The Old Walls, New Voices: The Rise of a New Generation

8 August 2024: It was one of those brooding Mumbai afternoons where the clouds seemed to hang just a little heavier, and the puddles on the road mirrored the dark sky above. As I stepped out, carefully navigating those puddles so they wouldn't stain the white palazzo pants I had so mindfully chosen, my mind was racing. Not with anxiety, exactly. But with the weight of anticipation.

I was making my way to a school. The school, the same place where I spent years of my childhood in the classrooms and hallways. Only this time, I was returning after a decade, but with a mission in mind. The school had invited me, a psychologist, to judge a debate between their 10th standard students: Should mental health be prioritized in the education system?

Not a rare sight, given how much conversation and awareness there is today. But it still marked a seismic shift from the end of my own schooling.

The students came prepared. They quoted research, shared anecdotes, and even challenged each other with questions that revealed a depth of problem-solving skills, creativity, and confidence I don’t remember having at their age. From Michael Phelps and Noah Lyles (American sports personalities) to basic knowledge about RCI, the students not only did their homework well but had stacks of printed papers with countless pointers they had sifted through. Perhaps the time allotted to conduct the debate was simply not enough to present them all. 

As the debate proceeded, the school’s in-house psychologist and I exchanged a few knowing glances. It was the very first time both of us were judging a debate of any kind, so:

1. How were we supposed to score them?

2. Were we judging the teams without any of our own biases coming in between?

3. Would the outcome of the debate have any lasting effects on the students?

Seated on opposite ends of the hall, the in-house psychologist and I never got to discuss these aspects. Perhaps it was for the better. Maybe that silence preserved our objectivity. 

In the end, the team arguing for mental health integration in education won. And deservedly so.

After the debate, I was invited to say a few words. I stood at the same podium where I had once listened to guest speakers, never imagining I would become one. And because of my psychology and sports journalism background, I couldn’t help but tell them about the American gymnast Simone Biles. The timing, too, was perfect…

The 2024 Paris Olympics were going on as I addressed the students, and what else would have been a better example than Simone Biles’ story? When she withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to twisties and mental health concerns, her patriotism was questioned. There was so much noise, opinions, and chaos surrounding her decision, but in 2024, when she came back, it was with a bang!

She left Paris with three Olympic gold medals and one silver. That meant she won a total of 11 Olympic medals for her country in her entire career. But what made her achievement even more significant was the fact that she headed into the 2024 Paris Olympics at 27 years old, which made her the oldest woman to compete for American gymnastics on that stage since the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. 

Her journey wasn’t just about medals. It was about reclaiming her mind, her body, her narrative.

My passionate speech about Biles was perhaps a bit lengthy, but I couldn’t help it. The least I could do was motivate the students to keep up the good work, and presenting Biles’ story was my way of doing that. 

When the final bell rang and the students dispersed, some excited to go home and some running to talk to their friends. I couldn’t help but carry on with my conversations with the teachers. After all, some of them had known me my entire life. 

That’s when something interesting happened.

The team that argued against mental health being prioritized in the education system, walked up to me and asked for feedback on how they could do better…

The next generation is truly doing wonders!

That day wasn’t just about judging a debate. It was about witnessing the shifts, both in myself and in the world around me. It was about realizing that even in an old school building with familiar walls, something new was blooming: a willingness to talk, to listen, and to grow together.

About the Author:

Rohini Kottu is a psychologist and mental health content creator who uses storytelling to spark meaningful conversations around emotional wellbeing. She is also a sports journalist who often finds inspiration in the journeys of athletes. Rohini blends her background in psychology and sports journalism to explore the intersection of performance, pressure, and mental health. Through her writing, public speaking, and digital platforms, she strives to make psychological insights accessible and engaging. Whether addressing students, athletes, or everyday individuals, she believes in the power of honest dialogue and shared experience to create lasting change.