Hardam Singh Vaddik Inter College

Hardam Singh Vaddik Inter College is tucked away in Nur Pur Baldev, which is quite a drive out in the Mathura area. The building has been standing there for many years and you can see that in some of the corners, but it serves the local kids well enough for their classes. We have students coming in from all over the 281001 zip code every morning as the sun comes up. The classrooms are basic with old wooden desks and blackboards that have seen better days. During the rainy season, the road leading up to the main gate can get quite muddy, so everyone ends up with dirty shoes by the time they get to their seats. We spend most of the day managing the daily schedule and making sure the bells ring on time for the breaks. It is a typical local school where everyone mostly knows each other’s business. There is no big fancy auditorium or anything like that, just an open space where the students gather for their morning assembly. The staff members spend their breaks drinking tea and talking about the upcoming exams or the latest news from town. It is a quiet place for the most part, except for when the kids are heading home at the end of the day. We just focus on getting through the syllabus and helping the students pass their classes so they can figure out what to do next with their lives. It is a straightforward kind of life here.