Haran R P

Gratitude Series | Post 3 – To My Students

Making Perfect Students - Is it the GOAL?

Many times, a teacher/counsellor might feel that students are stupid and lose their sanity while handling their demanding nature. My journey taught me a few important lessons, and I would like to share them here.

- Students need space to make mistakes. Mistakes often come from curiosity, not laziness.
- If we nurture and direct that curiosity instead of killing it, students flourish. So, never scold or shame them for trying. Effort deserves recognition.
- I celebrated not just the top scorers, but “star performers”, those who improved compared to their previous exam. Growth deserves applause.
- Empathy changes everything. The frustrations we feel about students, they feel about teachers, too. Many walks into class carrying burdens: a skipped breakfast, a crowded bus ride, family conflicts. These are heavy for a young mind. Instead of comparing our struggles with theirs, it helps to step into their shoes.

I learnt to pay extra attention to the students who disliked me the most. Winning their trust often turned into the strongest bonds. Once you touch their hearts, their commitment to learning follows naturally. Yes, it takes extra effort, but sometimes that small effort can change the course of a student’s life.

The reward? At my farewell, I witnessed something unforgettable. Students, including alumni, returned, shed tears, wrote letters, and filled the day with photographs and memories that made me feel like an important person. In that moment, I realised: the tenfold love I received was only a reflection of the minimal care and empathy I tried to show them.

So, does that mean students look forward to a perfect teacher/counsellor? Actually, they want someone who is open to understanding them and changing their approaches based on what the student wants.

To my students: thank you for teaching me that empathy, patience, and understanding others' perspectives.

Gratitude Series | Post 1 – To My First Colleagues

This is about joining a workplace right after my master’s. Entering the teaching community as one of the youngest, I faced resistance. Many wondered if I was “too young” for both teaching and counselling. Some even questioned: “How can someone without children understand parents’ or kids' challenges?”

This went further. When students became comfortable with me, concerns arose: Am I being too friendly? Too lenient? And also, we should agree that students make use of the friendly staff to make excuses. When counsellors are paid similarly to teachers, there were thoughts on whether they have enough workload.

At first, these doubts made me feel frustrated. But I realised the issue was not with students, colleagues, or me. It was with transparency and communication. So, I made changes in the structure.
- Mandating at least 18 student sessions per week
- Organised monthly student engagement/awareness activities
- Kept authorities informed about important concerns
- Biannually asked colleagues what they expected from counselling services
- Partnered with teachers by saying: “This student is struggling due to various reasons. Can you guide them academically?”

This approach made colleagues feel included and students feel better supported. In two years, I earned a space in both groups that I am deeply grateful for.
The most touching part? When I resigned, many colleagues, teaching and non-teaching, surprised me with small souvenirs and heartfelt words. Looking back, I realised it was not the big things, but the small gestures that built trust: greeting them, checking in, asking “Have you eaten?”, or simply sharing a smile.

My takeaway for newcomers in the field: Challenges will come, but every challenge is an opportunity to prove yourself and grow. Be open, stay consistent, and remember in a busy world, everyone just wants to be heard.

Vartah 3.0

I had the incredible opportunity to participate in Vartah 3.0, a two-day National School Counsellors' Summit organized by GD Goenka University in collaboration with Fortis Healthcare. The event, held at GD Goenka University, Delhi NCR, brought together professionals and experts to discuss the pressing issue of the pressure of competitive exams and the alarming rise in student su***des. Experts shed light on the critical role of school counsellors in providing emotional and academic support to students navigating these challenges.

The summit featured insightful panel discussions and guest seminars by esteemed speakers, each offering valuable perspectives on mental health interventions in educational settings. They also emphasised how parents, schools and media are the main culprits behind the students' su***de. The discussion on how empathy with responsibility, effective coping mechanisms and non-judgemental space will support students was brought up smoothly without offending the stakeholders. I appreciate the efforts of the speakers in highlighting the best practices that reinforced the importance of early intervention, emotional well-being, and holistic student support in schools.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prof Dr Kim Menezes, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Anjali Midha Sharan, Dean, School of Liberal Arts and GD Goenka University for their generosity in providing me with this opportunity to participate in this summit.

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Exploring Qualitative Comparative Research: A Learning Experience

I had the opportunity a year ago to be a part in organising an international workshop lead by Dr Leemamol Mathew, Associate Professor at Christ University, Kengeri Campus Christ University, Bangalore. The workshop featured esteemed speakers, including Dr Erika Gubrium, Dr Alejandro Miranda-Nieto, Dr Gustavo Sugahara from OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, and Dr Sony Pellissery from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore.

The focus of the workshop was Qualitative Comparative Research (QCR)—a topic that truly piqued my interest. Traditionally, comparison has been a term closely associated with quantitative research, but this workshop shed light on how comparative methodologies can also be effectively applied in qualitative studies. It was an insightful experience that broadened my perspective on research methodologies.

Grateful for the enriching discussions and the opportunity to learn from such distinguished experts!