Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya

This school is located out in Parsara, which is a bit of a distance from the main center of Varanasi. Being out here means we have a bit more space and it’s generally quieter than the city. We have a large campus where the students stay, so it’s like a small village of its own. Every day follows a pretty strict schedule because that’s how things work when you have a lot of kids living together. We start early with exercises and then move into the academic part of the day. The buildings are sturdy and have been here for years. We have a mess hall where everyone eats together, which is always a noisy time. The teachers live on-site too, so we are all part of the same daily rhythm. It’s a bit isolated, which helps the kids focus on their studies without too many distractions from the outside world. We see the seasons change across the fields surrounding the school. When the monsoon comes, the whole place turns very green. It’s a lot of work to maintain a place this size, from the dormitories to the classrooms. We have a staff that handles the cooking and the cleaning, and we all just try to keep things running smoothly. It’s not a glamorous life, but it’s a dedicated one. We’re just out here in Parsara, looking after the students and making sure they get through their schooling years safely. We take things one day at a time and follow the rules.