The Transformation of Om: From Fear to Leadership
Introduction
Om was a force to be reckoned with, and not in a good way. He was feared by every child in school and in his neighbourhood. Even the teachers trembled in his presence. Every day, he found a new target, got into a fight, and left a trail of bruises and fear in his wake. He along with his friends smoked cigarettes, chewed tobacco, and in their free time, they found joy in destroying public property.
When the SAVE (Skills and Value Education) program started in their village, the children had one request: “Please don’t take Om into your sessions.“
Beginning of his transformation:
But contrary to the children’s wishes, Om was welcomed into the program. And so began the incredible transformation of a boy who seemed beyond redemption. First, he quit his smoking and chewing tobacco habits. Then, slowly but surely, his self-regulation skills started to improve, and the frequency of his fights decreased. When the SAVE program offered him a leadership role in practice, something magical happened. Om became more responsible, and his dedication earned him the captaincy.
Under his leadership, there was discipline in the practice sessions even when the SAVE team was absent. The boy who once inspired fear was now inspiring change.
The Turning Point:
But the turning point came when an incident occurred near his home. A boy tried to provoke Om by spitting on his hand while driving a bike. What he did next left everyone astonished. He did nothing. He simply ignored it. When news of this incident reached his elder brothers, they immediately went to that boy’s house and were ready to take revenge, but Om intervened. He stopped them, choosing a different path.
In Om’s own words, he explained “The other person wanted me to react, and I knew that this would not lead anywhere. So, I told myself that there was no point in proving I was stronger than him when I knew I was.”
A Beacon of Hope:
Three years have passed since then and Om has transformed into a mature individual whom many in his family now turn to for advice. All his teammates like him and he is the go-to person for any kind of help. He is proof that change is possible, even for those who once seemed irredeemable.