My Journey as an Academic Co-ordinator

As the Academic Co-ordinator at Bala Madir Satyamurthi School, I began my journey with both excitement and apprehension. The weight of working alongside multiple leaders within a 75-year-old institution was palpable. However, Mr. Bharath Natrajan, member of the Bala Mandir community, became my guiding light during those initial days. His guidance gave me confidence in finding my place within this esteemed organisation.

Soon after, a significant challenge emerged, our director, Ms. Ranjini, had to resign due to multiple reasons. The management entrusted me with leading the English Medium section, under Bharath sir’s mentorship. Despite my confidence and happiness at their faith reposed in me, I wondered how I would navigate this responsibility. My first step was to build a cohesive team of teachers and staff who believed in themselves and in my leadership. Rather than focusing on their shortcomings, I encouraged them to leverage their strengths. This shift in perspective brought about positive changes both among team members and within our classrooms.

Our team became my backbone, supporting the smooth execution of various programmes. I fostered an environment, where saying “No” was acceptable, and alternate solutions were welcomed without hesitation. The results were evident when our first batch of Grade XII students achieved a remarkable 100% pass rate – an achievement we celebrated with pride.

However, our journey wasn’t without obstacles. Over the years, the school had lost some trust amongst parents and neighbouring communities. Convincing them to believe in Bala Mandir once again was no easy task. We faced resistance, but slowly and steadily, we moved in a positive direction. While we couldn’t win over every parent, we managed to close the Tamil medium sections and guide students to English medium or nearby schools. Facing angry parents and alumni who saw Bala Mandir as a family school, was particularly challenging. Our social worker, Mr. Prathap, played a pivotal role in supporting me during these trying times. His unwavering commitment helped us overcome obstacles and rebuild trust.

This academic year was a rollercoaster ride—filled with ups and downs, joy and challenges, fear and fulfilment. Yet, as the ride came to an end, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride, happiness, and belonging within the Bala Mandir family. The management and leadership team stood by us, providing unwavering support for every initiative we undertook. I am immensely thankful for this enriching experience. No words can express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to our successful completion of the academic year. As we look ahead, I am excited about the future of Bala Mandir Satyamurthi School and the positive impact we will continue to create for our students and community. Now getting ready for the next ride AY-2024-25 fueled with hope and an upbeat mindset