Sneha on how alienation can affect young people

Right vs Wrong, reading from Wanted Back-bencher & Last-ranker Teacher by Kavita Ghosh

After reading the chapter with Sandeep Sir, I reflected a lot on how alienation can affect people, especially students and teenagers. I feel that when someone is punished through detention, suspension, or expulsion, it can sometimes make them feel even more disconnected rather than understood. I think alienation becomes harmful because when people stop feeling connected to others or even to themselves, they begin searching for ways to escape their emotions instead of understanding them.

I have personally seen people around me of my age who constantly want to escape their reality instead of facing it. I have noticed how some people never really sit with themselves or understand what they are feeling. Instead, they try to run away from emotions through smoking, drugs, or other harmful habits, often because of peer pressure, stress, loneliness, or the desire to feel accepted. At first, it may seem like fun or a way to bond with friends, but over time, I have seen how it affects them physically and mentally. Some people around me smoke so regularly that even walking for a long time becomes difficult for them. They struggle with stamina and cannot even climb a short mountain path without getting exhausted or breathless. Seeing this has made me realise how temporary escapes can slowly take away a person’s health, energy, and connection with themselves.

At the same time, I have also realised how important personal and social development is. I believe that having healthy bonds, meaningful relationships, and activities that help us grow can protect us from feeling isolated. When people feel accepted and connected in a healthy way, they are less likely to depend on harmful habits to feel a sense of belonging. Personally, I try to focus on hobbies and self-growth instead of escaping my emotions. I engage in creative activities and things that help me grow personally while also connecting with people socially in meaningful ways. For me, hobbies and personal development are healthier ways of coping because they help me understand myself better instead of avoiding reality. This chapter on right versus wrong made me रियलाइज  that true connection, both with ourselves and with others, can help us deal with struggles in a much healthier way.

- Sneha, an intern at EBD in Dehradun, supported by the Learning Forward India Foundation.