The Transformation Within Me

Having spent the past year and a half working with so many diverse individuals, all from different backgrounds but with the same drive and vision to provide an excellent education to all children in the nation, as a fellow with Teach for India and as a teacher in a municipal school in the national capital, I can confidently say that I have had some of the most uplifting, pleasurable, rewarding and magical as well as the most upsetting, depressing, challenging and overwhelming moments and experiences of my life. The struggles in the school, the hits-and-trials in the classroom, the conversations with my friends, the love of my children, the agony of failed goals, the respect from society, the reflective moments in enlightening silences, the pleasures of giving, sharing and loving- everything has grown on me, everything has somehow made an impact somewhere, everything has contributed in reshaping me as an individual.

TFI Mini-Diary-VI

Continued from here. I am aware of the fact that my kids have learned and been exposed to tremendous amounts of new things ever since I started teaching them. They have bigger and more beautiful aspirations in life and I know for sure that many of them will attend college and work afterwards. This definitely puts them in a better position than their peers in school and community. By getting them to lead their own teams, work in pairs and groups, solve their problems themselves, speak in public, write well, listen to everyone, be respectful, feel great and confident about themselves, they are learning some of the most important values, mindsets and skills needed to be successful in life.

Pearls of Wisdom for Teachers

As I strongly believe that beautiful thoughts should be shared with all, I am sharing a part of a very inspiring and beautiful mail sent to all of us, the fellows at Teach for India, by Shaheen Mistri, our founder-CEO. You may or may not be a fellow with TFI, you may or may not be a teacher by profession, but if you are looking for wisdom, if you are looking for inspiration, this is it. 

~~

"Remember you always have the choice:

• To plan or not to plan
• To develop those incredibly strong bonds with your kids. Or to be just another teacher
• To treat your children with respect, and care. Or to do something that humiliates them
• To transform you classroom into a beautiful, magical place. Or to have it continue to be the unclean, uninspiring place that won't inspire change
• To rise above mediocrity and strive for excellence. Or to be a little better than the alternative
• To solve the problems that you have. Or to complain about them
• To focus on the good. Or to get bogged down by what isn't working

The choice of becoming a leader for your children, and for your country is in your hands. You just need to exercise the right choice. Make the right decisions. Look in the mirror. Put in the agonizingly hard work. But mostly, keep the faith. The belief. The sense of possibility. And when you waver, like I do, get back on the path of belief soon. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself on that path."

~~