Mentor | Maitreyee Dasgupta
“Since coming here, my confidence has increased. I can speak to everyone without hesitating or getting scared…I really like the story and photography of Anita Khemka. After seeing her work, it motivated me to do something….. especially to change the mindset of those who discriminate against others.“
— From a thank you note Gauri wrote at the end of the contact program in September 2021.
More in Gauri’s own words (translated from Hindi):
“Actually, this was my first trip. I was traveling this far for the first time, so I had a great experience. I saw a lot of things and met a lot of people over there.
I learned that it is possible to go to a new location and adjust. It is even possible to go to a foreign country and live there! You just need to step out and try new things.
My confidence increased for sure. I didn’t really do a lot of speaking to begin with, but then with attending the lectures and all, without being prompted I started speaking on my own. I was able to speak in front of others more. Also, I didn’t know that I would be giving a speech, but I gave a speech on the last day, in front of everyone, with much confidence.
The sharing of stories, attending classes, and meetings throughout the day was a different experience for me. Till now, I’ve never done anything like this before in that sort setting. It was my first time travelling to Goa, learning, and meeting such a diverse group of people. Everyone would talk about themselves as well, this was different.
Photo: Gauri Khamkar
At The Goa School everyone was educated, and much older than me. Their career was set, I had nothing yet, I was only starting to explore….But I knew that I had to adjust, and I did, because we ended up behaving like family by the end of it.
The Goa School really gave me clarity –it wasn’t that I would start working the jobs they would talk about in our classes. People may have a lot of dreams, but at the end of the day, one needs to stick with you; and you need to move forward with it. I did not have the confidence to make this decision. I realised I needed to choose one passion, becoming a beautician, which I then ended up carrying forward.
Maitreyee ma’am helped me a lot and kept in touch with me throughout this process. She would always find out what I was doing, and if she could help me in any way. All the questions she would ask me, and the support she gave was personal. It helped me understand and decide what path I was going to pursue.
Now I am working at the Urban Company as a beautician, and also a massage therapist. Personally, I have a lot of plans and goals for myself.”
This storyboard is based on an interview conducted by Seher Arora, as part of her internship at The Goa School, in July 2022.