StrengthTogetHER 1- Session 7

 

15 August 2020.

Being together for 7 sessions by now and strengthening with every session, Strength togetHER has become a virtual family from a virtual session. The session is facilitated by Lokopakar, a youth organization working to bring innovative programs for the youths.

Continuing with the same enthusiasm as well as the same topic, we went on to conduct an "Experience sharing" session in the presence of our dear and respected moderators Rosy Karna, Psy.D candidate at Stanford University with a specialization in Clinical psychology and Dr.Sweta Gautam, a sufferer of mental health issues who has recently completed her MBBS.

The sessions of Strength togetHER, for me, is pure joy and it gives me motivation and prepares me for the long tiring week ahead waiting for me. I always look forward to the sessions, to hear stories, and to share some pieces of mine too. I am the best and happiest version of myself with the people I share the session with.

There were few experiences shared and many advice given in this particular session. The experiences shared were:

• One of our members shared about her journey of her growing business. She said how she and her friends had randomly planned this whole business with a little budget and later grew it and reached where they are today. She said how there had been bumpy roads and highs and lows. However, they kept on working really passionately and very hard due to which they are nearly on the journey of smooth success. 

• Our another member opened her heart out and shared about her fears growing due to this COVID-19 outbreak and how there have been personal problems. She shared how she has always been carefree. But this time during the crisis she really feels difficult not being able to be there for one of her parents. Her past relationship didn’t go smoothly so she has learned to enjoy herself. She introduced us to her past versions and explained how she is proud of wherever she is today. Hearing her story made me think, "it is what breaks you that ends up building you."

• Our other participant said how she would be friends with everyone and at last, she would be considered as a friend to none. She would always be in between two groups of friends and would be called a snake when in actual, she would be trying to resolve the dispute between them.

• Letting all her fears aside, our another member opened up about her past life too. She said about her friend who was really possessive about her. She regrets even today because she thinks that her friend got mental health issues due to her, which I say, is not true. She said how she used to feel vulnerable and helpless cause she thought she couldn't fulfill her friend's possessiveness towards her. But after she changed school, the past seemed to stop haunting her as there has been no contact between them. 

After hearing each stories, our moderators commented and gave each of the girls as well as everyone good advice:

Some of the advice are:

• Creation actually comes from random ideas. So never be afraid to be innovative even in the silliest of things.

• Hug Yourself.

• Be kind to yourself and everyone else.  

• Don’t judge yourself and others.

• You always have the choice to move away.

• Communication is the key to relationships.

• There are 3 C's in life you should never do: Comment, Criticize, Complain.

• Learn from your past experiences.

• Don't force yourself to grow. Growth is a process and you'll learn to evolve gradually.

All in all, the seventh session was a huge success and it provided calm to our chaos which is raging due to the panic situation of COVID-19. The sessions always prove to be full of fruitful discussions, helpful advice, innovative ideas, motivational thoughts, personal stories, and most importantly-times that will yield to be the most beautiful ones when we will look back someday. It's a memory lived, a memory enjoyed.

Wrapping off the sessions, we gave out huge smiles and positive vibes to each other and logged out. The session started from sharp 12.00 pm and went on till almost 1.30 via zoom in the presence of 20 passionate girls. I am very thankful to the whole family of Lokopakar and all our wonderful moderators who make us believe that we are something special and we can climb every cliff and reach the top.

Written by- Aastha Shrestha (Cohort Coordinator- LOKOPAKAR)

Edited by- Barsha Tamang (LOKOPAKAR)