I was at ITL from kindergarten until 11th grade. This school has been my worst experience ever. During those 12 years, I didn’t realize the mental trauma I was facing until I finally left the school after failing 11th grade.
I was extremely weak in studies.
In 4th grade, at the recommendation of my school counselor, I was sent to a psychologist. After testing, I was diagnosed with borderline ADHD and dyslexia. From then on, I was made to visit the counselor daily to study.
I am a person with a great passion for dancing, singing, and acting. I am a trained classical dancer. Yet, I never took part in any co-curricular activities, as both teachers and students created an extremely demotivating environment because of my academic struggles.
In 5th grade, we were given the option to choose between French and Sanskrit for 6th grade. I opted for French, but I was not allowed to take it because the school believed that, due to my poor academic performance, I didn’t have the potential to study French (which, by the way, I later studied for three years in college with no issues).
Though things were smooth until 8th grade, 9th grade was extremely traumatic for me. ITL fails a significant number of students in 9th grade (2017-18), and I had a tough time dealing with it.
Back then, I was in class 9E, and my class teacher (who I won’t name out of respect) was extremely rude and arrogant. She taught Social Science. One day, I had a bad headache during her class, and she humiliated me for not paying attention. That wasn’t all. When she was asking questions related to the chapter, I knew the answers to most of them and was sitting in the front row, raising my hand, but she ignored me completely. Then, when I didn’t raise my hand for one particular question, she asked me to answer it. I didn’t know the answer, and she humiliated me and taunted me for not answering a question she had just taught. I cried my eyes out that day. The same teacher also failed me by just 1 mark in my 9th-grade finals and refused to explain why. Nevertheless, I was promoted to 10th grade.
I was also part of the school volleyball team, and we often had practice sessions during our last period when matches were coming up. We had the same class teacher in 9th and 10th grade. She used to taunt me for going to volleyball practices and considered me a failure. Teachers at this school seem to believe that if you're not good at academics, you shouldn't be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities, no matter how skilled you are at them. She didn’t stop there; she also lashed out at my mother during a parent-teacher meeting, calling me “thick-skinned” and saying I had “no shame” for “playing volleyball and failing in class.” I have never encountered a more spiteful teacher in my life.
Despite all this, I somehow made it to 11th grade. I took Psychology in 11th and scored 1/40 in my first test. I wasn’t given a second chance and was forced to switch to Physical Education (PE). (Please read on to understand this fully!)
While most of my 11th-grade teachers were decent, the students at this school were no different from the teachers. They mocked and taunted me for being a failure. The school principal often called parents to humiliate them for their child’s poor performance.
In total, no matter how good you are at extracurricular activities, if you're not good at academics, you will be mentally tortured by both teachers and students.
Additionally, this school is obsessed with physical appearance. Students are beauty-shamed, and the so-called “beautiful” students are hyped not only by immature classmates but also by teachers!
Ultimately, ITL failed me in 11th grade and told me to repeat it. My mother decided to let me complete 12th grade through open school. That decision truly turned out to be the best one ever!
My 12th grade was during the COVID period. About a month into the year, ITL called my parents and said I should take a re-exam. If I passed, they would promote me to 12th grade. This time, I refused to go through that trauma again, and I’m so glad I made that decision!
I changed completely after leaving ITL. I became a stronger, more confident person. Not only that, the girl who had failed all her life scored 81% in her board exams.
Today, I am a Psychology graduate. My college life was completely different from my school life. From being a "zero" in school, I became an all-rounder in college, excelling in both academics and extracurricular activities.
I hope this reaches someone who needs to hear this. If you’ve faced a similar experience, just know that nobody determines your success but YOU!
