Beyond the Screen: Gia Gupta’s Visit and the Power of Responsible Influence
“To be truly influential is to inspire hope, kindness, and possibility in the lives of others.”
For a well off influencer like Gia Gupta, her life often revolved around authentic content creating and constant branding. But choosing to step away from behind the screen and entering into the lives of Pehchaan The Street School students made her an icon for us. After all, it’s our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities.
Her visit on Sunday, 1st March at the Indraprastha Centre was a truly engaging and heart warming experience. Just the weekend before the festivities kicked in, she made a generous contribution of 300 sets of colors and treats, including Frooties, pichkaris, and snacks. The air in the classroom was a mixture of anticipation and excitement, with some of the students frantically running around the class, their eyes fixed on the gates of their class. They all had the same thought in mind, “Is she really coming here to meet us?” We live in a digital world where young children are more absorbed in viewing short, reel-like content where they receive information quickly rather than going too much in depth for it. Influencers not only read the behaviour of the people but also understand the psychological effect of their audience. They know how to capture attention in seconds, but Gia Gupta chose to do something far more profound and made children feel seen, heard, and valued. She believed that students are often used to seeing influencers on screen in short videos, but once they saw her in person it would give them an opportunity to experience something special. This belief was clearly justified by the children’s reactions when they finally saw her walk into the classroom. Their eyes beamed with joy and they looked like they would explode with excitement at any time.
Her visit started off by a brief introduction on herself and was followed by distribution of small treats. But the impact of her visit went far beyond gifts. After showering the children with so many items she decided to spend the rest of her time interacting and playing with the children. With nearly 120 children, Gia moved past the role of a “guest” and merged herself into the lives of our students. She did the silent prayer, interacted, laughed, and celebrated alongside them, turning her one day visit into a lifetime memory.
One girl asked her, ”Ma’am Aap hamare liye ye sab kyu laaye ho?” It was a question that came from somewhere in the mind of a 10 year old who understands that nothing is for free in this world. Gia looked in the girl’s eye, took her hands, and replied with a warm smile “Because you deserve to celebrate just as much as anyone else. I didn’t bring these because you needed them, I brought them because I wanted to see you smile. And hoped to be the reason behind it. “ At that moment she felt what it was like to be cared for and valued for being who she was. She realised that she belonged to a community that supported her in every way.
And so in this way Gia’s visit became an example of a responsible influence. In times where views and likes form the basis of validation in the lives of youngsters, she demonstrated how young influencers can use their reach to create meaningful impact in the society. They can choose to be there for the children, listen, volunteer or simply make donations just like Gia Gupta . She also shared her experience on her social media account and helped spread awareness about the mission of Pehchaan The Street School.
In the end, Gia’s visit reminded us that influence is measured by the lives we are able to make a real difference in. By stepping away from her everyday work and entering into the classroom, she made connections that would stay in her heart forever. As the saying goes, “People will forget what you said and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
For the students of Pehchaan The Street School, that day was a reminder that their joy, their dreams, and their place in the world is just as important as anyone else’s.
Pehchaan The Street School serves as a platform for creating meaningful social change. Anyone who feels inspired to contribute to our cause, whether as an influencer reaching beyond the screen to work on the ground or an individual eager to volunteer, collaborate, donate, or simply spread awareness, is welcome to join the organisation to create their own story of impact.