Dr. Aashna Narula firmly believes “to teach is to touch a life forever”. As we complete our 7 years as of July,2022. We strongly believe that influence of a good teacher can never be erased. We are not here to tell, explain or demonstrate, we are here to inspire them, help them gain insight and develop love for learning. We are passionate, hard working, compassionate team and we believe in our students. We are not here just to help them get good grades but also help them succeed in their lives.
Dr. Aashna is a very positive and hardworking person. Her strengths is her empathetic nature, the ability to keep others first and being sensitive to others needs and emotions. She is patient, creative and flexible. She understands that students are like wet cement whatever falls on them make an impression.
She is here to teach with love. Her aim is to create a positive environment in the classroom where all students are loved, valued, appreciated and motivated to do better. She believes that unless we do something beyond what we’ve already mastered, we will never grow. She is here to grow, to teach & to make a difference.
Young Women Achiever
She was awarded the Young Women Achiever Award in the field of Psychology by Chandigarh Mayor Smt. Asha Kumari Jaswal. (2017) Best in Class Female Entrepreneur, Global Acheivers Forum (2017), Women of The Future Award, Jaipur Mayor Ashok Lahoti (2017). She has also been awarded Women Of Worth Award,in field of Psychology & Entreprenuership,April,2019 .Aashna Narula is also an author of children’s book, “A happy book- raising positive children” which was also exhibited in Miami International Book Fair 2017.
How it all began
Surviving & Thriving: Psychopedia’s Journey
The Beginning
A girl stepped out of the college crying on her last exam, she felt lost, she felt she has no office to look forward to the next day or next month, she doesn’t even have a interview call waiting for her, that helpless hopeless girl was 23 in 201, and that helpless hopeless girl was ME. And that same girl is 29 now & writing her journey. so that anyone helpless hopeless right now, can understand, THINGS CHANGE. They become better.
May 2015, I was a lost girl. All I knew was I had no job, but I also knew I had to do something. How long until I wait for interview calls? So, I came home & I told my parents I want to do something of my own.
Here comes July…so basically after exact one month.. a dream was born, PSYCHOPEDIA. People said a lot of things, “it’s just tuitions, why don’t you start from home?” But… I was really sure, I wanted to be in a professional set-up. So, I took the leap of faith (I swear, I dint knew I could fly but I was sure I might fall & I would fall hard with this start-up) But, I did fly… and that’s why we all are here, reading my journey..
Okay. So what is this “start-up”, what is this “entrepreneurship”. I just knew I will learn all about it in my journey. So the picture (the beginning) is where it all started. I am sure, all those who knew Psychopedia at this place, must be overwhelmed reading this, just as I am writing this. Also, from bringing the chairs to paying rent, guess what helped me? All those Diwali/Birthday Shagans. (My parents wanted to help but I wasn’t confident & was like if this fails it’s my own failure) From furniture to white wash.. So here we were, July 10, 2015 & you know what’s so common these days, WORKSHOPS, we were the first ones to do it in 2015 on Emotional Freedom Technique.. Always knew, that if Psychopedia survives it is meant for something so great..
This place was with us for next one year. This place could accommodate 50 students, but I had to wait for 2 months for my students to walk in (Neha & Nifisa, how can I ever forget you both, You will always be Aashna Mam’s first kids). They trusted me, they had faith in me & gradually we started to have students.
I had no team members for 6 months because for one simple reason I am paying rent, I am paying electricity bill, how can I afford someone, and that’s why I started teaching in first place.
But all this looks really interesting to read, I have had sleepless nights & I was too righteous to ask for help as it was my step. So, I remember what made me have my faith back…
After coming back home, the days no one turned up, it used to be really disheartening
.. So I used to put my headphones and listen to MUNIBA MAZARi TED TALK and I would walk for 1-2 hours, listening to it on repeat.. and I learnt about “Being grateful”. I mean someone on wheelchair, is trying to tell me to be grateful? What am I complaining about? So, I started to be Grateful every day. I stopped complaining that I had no students to I am grateful that I am trying to build something. I stopped complaining that there are only 1-2 students, instead I started being grateful that “those students have faith in Psychopedia”.
