Growing Up Unafraid

Growing Up Unafraid

Most people learn about periods through whispers, half-truths, or panic in a school bathroom. My experience was completely different — and for that, I’m deeply grateful.

At the United World College of South East Asia, menstruation was never treated as something secretive. We learned about it as early as Grade 3, and what set those lessons apart was the inclusion of everyone. Boys and girls learned together — what periods are, why they happen, and how to talk about them without shame. We even learned about male puberty with the same openness, helping us understand what our classmates were going through.

That early honesty shaped me. While many kids have awkward or confusing introductions to menstruation, my teachers used correct language, welcomed every question, and created space for curiosity. I’ll never forget the anonymous question I submitted: “Why is it called MENstruation if women go through it?” My teacher laughed kindly and explained its roots in Latin and Greek — a simple moment that showed how approachable the topic felt.

Still, even in this supportive environment, I wasn’t always confident. I whispered excuses to male teachers, hid pads up my sleeve, and used cramps to escape PE classes. But what mattered most was that I never felt alone.

Support came through quiet gestures that meant everything — helping a friend through her first period, lending her my hoodie, or simply sitting with her until she felt okay. Later, when I leaked during Spanish class, my friends responded instantly: one offered her hoodie, one cleaned my chair, and another walked me to the bathroom. On a school camping trip, when several of us got our periods at the same time, we turned our backpacks into a “period shop,” sharing pads, advice, and laughter. These small acts of kindness transformed something often feared into something normal, warm, and even funny.

As I grew older, I realized how rare this experience was. Outside my school bubble, I heard stories of girls who learned about periods only when they experienced them — confused, frightened, or ashamed. Some missed school because they had no pads, no privacy, or no one to talk to. Something natural was becoming a barrier.

That understanding pushed me to act.

I joined my school’s global concern group, Generation Education Period, to spread the openness I was lucky to have. We put up myth-busting posters, shared facts, pushed for pad dispensers, worked with manufacturers, and even co-authored a book for younger students titled Period. Our belief was simple: menstruation isn’t a “girl issue.” It’s a human reality everyone should understand.

People often ask why this matters so much to me. The truth is: I know what it feels like to grow up supported, safe, and seen — and I know how damaging the opposite can be. Every girl deserves that same sense of confidence, whether she’s in a progressive classroom or in a community where periods remain unspoken.

If sharing my story helps even one girl feel less afraid, then every conversation, every poster, and every small effort is worth it. Menstruation is normal — and talking about it should be too.

— By Aliya Mazumdar Sen

About the Writer

Aliya Mazumdar Sen is a 15-year-old Grade 10 student in Singapore. Having grown up in an open, supportive environment that normalised menstrual health, she is dedicated to creating similar spaces for others through her involvement with Generation Education Period.