Shanti Bhavan Class of 2025: Elsa’s Reflection on her time with BAE
The BAE teachers have been more than just instructors to me; they've been beacons of inspiration and examples of resilience.
Their warmth and welcoming nature create an environment where every kid at Shanti Bhavan feels valued and encouraged.
Take Ms. Brittany, for example—her journey of overcoming challenges when she was young to pursue her passion for singing exemplifies perseverance and determination. Her telling us the story of that part of her life will always be an inspiring moment for me to remember.
In every Choir lesson and Arts Camp session, BAE teachers somehow never fail to masterfully balance discipline with enjoyment, ensuring that we stay focused while also having fun. This ability to maintain structure without stifling creativity is a testament to their skill and dedication.
Also, BAE embodies kindness.The teachers genuinely care about our well-being, going out of their way to make us feel good about our journeys. When BAE is on campus, I feel like I can just be a kid again—exploring new things and momentarily forgetting all my stress and that I'm almost graduating from high school.
Most importantly, BAE means opportunity. It provides opportunities that many of us might not have had elsewhere, allowing us to explore our passions and discover talents we never knew we had.
As I move forward in life, I hope to carry with me the qualities they embody: resilience in the face of challenges, the ability to balance discipline with joy, kindness in all interactions, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others. These are the lessons that will guide me into adulthood, shaping me into someone who not only pursues her own passions but also uplifts and inspires those around her.
I think access to arts education is crucial for all youth because it nurtures creativity, enhances academic performance, and fosters emotional well-being.
Engaging in the arts has allowed me to express myself, think critically, and develop skills that have been valuable both inside and outside the classroom.
For instance, being involved in the music program helped me perform better academically, helping me with my focus in subjects like English and Math. And more specific to Shanti Bhavan, one of our earlier requirements to maintain a certain average score to be allowed to stay in choir motivated me to study more.
Moreover, arts education provides a platform for emotional expression and stress relief, contributing to better mental health and resilience among us students. Our jam sessions, although not very frequent, were sometimes the only thing that helped me get out of my head, which was a stressful place to be in during exam preparation.
Personally, my involvement in the BAE music program transformed me from a timid choir member into a confident singer. This journey not only boosted my self-esteem but also taught me the importance of perseverance and collaboration.
In conclusion, arts education equips youth with the tools to navigate challenges, appreciate diverse perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to society.
When I was younger, I was two things: lazy and lacking any confidence in myself. I was always afraid of competition and overly concerned about what other people thought of me. This even affected me in the seventh grade when it came to joining choir. I didn't want to, because it seemed like too much work, and completely different from what I was used to: hiding.
In the beginning of my time as a choir member, I also avoided auditioning for solos, because I was scared that someone else also wanting the part would think I was competing with them, and that I was overestimating my abilities. For years, I equated self-confidence with arrogance. But being part of the BAE music program has changed that perspective. It taught me that only through training everyday and not slacking on my voice lessons would I be able to expand or maintain my range. Only through keeping up my academic performance would I be allowed to part-take in fun, musical activities.
Hence, I’ve learnt that a lack of effort will get me nowhere: only through hard work will I achieve my goals. More importantly, I’ve realized that what truly matters is how I view myself and the effort I put into pursuing my dreams.
Even deciding to apply for this scholarship was a challenge at first, because the hesitant “little Elsa” in me was scared that my classmates would think I was overstepping. But it was the “grown-up Elsa,” shaped by all these years of learning to step out of her comfort zone in the BAE program, who reassured me. She reminded me that I could apply, that it wasn't a competition, that I wasn’t trying to take something from someone else who deserved it. She reminded me that this was just my choice to not regret never having tried. I wouldn't be doing this for the approval of others, I'd be doing it for myself.
The music program has also given me a sense of community. Many of my friendships have blossomed from our shared love for music, and I’ve been able to connect with so many people by swapping playlists, participating in jam sessions, and recommending my favorite artists to others. It has also given me a passion that can never be completely done exploring. I’m never bored anymore: I can discover new genres of music, learn different vocal warm-ups and just sing my heart out with the people I’ve grown to love and cherish. In that way, the music program has given me a family, a home.
