Who I Am — AP Board Class 6 English
'Every child is DIFFERENT. Every child is SPECIAL. Every child has a DREAM.'
1. About the Chapter
'Who I Am' is a COLLECTION of six short first-person sketches. Each sketch introduces a DIFFERENT child with a UNIQUE personality, interest, and dream. Radha loves climbing trees. Nasir loves cotton seeds and wants to be a farmer. Rohit dreams of space travel. Dolma wants to be Prime Minister. There is no SINGLE plot — instead, the chapter celebrates DIVERSITY and INDIVIDUALITY. Every child is DIFFERENT, and that is WONDERFUL.
Why This Story Matters for AP Board Students
- Encourages SELF-REFLECTION — 'Who am I? What do I love?'
- Shows that ALL dreams are VALID — farming, space, politics, arts
- 'No two children are the SAME — and that is BEAUTIFUL'
- Helps students find their OWN voice
- Popular for SELF-INTRODUCTION and ESSAY writing in AP Board exams
2. About the Author
This chapter is a COLLECTION — different sections have different origins. Some are from real children's writings, others are adapted from various sources. The NCERT compiled them to show DIVERSITY of childhood experiences.
Why This Format
The first-person format makes each child's voice AUTHENTIC. 'When a child says "I love trees" — you FEEL it.'
3. The Six Children
| Child | Age/Location | What They Love | What They Want to Be |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radha | Loves climbing trees | Trees, nature, the feel of bark | Connected to nature |
| Nasir | Wants to be a farmer | Cotton seeds, watching plants grow | A farmer |
| Rohit | Wants to travel in space | Aeroplanes, rockets, space | An astronaut |
| Serena | Loves singing | Music, her mother's lullabies | A singer |
| Padmini | Loves adventure | Rollercoasters, bungee jumping | A teacher who takes students on adventures! |
| Dolma | Wants to be PM | Politics, leadership, helping people | Prime Minister |
4. Detailed Section-by-Section Summary
Section 1: Radha — 'I Love Trees'
Radha loves T More than anything. She talks about the FEEL of tree bark, the SHADE of the leaves, the SOUND of wind through branches. Her favourite tree is the NEEM tree because it is useful and beautiful.
'When I climb a tree, I feel like I am in ANOTHER world,' she says.
Section 2: Nasir — 'I Love Cotton Seeds'
Nasir is fascinated by COTTON SEEDS. He loves how they feel — soft, fluffy, white. He watches them grow from seeds into plants. He wants to be a FARMER when he grows up.
'Everyone says farming is hard work. But I LOVE it. Growing things makes me HAPPY.'
Section 3: Rohit — 'I Love Aeroplanes'
Rohit is OBSESSED with flying. He collects pictures of aeroplanes. He dreams of going to SPACE.
'I want to be an ASTRONAUT. I want to see the Earth from above — like Kalpana Chawla did.'
Section 4: Serena — 'I Love Singing'
Serena loves MUSIC. Her mother used to sing lullabies to her when she was little. Now Serena sings everywhere — in the bathroom, in the garden, at school.
'When I sing, I forget EVERYTHING. It is just me and the MUSIC.'
Section 5: Padmini — 'I Love Adventure'
Padmini is a THRILL-SEEKER. She loves rollercoasters, fast rides, and anything EXCITING. She dreams of bungee jumping and skydiving.
She wants to be a TEACHER — but a teacher who takes students on ADVENTURES!
Section 6: Dolma — 'I Want to Be Prime Minister'
Dolma is AMBITIOUS. She watches the news. She follows elections. She wants to LEAD the country.
'I want to be PRIME MINISTER. I want to make INDIA a better place for everyone.'
5. Themes
Individuality
Every child is UNIQUE. 'No two children are the SAME — and that is something to CELEBRATE.'
Dreams and Ambitions
Dreams come in ALL shapes and sizes. 'Farming is as NOBLE as being Prime Minister. Both matter.'
Self-Discovery
The chapter asks every reader: 'WHO ARE YOU? What do you LOVE?' It is a journey of SELF-DISCOVERY.
Diversity of Interests
From tree-climbing to space-travel, from singing to politics — the chapter shows the WIDE range of childhood dreams.
6. Literary Devices
First-Person Narration
Each child SPEAKS directly — makes the writing INTIMATE and AUTHENTIC.
