Written by Shraddha
Joining Bookworm was more than what I’d wanted to do. At the start I was very scared as the Bookworm library was new to me, as were its people. Being an introvert, i was finding it very difficult to cope with the environment… as time passed by, I got to know people in the library. All of them were important in their own way. All of them were kind, helpful, understanding … with this atmosphere i felt indulged, and also got to know them better.
All the members of MOP (Mobile Outreach Program) used to meet at weekly meetings which followed a specific pattern. We would discuss the planning of session plans for each site, read out poems, share our
journal writing, and so on.
For starters, I used to go to observe sessions, and assist the leading resource person. Later I was told to lead a ‘junior’ session, which placed responsibility on me to carry on the session by following a session plan.
During my first session i was very scared… nervous, anxious, yet excited to do the session. At that time I didn’t have the confidence in me that I’d be capable of doing it. But after my session my confidence was fully boosted and it helped me believe in myself.
Slowly I started leading the junior sessions at the MOP sites. During sessions I would feel so responsible handling children. I never had problems with any child; the bond between them and me was totally different. They used to respect me and so do I, them. As I said, I’m a very introverted person, but after leading sessions at different sites, I have started opening up myself (kind of like an extrovert).
If my day was not good- as in, if I was stressed or something, or if a fight took place that disturbed me- after doing a MOP session i used to feel so good that I would literally forget about the things that hurt me .
Even after going home i used to feel different! Relaxed, stress-free, very much happy helping those children, and seeing smiles on their faces . I used to feel at the end of the day, that I have done something really good. Something amazing.
MOP sessions used to get over so soon, i wouldn’t even realise that time was passing by so fast. It has now been four months for me at Bookworm and learning various new things- ideas, exploring myself- I feel I’m very lucky to be in Bookworm as part of it .
I would like to thank Ma’am Sujata for this, because without you it would have been impossible, and also thanks for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Now i feel it’s the real me.
Experience is a teacher of all things ☺.