Today we had a meeting with the Principal to discuss the dates for starting the self-defence training for the girls of Sharda Kanya Government Higher Secondary School.
My team and I reached the school about twenty minutes early. The sun was still high, casting long shadows of the tall gates onto the road. As we waited, my eyes wandered around the campus. What struck me instantly was how clean and well-kept everything looked, neat pathways, freshly swept corridors, classrooms with their doors wide open to welcome the light. For a moment, I caught myself thinking, Why did I expect otherwise? Mental note: never make assumptions before seeing things for yourself.
The meeting went well. The Principal spoke with a deep sense of urgency, stressing how important it was for these girls to learn self-defence. Many of them came from villages, she said, and had never been taught how to respond if they ever found themselves in unsafe situations. Her words reinforced why we were here.
After our discussions, it was decided that the sessions would begin in two days.
As we left the office, I had this strange mix of excitement and nervousness swirling inside me. Excitement because I was finally going to use my black belt training for something real, something bigger than me. Nervousness because this wasn’t just about teaching a few kicks and punches but this was about giving these girls a chance to feel safe, to feel strong.
For the last 7 years, with every drop of sweat and every move I practiced, I always whispered to myself that one day, I’ll use this to help someone. And today, sitting in the principal’s office, I felt like that “one day” was finally here.