Editor’s note: COVID-19 has disproportionately affected girls around the world, setting back years of gender equality progress. Studies have shown that when girls don’t attend school, they are at increased risk of facing domestic and sexual violence, harmful cultural practices & pregnancy, as well as the risk of regression in their studies. We work to strengthen the ecosystem of girl-centered, community-based organizations around the world because they are best positioned to support girls like Sharmila through graduation, especially during a crisis.
Author: Sharmila Sentil, recent graduate of Shanti Bhavan, She’s the First’s local partner in India
“Life isn't like the books or the movies. It's full of missed opportunities and bad timing.” In life we all wait for a moment—a time when everything is about you, a time when you feel special.
For me, I spent all my school years thinking about just that moment. My final year in school is something I waited for with much enthusiasm. It is the year in which you are recognized and appreciated. It is the time in your life when you are celebrated for your success, and you receive an unimaginable amount of special attention.
I imagined the year to be perfect. But one thing that I learned is that things don’t always go as planned. Sometimes I hope that life is a planned event, and that every detail is decided way before our existence: The people we meet, the places we go, the things we do, or even the impact we make. I feel that things would be a lot easier that way. But in reality, things do not work that way. The pandemic hit, and I realized that my final year was not going to be like I dreamt it would.
Life seemed so unpredictable. I stayed in school throughout my summer vacations and my national exams got postponed. In fact, everything that came after was postponed—my graduation, the annual basketball game against the juniors, and my first day of college. The days dragged by, and then I broke my front tooth in a competitive basketball match. Going to the dentist was the one thing that helped break the monotony in my everyday schedule. I missed out on school events and stayed indoors for multiple parties. I could not think about how life could get worse.
“I had my life planned out and I always knew what was next, but this time I was stuck. I did not know what to do. My plans fell apart and to be honest for the first time in my life I felt lost. ”
But that did not last for long. I realized that my Shanti Bhavan family is something I took for granted. The pandemic slowed things down a little bit, giving me luxury time with people that I would not have understood as well if I had just graduated as planned. The turn of events though the unexpected bought me time to acknowledge and realize the value of Shanti Bhavan. The pandemic only helped me see the endless effort, dedication, and love put into everything that is made possible here.
Graduation eventually happened, and I passed the national exams with a distinction. It was a graduation far better than I imagined it to be. It was grand and full of joy and love.
The best part of all of it was planning the three-day event. I could not resist actively participating, directing, and choreographing performances. The tradition is that the school plans the graduation for you. But, I love planning and helping out when it comes to things such as fun events. A secret part of me always wanted to be an event planner.
I felt absolutely appreciated and loved. Graduation was the most eventful and memorable part of my senior year.
“The past year was an eventful one. There were disappointments, but more truths accepted, challenges faced, risks taken and lessons learned. It is a year I will remember and treasure. ”
Sometimes it takes you a long time to understand the value of something. On my graduation day, when I held the mic for the last time in front of a group of people I have known for the past fourteen years, I had nothing to say. It was at that moment in my life that I appreciated everything I had and decided that I was not going to take that for granted.
My experiences have taught me to learn to adjust to what life brings. The transition from school life to college life will come with its own challenges. But I will carry with me the lessons I have learned from Shanti Bhavan, and know if I live by them I can never go wrong.
Sharmila, 18, is a first-year university student. She is a Psychology and Journalism double major, and she is minoring in English.