The Role of a Teacher

Of all the things that teachers can do for their students, exemplifying strong character traits, investing faith in them, supporting them in dealing with challenges, and protecting them from any harm or abuse are perhaps the most important things. Children are always bursting with energy. It is the choice of a teacher to give them the space and the opportunities to feel good about themselves or repress them emotionally; to support their development or contribute to their isolation; to celebrate their childhood or turn them into uninspired children growing up to become uninspired adults.

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.

Love for Children

As I struggled to breath a sigh of relief after a hard day at school today, little Armaan ran towards me and touched my feet. I always tell him not to do so; he doesn't listen to me. I gave him a hug and then he went away. He is not my student, not even in my school, and yet we have formed a special bond. People talk about love in different contexts. For me, love is the reason that I wake up every morning to leave for school despite sleeping late at night, continue teaching even when my throat aches and voice cracks and keep thinking about my children even when there are other relevant things to think about. 

TFI Mini-Diary- V

Continued from here. I finally planned my Be The Change project and began working on it. It was difficult to convince all stakeholders but somehow I managed. My project is titled The Smart Student Project and is about offering different experiences and exposures to all children of my school, in the form of workshops, competitions, music and dance activities, sports, promotion of reading, playing indoor and outdoor games, and learning beyond the classroom. The overall objective is to make the schooling years of all the children joyous and fun, and I have already started seeing a difference. 

TFI Mini-Diary- IV

Continued from here. I knew from day one that the fellowship was going to be hard. Year one was a real struggle as I hadn't taught before and teaching isn't the easiest of jobs in the world. Year two posed its own major challenges because the organization requires its fellows to not only teach with the same rigor and enthusiasm as in first year, but simultaneously do a project (in their schools) which impacts and benefits ALL children, and not just those in their classes. And so I began planning for my BTCP (Be The Change Project). I spoke to the teachers in my school about this and they gave me their ideas. I compared the facilities and experiences I received in my Alma mater with what this school had to offer its students. By this time, I had also formed my definition for an excellent education. 

An excellent education is a combination of various favorable factors for a child, including academics, non-academics, values and mindsets, sports, social-consciousness and spirituality. All these factors plus a healthy and joyous environment at home and school, exposure to the world around to promote the learning and development of a child.