When my daughter first stepped into DPS Sharjah fourteen years ago, she was quiet, shy, and often content to stay in the background. I watched her from the door, heart full of hope, wondering how this little girl would find her voice.
I remember her first leadership moment vividly — Grade 5, she became President of the Environment Club. I thought, “Wow… my little one?” That shy, tentative child had somehow found courage I didn’t yet know she had. That was only the beginning.
Middle school changed everything. Suddenly, she was speaking, debating, questioning, and even challenging herself in ways that made me pause and smile at the dinner table. I realized then that DPS wasn’t just teaching her subjects — it was teaching her to express herself, to be confident, to explore her passions without fear.
Now, as she serves as President of the Student Council in Grade 12, I look back with a sense of awe. I’ve seen a child grow into a leader, a speaker, and someone who carries empathy and responsibility in every action. But more than that, I’ve learned as a parent alongside her — patience, trust, and the quiet pride of watching her own determination guide her.
There have been countless small moments that made me realize how much DPS Sharjah has shaped not just her, but our experience as a family. The late-night project panic, the endless elocution practices, the excitement of club events — all these were lessons for me too, in letting go, in believing, and in learning to support her as she learned to stand on her own.
Fourteen years, countless memories, and a journey from a shy little girl to a poised, passionate leader. As a parent, I am endlessly grateful — not just for the school that nurtured her, but for the privilege of witnessing every step, stumble, and triumph along the way.
DPS Sharjah hasn’t just educated my daughter; it has shaped her, challenged her, and inspired her — and in that process, it has given me lessons in parenthood I will carry forever.
By Bikram Bharadwaj
