Bavenjit Kaur is a 13-year-old student that attends Croften House School, an all-girls private school located in the Kerrisdale area of Vancouver, British Columbia. She is a regular Kaurs United camper, and a member of the Croften House Girl’s Basketball team, and the Shaheed Baba Deep Singh ji Gatka Akhara. Bavenjit Kaur is also a Straight A student with a 90% average in her courses and plays soccer and track and field.
1) Vaheguru jee ka Khalsa Vaheguru jee kee Phateh! Bavenjit Kaur, the first question we’d like to ask you is, how long have you been blessed with Sikhi for?

I got amrit shucked in the winter of Grade 3 at a Khalsa school camp. So it’s been around 5 years.

2) When you came onto this Path, did you encounter any problems? Did you face any opposition from family, friends, or society? Please share.

Well, when I wanted to take Amrit, my parents were a bit hesitant and said that I was still too small but I really wanted to because of all the sakhis of Guru ji and stuff, so they let me, but afterwards I wasn’t bothered by any of my family members. I think the hardest thing for me when I came into Sikhi was to tell my friends about my kirpan because it wasn’t a usual thing. I started off my just telling my closest friends. Then one day in class one of the guys yelled out, “Bavenjit’s carrying a knife!” and everyone was like WHAT. I was pretty scared when that happened and my teacher asked me to explain what it was and stuff. In the end they all understood. What I learned from there was not to keep my kirpan hidden away from everybody because it was better for them to know than to randomly yell it out.

3) What inspires you to stay steadfast in your faith?

I think one of the most inspiring things about Sikhi is Gurbani. I love to read up on the meanings of shabads because there you realize that what they say is soo true and touching. When you read Gurbani it’s like Guru ji is talking to you because when you start reading Gurbani and you have something that’s worrying you, Guru ji always finds the right shabad that relates to your situation.

4) What is your favourite subject in school and what are some of your accomplishments in school? Are you part of any teams or clubs?

Well, it’s hard to say what my favorite subject is but I like Socials and English. Accomplishments for school – well, last year I was Head Girl at my old school which was a good experience. I also have an A average at school (90%) and I love sports so at school I’m part of the basketball team right now. But I also play soccer, track and field and Gatka :-).

5) You have mentioned before that you attend an all-girls school and our research affirms that this is a very high caliber Private School. How does it feel being a young Sikh woman in this school?

Well, it feels good to be representing the Sikh panth in a way because I don’t think there has ever been someone with a dastar that went to this school before. And so a lot of people are very curious about our religion. When somebody is wearing a dastar they are representing the Sikh community so it feels good to show the world that Sikhs (not to boast) can attend high caliber schools.

6) Many individuals find it difficult to balance school with Sikhi, homework with meditation. How do you find this balance?

Well, I do have to say that sometimes it is very hard because you get so much homework and if you’re on sports teams it takes up a lot of time. But the thing is, although school is very important, let’s not forget why we came onto this earth in the first place…It was so that we could re-unite with Guru ji. So that’s why we have to try and find space in between all the school work to do simran and seva. Whether it being cutting down on msn or facebook or something else. I know it’s easier said than done but everything starts with an effort, soon Guru ji will just resolve all the problems for us.

7) How long have you been wearing your Dastar for, and how does it feel wearing your Dastar in public, knowing it is not “the norm?”

I started tying a dastar in the summer of ’05 but it was just for programs and stuff. Soon I wanted to tie a dastar full time so in the starting of Grade 7 (2006) I started tying it to school. When I first tied it I was very self conscious but most people love dastar. They think that it’s really interesting and everything. The best thing about wearing a dastar is that you know that you’re so unique… You stand out of the crowd. Once I was listening to Katha and bhaji was saying that everyone always wants to stand out. Sometimes they’ll put there hair this way and sometimes they’ll have bangs, sometimes they’ll have pigtails, all just to stand out. But a Gursikh with a dastar will humbly walk down the street and everyone will look at them, that’s how beautiful our Guru ji’s saroop is. So I feel very special to be able to wear a dastar…What’s the point of trying to fit in when your born to stand out?

8) How long have you been attending Kaurs United events? Do you feel they have inspired you in any way?

I remember the first time I went to a KU program was back in 2005/06. After that, I went to as many as I could. I think that they are very inspiring because of their discussions… It helps you understand things that you don’t get to talk about usually. And I love the environment as well, with Singhneea everywhere it feels so - Vaheguru. It’s nice to know that you have sisters who are ready to help you and give advice :-).

9) As a sister and fellow Kaur, is there any advice you would like to give to other Kaurs who want to pursue an education while upholding their identity as Sikh women? Is there any message you would like to send to other Sikh girls and women?

I think the most important thing for singhnees at school is to be proud of who they are, because if you’re comfortable with yourself then you can accomplish anything. Another important thing is that while doing very well at school we should all remember to keep up with our bani, simran and amrit vela because all this will help us be stronger inside and stand up as the lionesses we are.