The story conveys the idea of overcoming obstacles, challenging assumptions, and building connections with others.

I had a peculiar experience with two individuals that taught me the value of looking beyond first impressions. One was a woman in my apartment complex who seemed sharp-tongued and critical. I had avoided interacting with her, partly because her comments had gotten under my skin. Many of my friends agreed that she was tough to handle, and I often found myself wondering if I was the only one she targeted. One day, she criticized my daughter and her friends in front of me, and it hurt. I realized then that I didn’t have to let her words define me or my parenting.

Life moved on, and we ended up participating in a group dance performance in our apartment. When we finished, our eyes met, and for a moment, I saw a different side of her – vulnerable, genuine, and kind. It left me thinking, ‘Wow, there’s more to her than I thought.’ We started talking more, and I discovered her softer side. We bonded over shared moments, and I found her to be good-hearted, helpful, and humorous.

The second experience was with my daughter’s basketball coach, who had a tough exterior and often yelled at his students. I hated the sight of him and avoided eye contact, keeping our interactions brief. However, when he organized extra practice sessions for the mini Olympics, I attended every one of them. Observing him closely, I realized he was thoroughly invested in the team, pushing them to give their best. Every yell, every word, was aimed at motivating them to improve.

As the team ended up winning the basketball game in the mini Olympics, I acknowledged his contribution, messaged him, and spoke to him personally. I expressed my appreciation for his efforts and asked him to help my daughter improve further. This time, I made eye contact, feeling confident without any barriers. He responded positively, and in that moment, all the misunderstandings, anger, resentment, and bitterness melted away.

Both experiences taught me that it’s easy to break boundaries and things can improve if we put in the effort. Sometimes, all it takes is a change in perspective or a willingness to understand others better.

“To truly understand the issue, one must see beyond the facade.”

By Ms Shobana L.

(Maths Professor, writer, motivational speaker and Counsellor

(parent of Sourav Vishwanath of grade 10 and Yaamini Vishwanath of grade 6 B)

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