It is rare to find a school that truly feels like home, but Vidyodaya was that place for me. More than  just a space for learning, it was a space of belonging, one that went far beyond academic education. Vidyodaya not only gave me a strong educational foundation but also instilled values that I continue to carry with me today.

My connection with Vidyodaya began even before I officially became a student. At the time, my father was teaching at the school, and I would often visit with him. In many ways, I became a Vidyodaya student long before my formal enrolment. I eventually studied at the school from LKG to 10th grade, building a deep and lasting relationship with the school.

Vidyodaya provided a safe and nurturing space where we could learn without fear of judgment. Since the school was exclusively for tribal children, it became a true comfort zone where no one felt different or left out. Most of our teachers were from the tribal community itself, ensuring that language was never a barrier to learning. When needed, concepts were explained in our own tribal languages, making education accessible, inclusive, and empowering for every student. Academics at Vidyodaya were delivered with great care and individual attention, ensuring that every child understood what was being taught. Equal importance was given to emotional, social, and cultural growth, along with art, craft, and other forms of creative expression. This holistic approach helped me grow into a confident individual who values empathy, community, and responsibility.

What made Vidyodaya truly unique was its deep respect for tribal culture and knowledge. Values were drawn directly from the tribal community, allowing us to connect our learning with our own lived realities. This made education not only easier to understand but also meaningful to apply in our lives.

My parents could have enrolled me in another school, but they consciously chose Vidyodaya so that I could grow with strong community values and traditional knowledge. For a child like me, growing up away from my village made it challenging to stay connected to our culture and traditions. Vidyodaya filled that gap by giving me a deep sense of home and belonging, and it showed me what life in a village feels like. We celebrated festivals in traditional tribal ways, sang songs from different tribes, and danced together, slowly becoming one big family.

Vidyodaya taught me that education goes far beyond securing a job. It is about building character, values, and a sense of responsibility towards society. The school shaped my thinking, strengthened my identity, and prepared me to contribute meaningfully to the world, not just to succeed professionally.

Today, I work as a Reporting and Documentation Officer at WaterAid, an international NGO based in Bengaluru. Prior to this, I worked with the Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Mission as a Young Professional. I hold a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in development from Azim Premji University. My professional journey in the development sector reflects the values of equity, dignity, and service that Vidyodaya instilled in me from a young age. The education I received at Vidyodaya has proven that I am capable of securing a good job and competing confidently in the wider professional world, while remaining grounded and compassionate, as I am today.

Everything I am today, both professionally and personally, has been shaped in important ways by Vidyodaya. The confidence I carry, the values I live by, and the choices I make in my work and life are all deeply rooted in the education and environment the school gave me. Because of what I received at Vidyodaya, I have always felt a strong responsibility to give back. 

One day, I hope to be there for other children like me, to support them, guide them, and remind them that they are capable of far more than they often believe. I want them to know that they are in the right place, that their identities and cultures are strengths, and that with the right support and belief, they will succeed and create their own paths forward.