Most of the lectures were dull. All that changed in 9th standard when Jolly Teacher entered our classroom. I fell in love with Physics and Newton! She taught through real life examples and made us connect the outside world with the words written in the textbook. She even made attempts to explain stuff that was not included in our textbooks.

It was Thursday. Jolly Ma’am mentioned that- “One should never jump out of a moving bus or a train!” I didn’t believe her! I had to prove her wrong. That I could do it. On the way back home from school, as the bus slowed down I decided to prove Newton wrong. I had a terrible fall. My elbows and knees completely bruised smeared with crimson red blood. A couple of days later, my hand was in a cast with a hairline fracture to my pinky.

It was all worth it! The wounds were healed but “the concept of inertia and state of motion” was etched in my memory. Now, I knew why I went to school and was mostly attentive in the Science classes, at least. The love for physics that got developed over the course of 2003–04, still continues to this day.

In my 10th standard, Lucette Ma’am was our class teacher. Although, I shied away from speaking in English, I loved being inside Ma’am Lucette’s class. She used her voice to convey the feeling of the characters and it felt like we were watching the story come alive. But more importantly, she was a friend to students. I remember girls from the class flocking to her and chatting with her during the break. She raised her voice once in a while to catch attention of students like me, but was kind and empathetic most of the time.

She has had a very salient effect on me. One that I realised much later when I became a teacher. It is difficult. Being patient and empathetic can be difficult. But, when you have seen someone practicing it with you while you were a kid makes it much easier when you come across a tough one.

In 2017–18, I enrolled in a Counselling Course where Lucette Ma’am took classes as a part of the curriculum. Just being inside her class and being able to interact with her was therapeutic. And that day again, she made me realise how the relationship between a teacher and a student goes beyond schooling days.

It’s been 11 years since I first stepped into the classroom. I have had my moments where I have felt euphoric and sometimes irritated as well. Reflecting back on the last decade, I realise that I have cherished all the moments when I am in class — being around kids is really a blessing!

Most of my ideas of education come from my own schooling — the parts that were good as well as those that I wouldn’t want any child to go through. Some ideas occur while reading a book or an article or while watching a video. And sometimes when I discuss it with friends or while interacting with kids.

I guess my job is done when students start taking initiatives on their own and start chalking out their own path. Above all, if I could be what Jolly Teacher and Lucette Ma’am have been to me while growing up, my purpose shall be fulfilled.

As we step into the next academic year I want to start penning my ideas and publish them here.

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