Good company & confidence, SSP rural’s tip to SoE students on aiming high in life

“People in the rural areas of the border belt of Punjab are brave, they do not fear war. The only thing they fear is English language,” Senior Superintendent of Police (Amritsar Rural) Maninder Singh said while trying to break the ice between him and the students of School of Eminence (SoE), Ajnala. His observation generated a few smiles and eased the hesitant silence that greeted him at the school.

Launching the ambitious ‘School Mentorship’ programme across government schools in the state, wherein top bureaucrats and IPS officers would inspire and guide young minds to aim high in life, the young IPS officer, who joined the post in Amritsar earlier this year, interacted with the students of Class X, XI and XII at the school. “Till a few years ago, I too was a student and I always consider myself a student. English is a just a language, it’s no big deal,” he assured the students as he addressed them in Punjabi to ease them into a conversation. It worked as what followed was a barrage of questions from students, who wanted to know how he cracked the UPSC and became an IPS officer.

“During the exams, I used to immerse myself in books, but with discipline. I scored 92 per cent in my Class X exams from the ICSE board and I believe that if you study consistently with focus, nothing is unattainable,” he said. A 2019 batch IPS officer, Maninder Singh shared tips and strategies for success in competitive exams. The session aimed to boost the confidence and motivation of students, encouraging them to work towards their goals. Laying stress on self-confidence, good company and hard work in achieving success, he said, “I am here only to answer and clear your doubts about these things. I will work with you to ensure that you get proper advice and mentorship to fulfill your goals.”

“Reading newspapers, one English and a Punjabi, will help build your vocabulary and linguistic capability, improve general awareness and knowledge on world affairs and local issues, while also improving your reading skills,” he said in what was his first lesson.

The School of Excellence, Ajnala, with student strength of around 650, had 100-150 students of senior classes from Class X-XII attending the session. “These students, some of them, do not have access to phones, Wi-Fi at home and are dependent on online classes that we provide to them in school premises for coaching, especially the ones who aspire to take the competitive exams like JEE, NEET and UPSC. This mentorship programme, where students will directly learn from IAS and IPS officers, without the burden of loans, is a thoughtful initiative,” said Sudesh Kumar Arora, principal, SoE, Ajnala.

During the hour-long interactive session, students, especially girls, seemed eager to participate in the conversation.

The district police chief committed to taking classes in future and meeting with parents to support the students’ progress.

Amritsar