It doesn’t matter how much obstacles come in between you and your goal. You will find a way to achieve your goal. 

To paraphrase Hima Das, 

"If you want to achieve something great, you have to work hard for it. It is as simple as that."

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Happy World Hindi Day!

It was an honor to be the very first instructor to teach Hindi as a foreign language in an American university.

Happy World Hindi Day!

It was an honor to be the very first instructor to teach Hindi as a foreign language in an American university. On a personal level, my whole American experience was a roller coaster ride, and a great learning opportunity too.

I was nervous after being announced by U.S. Department of State and USIEF (United States India Educational Foundation) to teach Hindi to Americans.

It was my first visit to US and I was miles away from my family. Moreover, I hardly knew anyone there.

I was the very first instructor to teach Hindi as a foreign language in an American university. I didn't have my supervisor to guide me, as she was on a sabbatical, working on a project in UK.

I had to develop the entire course content on my own, and make sure, it's user friendly as well as experiential in nature.

Not only, I was supposed to teach Hindi to foreigners, I was also auditing 6 Life Skills courses at the university.

I was also expected to share Indian culture by participating in cultural festivals, and by lecturing in various middle schools and high schools across the state.

I had never cooked in my life and I was 'somehow surviving' on self-cooked meals, as being a hardcore vegetarian in US.

As per mutual understanding between me and my German landlady (who proudly calls me her Indian son now), I was also supposed to follow some detailed set of guidelines, and take care of her dog too.

On a personal level, my whole American experience was a roller coaster ride, and a great learning opportunity. So, what happened after I completed my almost one year in US?

• I became 1st Indian scholar to receive University of Montana Annual Award for distinguished service and outreach.
• I received official recognition from the well-known American NGO Jeannette Rankin Peace Center for fundraising through my artwork.
• I got a rare opportunity to represent India as a youth leader at the United Nations. 

I made meaningful connections with my American students, my colleagues and my mentors, to cherish throughout my life.

And above all, I made meaningful connections with my students, my colleagues and my mentors, to cherish throughout my life.

Lesson is very simple,

"When life offers you an opportunity, make the most of it, no matter what. And the key to success is to focus on goals, not obstacles"

विश्व हिन्दी दिवस की शुभकामनाएं!
Wish you a very happy World Hindi Day!

*World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10. Since the first World Hindi Conference on 1975, conferences are held on this day in different countries, to promote Hindi.

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