How often have you asked yourself this question? I’m willing to bet that for a majority of you reading this article the answer will be “Never.” And honestly, that’s not surprising in the least. We live in a world where we are constantly competing with each other; self introspection isn’t something on our priority list because we have so many other, more important things to do. Yet for the thirty or so participants of STEP 2012 (students and teachers alike) this was a question that we had no option but to answer.
STEP is a leadership training camp organized by TERI in Mukteshwar every year, for which students from three cities (Delhi, Chandigarh and Bangalore) are selected. This year I was chosen to represent Sanskriti, and it was with a mixture of apprehension and excitement that I left for Vishwa Yuva Kendra at 6 in the morning on the 30th of April, from where we were scheduled to start the tiring 12 hour journey to Mukteshwar, high up in the hills of Uttarakhand. None of us knew each other, and it was a rather awkward journey, so it was a relief to finally reach the scenic (and extremely cold) TERI facility at Mukteshwar, where we were immediately sent off for hot tea and cookies.
We were woken up early the next morning for a walk in the village, followed by breakfast and more tea. By 9:30, we were required to assemble in the conference hall for our very first session. To start off, we had a rather unique ice breaker where each of us was required to get up, introduce themselves, and then dance in front of everyone. For most of us, including me, it was a mildly humiliating but extremely entertaining exercise. Of course, it also managed to serve its purpose, since by the end of it we were significantly more comfortable with each other. After that, the real session began. This was the point when the facilitators talked to us about Identity, and what it truly means. We were asked to write down our thoughts about who we are – our likes, dislikes, ambitions – everything. As easy as this may seem, when you try it it’s actually rather hard. Throughout the day all the activities we did were based loosely on this topic itself, because until we understand our self, we can never be truly great leaders. The activities we did were loads of fun, designed as they were to allow our creativity to come through while at the same time learning more about ourselves. For instance, we each got t-shirts on which we could paint whatever we wanted. There was also a very interesting session on influences and how they affect us, before we took a break for dinner. Following that we were supposed to watch Wall-E, but most of us were so tired that we fell asleep halfway through the movie itself.
Day 2 was all about knowing and understanding our communities. The purpose of STEP is to work with students at different levels and enable them to understand more about themselves, their families, their communities etcetera so that they can become better leaders in the future. After watching a documentary on our country and its many dimensions, we set off to visit the village of Sunkiya. This was probably one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve ever had, and one of the highlights of the trip. Our group was supposed to meet the head of the Mahila Mandal Dal over there. We barely stayed an hour or so, but it was obvious even in that much time that she was one of the most enterprising ladies I’ve ever met. Never having gone to school herself, she now takes lessons from her young grandson, who goes to school nearby. Talking to her was an incredible eye opener for me, and I’ll never forget it.
The last day of camp dawned bright and early. In a routine that was now familiar to us, we woke up early and went for a walk in the village before heading back to camp for breakfast and another session, this time on Leadership and Entrepreneurship. We were shown documentaries and short films on how even the most unexpected people take initiative despite trying circumstances and become great leaders. After this we had a few activities and a spirited discussion on whether or not people can be taught leadership. Before we knew it, it was time for lunch, and then a visit to Supi farm. We were shown a variety of different plants and herbs grown there, although my attention was taken up solely by the multitude of ladybirds we found. Two members of the group were given a segment on the local radio show run by TERI, which was very exciting for all of us. Afterwards we visited the famed Shiva mandir there, as well as the beautiful Chauli ki Jaali, from where we watched the sunset before going back to camp for our cultural evening. A troupe of Kumaoni dancers and singers were waiting for us when we reached, and for about an hour we sat near a bonfire with them and got a chance to experience their tradition and culture. We danced with them too, and it was a very tired group of students who finally turned in for the night.
We left for Delhi early the next morning a very different group from the one that had first come a mere three days ago. Over endless cups of too-sweet tea, photo-taking sessions and plenty of laughter, we had transitioned from strangers to best friends – and just maybe potential leaders in our own right. It’s amazing what a difference the camp made to our lives. It was honestly one of the most enriching experiences I’ve ever had. I still don’t know myself completely – it’ll be a long time before that happens, but at least I’ve gotten a chance to step back and reflect on my life and what I want from it. And that, more than anything else, is why I loved STEP 2012 so much.