The Art of Man-making: ‘Teachers, peers helped me learn human values’

A recipient of the coveted Dr Stya Paul Award of Human Values, Krish Thareja, a student of Apeejay School, Greater Noida, believes in living a life of discipline and hard work. And he credits not just his teacher and parents but also his peers for contributing to his holistic development. The student, who appeared for his class XII CBSE Board exams this year, looks back at his journey at Apeejay in an interview.

Congratulations on winning the Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values. How important is the award to you?

Receiving the Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values is undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements in my life. I was extremely glad about the fact that my teachers and fellow students believed in me and nominated me in the very first place.  Being a part of the Apeejay family for a fulfilling tenure of 10 years, I was more than happy when I got the news that I was going to receive this award. The idea of getting an award, named after such an inspirational person, itself holds a lot of value and it’s an honour to receive it.

Also Read: The Art of Man-making: ‘I try to be a better version of myself every day,’ says student

How did you prepare for the award?

I don’t think one needs to particularly prepare to get this award. I believe that we, as students of Apeejay, have been unknowingly preparing for it ever since we became a part of this family. I still remember when our respected principal ma’am mentioned how being a good human is as important as being a good student. Through the years, the teachers at my school and my peers have helped me inculcate the necessary human values required to achieve this award. Apart from that, I did study about Dr Stya Paul’s life in detail but being an old student, I was already aware of what a great personality he was.

Tell us about your journey at Apeejay.

My journey at Apeejay has been truly exceptional. It has helped me grow from a shy and silent introvert to an ambitious person who is ready to grasp each and every opportunity which comes his way. At Apeejay, I learnt how to convert my fears and weaknesses into my strengths. Needless to say, this would have been nearly impossible without the consistent support and guidance of my teachers who always motivated me. I highly appreciate the network which I was able to establish during my school life. All my peers were marvellous in some way or the other, and I can confidently say that I’ve learnt a lot from each one of them.

What kind of human values did your school instill in you?

The focus of our school was never just to turn students into machines who could produce good grades, but to nurture them into good human beings who added value to society in multiple ways. With Apeejay, I learnt how to channelise my capabilities for the good of others. The values of kindness, humbleness, respectfulness, and courtesy were always an integral part of my school life. I also learnt how to live a life full of discipline and hard work, as I proceeded to learn new skills and gained interest in new aspects of life.

What values have you learnt from your parents?

My parents have been major contributors to the holistic development of my character. My father is a very hard-working man who has taught me how important it is to maintain a positive attitude towards life. His discipline and punctuality are some of the values which inspired me a lot ever since my childhood. My mother, being a teacher herself, always believed in the importance of focussing on your goals and striving to achieve what you aim for. This has helped me become an ambitious person who is ready to work hard towards his goals. I believe that I’ve been raised by parents in a manner which helped me imbibe positive human values.

How do these values impact your relationship/interaction with peers?

Luckily, I was rewarded with very supportive, kind, and understanding classmates, who have been one of the most important aspects of my social life at school. Every kind gesture shown by me or anyone else in our class was always appreciated by everyone. The idea of being happy for each other’s achievements has created so many memorable and wholesome moments that are truly unforgettable. Everyone in our class tried their best to apply the human values which we were taught at Apeejay, hence creating a very friendly and comfortable learning environment. Words cannot express how thankful I am to all my peers, who collectively helped me become a person worthy of this award.