‘I see my introvert daughter gaining confidence because of Apeejay’

For Nipun Chhabra, choosing Apeejay School, Noida for her daughter Seerat was a continuation of her own upbringing. An Apeejaite herself, alongside her siblings, Nipun brings a rare, full-circle perspective to this interview, both as a former student and a current parent. With Seerat now in Class 1, Section B, she reflects on watching her once-introverted daughter blossom, and why the same foundation that shaped her own life is now shaping her daughter’s.

Why did you choose Apeejay for Seerat?

I have been an Apeejaite myself — all three of us siblings studied in the Noida branch— and we had a wonderful experience growing up. School is really the foundation for everything that comes after, and if that foundation is right, it shows in how you do in your career and in life more broadly. 

What I always noticed about Apeejay is that while it invests heavily in extracurricular activities, it never lets that come at the cost of academic excellence. The balance between the two matters enormously to me. Academic excellence is something I never wanted my child to compromise on, and having lived that experience myself at Apeejay Noida, I simply wanted the same for Seerat.

What improvements have you seen in Seerat since she joined?

The biggest one is her personality. Seerat was born right at the peak of Covid in 2020. When she joined school, she was quite introverted. I genuinely worried about whether she’d open up. But the environment she found at Apeejay was incredibly comfortable. The teachers made her feel completely at home. Within just six or seven months, she’d become a genuinely talkative girl, which was such a relief for me as a parent.

At school, she found a space to share her thoughts openly. By the time she moved from Nursery to KG, she had completely transformed into an extrovert. I didn’t quite believe it myself until I attended a PTM and heard how much she was participating and talking.

Also, there’s a morning session built into the curriculum where children gather to discuss different topics with the teacher for about an hour. I learned from her teacher that Seerat participates. That, to me, has been a real win. 

Additionally, I noticed that she was absorbing what her teachers taught in class. When I sit down with her in the evening and ask what she learned, she explains the concept to me herself and those concepts don’t need re-explanation.

How do you feel about safety, security, and discipline?

On safety, I’ve genuinely never felt any concern. There are nannies present throughout the school to support the children. Seerat also uses the school transportation, and I’ve never once felt the need to raise a concern there either. Overall, my experience on the safety front has been consistently good.

How would you describe the quality of teaching?

Having been an Apeejaite myself, my own experience with the school was wonderful, and I can genuinely say the same holds true for my daughter’s experience today. She loves going to school. She doesn’t want to take a day off even when she’s mildly unwell. She’s thriving academically, participating in activities like Sports Guru, and thoroughly enjoying every bit of it.

Across academics and extracurriculars alike, she’s constantly given opportunities to be on stage. Whenever I’ve mentioned to a teacher that she’s good at a skill, the teacher has always given her the chance to showcase it. I know she’s giving her best, and at this age, that’s really what matters most.