Contrast
Each child is TOTALLY DIFFERENT from the others — highlighting DIVERSITY.
Simple Language
Children speak in SIMPLE, NATURAL language — easy for young readers to connect with.
Repetition
'I love...' 'I want...' 'I dream...' — these patterns REINFORCE each child's identity.
7. Vocabulary / New Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Unique | One of a kind |
| Individuality | The quality of being yourself |
| Ambition | A strong desire to achieve something |
| Adventure | An exciting or daring experience |
| Fascinated | Very interested in something |
| Thrill-seeker | Someone who loves excitement |
| Prime Minister | The head of government in India |
8. Important Quotes
| Quote | Child | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 'When I climb a tree, I feel like I am in ANOTHER world.' | Radha | Nature brings JOY and PEACE |
| 'Growing things makes me HAPPY.' | Nasir | Simple pleasures are VALUABLE |
| 'I want to see the Earth from above.' | Rohit | Space DREAMS connect to Kalpana |
| 'When I sing, I forget EVERYTHING.' | Serena | Music is THERAPY |
| 'I want to be a teacher who takes students on ADVENTURES!' | Padmini | CREATIVE thinking about careers |
| 'I want to make INDIA a better place.' | Dolma | LEADERSHIP starts young |
9. Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks each)
1. What does Radha love? Radha loves TREES — climbing them, touching their bark, sitting in their shade.
2. Why does Nasir want to be a farmer? Nasir loves watching things GROW. He is fascinated by cotton seeds and wants to spend his life growing food.
3. What is Rohit's dream? Rohit dreams of becoming an ASTRONAUT and travelling into space.
4. How does music make Serena feel? Music makes Serena HAPPY. When she sings, she forgets everything else.
5. What kind of teacher does Padmini want to be? Padmini wants to be a teacher who takes her students on EXCITING ADVENTURES.
6. What does Dolma want to become? Dolma wants to become the PRIME MINISTER of India.
7. What is the main message of this chapter? Every child is DIFFERENT and SPECIAL. All dreams are VALUABLE.
10. Long Answer Questions (6-8 marks each)
1. 'No two children are the SAME.' How does this chapter prove this? The chapter introduces SIX children — each with COMPLETELY different interests. Radha loves nature. Nasir loves farming. Rohit loves space. Serena loves music. Padmini loves adventure. Dolma loves politics. If you put them in a room, they would each talk about DIFFERENT things. Yet they are ALL HAPPY. The chapter shows that DIVERSITY is NATURAL — and BEAUTIFUL.
2. Which child in the chapter do you relate to MOST? Why? Students should choose ONE child and explain WHY. Example: 'I relate to Rohit because I also want to travel to space. I watch rocket launches on YouTube and read about ISRO missions.' The answer should connect the child's passion to the student's own.
3. Why is it important for children to have DREAMS and AMBITIONS? Dreams give DIRECTION. They make us WORK HARD. They help us DISCOVER who we are. Even if dreams change (which is OK!), the PROCESS of dreaming teaches us about ourselves. A child who dreams of being a farmer learns just as much as a child who dreams of being Prime Minister.
4. 'The chapter does not have a story — but it has a MESSAGE.' Explain. The chapter has no PLOT — no conflict, no resolution, no characters interacting. Each section is just a CHILD speaking. But the message is DEEP: 'YOU are special. YOUR dreams matter. You do not need to be LIKE anyone else.' It is a chapter about SELF-ACCEPTANCE and celebrating WHO YOU ARE.
11. AP Board Context
- Self-introduction essays are a common AP Board exam topic — this chapter prepares students perfectly.
- Writing task: 'Write about YOURSELF — what do you love? What do you dream of?'
- Telugu connection: 'Nenu evarini?' (Who am I?) — a question every child should ask.
- Activity: Create a CLASS BOOK called 'Who We Are' — each student writes one page.
- Discussion: 'Do you think ALL careers are EQUAL? Or are some more important than others?'
12. Fun Activity
'Who I Am' — Your Turn! Write YOUR OWN sketch (8-10 lines):
- What do you LOVE?
- What makes you HAPPY?
- What is your DREAM?
- What makes you DIFFERENT from everyone else?
Be HONEST. Be PROUD. Be YOU.
