“Remember those school days when it was your turn to recite a poem on stage or tell a story? Some of us would freeze in sheer terror. As a young girl, I was no different.

As a child, I was shy, timid and an introvert. Just the thought of facing an audience would make me cry. I remember the first time I was on stage. I was so nervous that I even forgot my name and couldn’t stop weeping. Time stood still.

The sense of humiliation stayed with me for a long time. Not only did I regret having disgraced myself, but also that I couldn’t let go of the ignominy. I was determined to overcome my fear of the stage but didn't know how to go about it. In my city Lucknow there were no programs to address this issue. However, destiny intervened and I moved to Mumbai. This became a turning point in my life. My school was one of the best in town. My teachers and my friends wove an ambience that opened new horizons for me. Most of them were confident people who challenged, inspired and collaborated with each other. This attitude allowed my fledgling faith in myself to grow. Soon, I would not miss any opportunity to be on stage. The shy part of me stayed behind in the green room while the confident me stepped out.

The contrast I had witnessed in my own life made me empathize with children with low self-esteem. I returned to Lucknow after my wedding and decided to work on this issue. My family helped me execute the idea of a grooming school for children. My own experience helped me relate to these children. I have developed my own methods for training kids. I help children identify their co-curricular talent. Many of them have evolved into eloquent speakers, ace writers and creative individuals. I have worked with 150 children this year.

From being an introvert to an extrovert, a shy girl to a confident trainer, I have come a long way.”