Beyond Our Trepiditions-- The Peer Educators

When we were first told about the peer education programme, we weren’t sure about it. And even though we had said yes we still weren’t sure about how were we going to do everything, about how were we going to cope with the things, but somewhere in the back of our minds we knew we’d do it. So that’s where the journey started. We were no longer just students; we had responsibility on our shoulders. Big ones! We had to sensitize students about so many things but before that we had to mend our own ways. It took us a lot of time, we attended various workshops at NSC where we groomed and then one day we were handed over our batches, we were the Peer Educators of our school! We now had the power to do whatever we wanted to.  But, with great power comes great responsibility. We had the responsibility of grooming the students in school, the responsibility to help them solve their problems, the responsibility to encourage some and so much more!! We did this through taking workshops on various topics, having discussions, organizing rallies and putting up nukkad nataks. And as we had thought earlier, it wasn’t a cakewalk! It took lots of hard work, and determination to organize the workshops. Be it writing scripts, making movies, getting material for the workshop... it took lots of time and hard work and throat as well! (Shouting to have the work done!) This two year journey was a tumultuous one. Lots of hard work, lots of determination and lots of fights. But all the hard work does pay in the end....so every workshop we held was a success! Peer Education wasn’t just limited to holding workshops we had to take individual counselling sessions as well.  Sitting with kids, and listening to their problems was very difficult for us. It was overwhelming to be a part of such a programme, the way we were earlier and the way we are now....anybody can notice the difference! We are more gentle, more sensitive towards other people, more understanding. We aren’t perfect. We have fights. We are still learning. But from where we started and where we are now, we have come a long way!
This was the most amazing time of our lives.... we’ve made friends who we know will stand with us through every problem. We had mentor teachers who aren’t teachers but best friends. We had the most supportive Principal of all times. This was an experience of a lifetime. We all are Thankful to Expressions India for launching such a programme and to CBSE for giving it a nod.