This is where I had started to learn my life lessons.
The Middle
Something happened & I couldn’t meet the expenses for the same place. Move on from a place that could accommodate 50 students to a place that could fit 10 students, a fridge & a cupboard. (Students who sat there & studied, Thankyou, you never complaint).
So, as we say put it in technical terms we “downgraded”. Ah. My ego! Haha. But that’s where I learnt my first lesson that it’s not the space, it’s not the billboard, it’s your VISION that will bring kids here. So slowly I understood, I am going to be that “Mithai Wala person that has no board outside office, a small shop somewhere located but serving the best of the sweets”. My social media marketers were our students who always had such kinds words to speak about us & our teaching efficiency that more students came in. Learning lessons every day, becoming a better person, grounded, humble in my roots. I have taught & if required I have swept the office too.
Moment of JOY
Its no lie when people say “everything is temporary”. We all worked so hard that from 10 student space we could move in the same building to 3 rooms. Oh my God, moment of Joy, my team gets to sit, my student gets to have their waiting are, we get to take our classes simultaneously… But, we could only be here for 7 months. Pandemic happened. We waited for 6 more months to see if things could become better, but we had to let go of this beautiful space that we created. I still miss it. Every corner was decorated by us to give it a homely feel. This was the space, I last met my students, we were last offline & I hugged so many people for the last time, including my beautiful team.
We have had tears of joy here & shed tears of pain that I had to let go of it even when I didn’t want to.. But then some decisions are best taken rational & not emotional (another lesson learnt in work). Because I was always so attached to every place, we called it “home” that leaving became a setback for me always but then, finally learnt we need to be attached to our vision & mission in the long run & nothing els
Space to No Space to A Screen
And here we are. I never wanted to shift online, I was so fixated because Psychopedia is a Coaching Institute & how can we just start teaching from screens. Will we ever create that connect online? How will kids ever know we are there for them? How are we going to give “cheer up” hugs, the coffee breaks in classroom? I was so shattered, I remember going for one session of counselling myself & the counselor says “you are so upset because its your identity” and I stepped out & I was like, we can’t give up. How can I let one set back decide for us? In 2020 I felt we have moved back to 2015. It wasn’t easy, I didn’t even felt like opening my laptop and my mom would tell me, “Aise kaise chalega bache, kuch toh karna hi hai. Try toh kar, Open your laptop”. I decided I have put so much into it I cant let people And here we are Online. I thought our students won’t be able to connect with us over screens, but I guess, even with camera off sometimes in class, they would feel the acceptance & love in our tone & our teaching.
It was an uncomfortable year, it is still but Universe made me uncomfortable once in 2015 & once last year & now we get to connect with more students all over India.
I started to look it as blessing in disguise.
So, here we are. I know meant for greater things in life, offline or online.
People who were beside me all this while, Thankyou. You all are in my Prayers, always.
People who fell apart, Thankyou. I am stronger today.
Love & Gratitude, Forever,
Aashna Narula
Founder-Director
Psychopedia
Our Mission
As Benjamin Franklin rightly puts it, “Tell me & I forget, teach me & I may remember, involve me & I learn” . We, at Psychopedia involve students in the learning process. Our aim is not to just teach students but activate curiosity, wisdom, knowledge and bring out the best in them. In the classroom, our students are valued, listened to and respected. We are not just their teachers, we are their guides as well as their counselors.
We strongly believe that influence of a good teacher can never be erased. We are not here to tell, explain or demonstrate, we are here to inspire them, help them gain insight and develop love for learning. We are passionate, hard working, compassionate team and we believe in our students. We are not here just to help them get good grades but also help them succeed in their lives.
"No Matter where life takes you or whatever you achieve in your life, not forgetting your roots is most important. The perfect women is the one who uses her hands for the good of others."
