The Art of Man-Making: ‘Being human doesn’t require extraordinary effort’

Human values are often regarded as building blocks that hold an innate essence to flourish a society’s well-being and influence other individuals to lead a fulfilling life ahead. Irrespective of one’s age, gender, caste, or race, one must abide by human values to live life to a great extent.

Meet, Ayushi Singh, a student of class XII, studying at Apeejay International School, Greater Noida who has been recently conferred with the Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values. In an impromptu interview, Ayushi highlights her contributions to society as her part of following a lead to human values.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a class XII student pursuing the Commerce stream. I am interested in literature and philosophy. I aspire to become a lawyer.

Have you ever been nominated for the award before?

No. This was the very first that I was nominated for such an award. I not only received my first nomination but was also conferred with this prestigious award in the very first attempt.

What was your reaction?

It was an unexpected achievement for me. I used to see some of my peers being nominated for many years for this award but they could not cut it. It was a truly gratifying experience that I got this award at first go

What makes these awards so special?

The resonance of the Dr. Stya Paul Awards for Human Values is deeply rooted in the philosophy of our school. These awards can be regarded as compelling mechanisms as an encouragement to students. It fosters positive growth and a greater room for development as well.

According to you, which is the most essential human value that one must possess?

Compassion. It is essential for a human to be empathetic and also have a knack for helping others. These attributes are a must for a person to possess and abide by.

Has this award affected your personal goals?

Yes. Ever since I have received this award, it has made me more confident. It is like a reminder that we must continue to do good deeds to grow better ahead.

What advice would you give to peers about human values?

There is no need to make extraordinary efforts. All we have to do is to be kind and perform human values daily.

How do you follow a lead of human values?

During the COVID-19, I came across a website — Translator without Borders. This platform provides legal documents online in English. Since India is a secular nation and holds a diversity of religions, it is inaccessible to understand the documents in English. I took the initiative to translate these documents into Hindi. This not only facilitated a broader understanding for the general public but also helped bridge language gaps.

How do our teachers help us grasp a hold of human values?

Teachers empower us to embrace ourselves. In our classroom, when any student encounters a doubt, our teachers encourage us to come forward with our doubts. If no one steps forward, she intervenes, fostering a culture of telling us to help others thereby fostering a collaborative spirit.

One thing that you would like to imbibe from Dr. Stya Paul’s life.

Family values. For him, building a community was his commitment to his family. I wish to be in a position to help others like he was.