The journey called teaching

A chance mail, I embarked into a path, became a teacher and it has been one and half years of teaching. It is for a reason it is called the noblest profession. It has purified me, humbled me and fulfilled me like nothing else. As I begin the next chapter, looking back at this incredible journey, I am left with wonderment at how I began and what I have become today.

How I began, with self-doubt, debating, questioning and second-guessing. I was not an expert at what I was teaching (Hindi). I was far from it. There was this feeling of being 'not enough'. But once I started teaching I realised, it is not about what you don't know. It is about what you know and how well you use what you have. With what I knew I could contribute so much to the tiny tots and they guided me into learning what I did not know. Such is life isn’t it, you cannot know everything. But start with what you have and the path will unfold.

So many cherishable moments, so many moments of awesomeness and self-reflection that has left me wondering what is this design of life. These tiny tots came into my life so that I could teach them, yet I walked out of the school today feeling so complete, so wholesome and so much more knowledgeable. I realised when you give, more comes. Isn't it funny, we always think giving means reducing, but experientially I have come to realise the more you give, the more comes into your life. Like water that flows in a particular direction, life flows towards a giver. In whatever way possible, give!

How fulfilling it is to see your work create something. This journey has given me so many moments of fulfilment. Just five minutes of daily reading to a child transformed her from a non-reader to a passionate voracious reader. How amazing is that, for life books are going to be her friends. I have always revered consistency. But witnessing its magic in a classroom was something beyond. Even the strongest rock can be crumbled with consistent effort. That's all it takes 'for a few minutes' daily.  The simplicity of the act itself undermines the profoundness of the impact it creates. I no longer look at targets with fear or anxiety, my outlook has changed. I simply focus on what I can do daily to reach it. 

Being in school helped me realise the only thing constant is change. Every year the class changes, teachers change, subjects change, yet the children adapt and adjust. They do not shrink with every change, they blossom and explore. They look at change as an adventure. It somehow changed my perception and I realised the futility of fighting change. I can fret, get angry, feel anxious, lose my peace but things will change and eventually I will adjust to the new normal. There is no growth without transitions and I understood that I need to get my feelings towards these transitions right. From agony to appreciation.

School is a place to see the incredulousness of human potential. A child steps into the class knowing nothing, fast forward a year he leaves gaining almost everything. Witnessing this transformative process was an experience. We are so quick to define, judge and criticise. All it takes is 'one' experience and everything about life changes. With one moment of inspiration, realisation, revelation and insight I saw so many kids cross the lines from not knowing to mastering. If only we can have more belief and more empathy, not just towards our children but more towards ourselves. If only we can believe in our potential a little more, we will be more confident, assured and happy individuals. 

This journey itself started with a moment of spontaneous craziness. What kept me going was the fascination of creating and nurturing young minds. Their energy, their innocence, their love for learning and exploration was incredible. It sure has rubbed on to me. Shifting gears with this deep urge to create a similar impact!

So grateful for this opportunity and experience.

If you are one of them stuck in ambiguity. All I want to tell you is trust your spontaneity and take the plunge. If you fail it is an experience, if you succeed it is still just an experience and both are okay!