BAE has had 2 significant impacts on me: the way I think about helping others, and in finding my voice, my place.
From when I was young, I’ve always heard Dr. George telling us to help others when we grow up, and even though we have so many great examples of that, like the donors who’ve never met us and yet give us so much, and Dr. George himself, who has dedicated his life to building Shanti Bhavan from the ground up, it all felt too far away, too unattainable. And I was under the impression that helping others meant giving them money to get by, and a formal education. But BAE has changed that. BAE feels real: we talk to them, exchange stories about our lives and just have so much fun with them. While I know education is very important, it is the music program that helped me discover myself as a person: my talents, my hobbies, and the people I can connect with. It has helped me get to know myself. The fact that BAE helps others by spreading their love for, and knowledge of the arts has redefined the meaning of “giving” for me. At home, everyone cares about education enough to send all the kids to school. My mother, for example, loves singing, but never had the chance to explore that love. Today, she enjoys that vicariously through me, every time I sing or participate in anything musical. So, BAE has helped me realize that what I can do is to give my family and the people around me an opportunity they’ve never had, something their parents have never cared about, or couldn’t afford: exploring their passions and finding what home truly means for them.
That brings me to my second point: how BAE has helped me find my place. As I reflect on my own journey, I can confidently say that the BAE music program has been instrumental in my growth.When I started, I was a shy choir member, struggling with many things like my utter lack of self assurance and leadership skills. I lacked confidence in my voice, and although I had skipped a grade and joined my new class years ago, I was still finding it very hard to connect with them or to feel like I belonged. I was tired of being the “new, unwanted kid” in class. But even then, it was music and the BAE teachers I used to talk to who allowed me to feel like I could be myself unapologetically, and I would be accepted. After I started interacting with our music teachers and learnt that I could express myself authentically, I began to feel brave enough to do that with my classmates too. I started speaking more, singing more, laughing more, and I realized I had found a reason to love my new life.
Today, I proudly identify as a singer and confident young woman with conviction and courage because of people like those in BAE. What they have given me, music, has brought me and my friends together, creating an environment where we are united by our shared love for the art. What BAE has given me is the courage to express myself authentically, a reason to be truly happy, and something that I can call home.
My favorite memories with BAE are always our jam sessions. But the reason for that is actually more than what shows on the surface: all the fun we have, obviously.
Jam is all about us being creative, adding in more instruments, riffs and harmony to the music. That gives us a sense of creative freedom and allows us to express ourselves in a way that is authentic and unfiltered. Also, jamming is a shared experience.
We’re all involved in the same moment, and that collective experience bonds people. Whether it’s us celebrating getting the funny riff and head shake before Am I Wrong’s chorus just right, or the hilarious chaos when the ultra fast parts in Whatever It Takes goes fully off track, those moments create stories we’ll all remember.
It’s obvious that music has a unique way of bringing people closer emotionally, but that stands out more during jam sessions, when we hide under the piano cover so DG doesn’t ask us why we’re up so late, or when we all flop a bridge and decide that we’re definitely not the problem, or even when one of us feels a close connection to a song, making the nosy rest of us all interested in knowing why.
Also, jamming sessions can be a learning experience (if Ms. Beena will believe that). It helps us learn, not just musically, but socially. During jam, I get to see others in a new light, whether it’s their musical talent— Kiruba’s insanely beautiful voice and Akshay’s drum skills— or the way they handle and respond to mistakes— their ability to laugh them off versus their tendency to pick on them— I understand them on a different level. This gives us a chance to grow together, and that creates stronger friendships.
Ultimately, jam sessions are about having fun and just letting go of all the stress that builds during the day. They’re not about perfection or sounding amazing— although that’s certainly a plus— they’re just about enjoying the moment and singing our hearts out.
In the end, jam sessions with friends are my treasured memories because they create such a perfect blend of creativity, connection, and pure fun, making every moment uniquely special and just unforgettable.
