A lasting impact

I had switched jobs and on the very first day of meeting the new lot of students,I had an experience that shook my otherwise strong confidence. Formal introductions were on and it was the turn of a girl to talk about herself. She said she hated the fact that the school authorities,had appointed me as their English teacher. She missed her earlier English teacher. I was taken a back. I was almost going to reprimand her when I realised that I needed to be worthy of her respect — ‘First deserve,then desire’. So I smiled and said I understood her feelings for her former English teacher. That statement made all the difference and changed her attitude towards me in no time. Let me admit that it was brief moment of jealousy for me as well. But there was an awakening within me that I needed to earn my students’ trust and respect and could only do that with love. It was hard,but not impossible. For me all my students were lovely children. I had my favorites,but in class they were all the same — each one received individual attention and each one felt he /she was my favorite. It’s amazing what love and smiles can do. Once in the classroom,I forget my mood and involve myself with my students,and this simple,magical trick has always worked. I’ve never been in a classroom,never felt like tearing my hair. The power of love is all I need to make the classroom experience worthwhile ‘There’s a spark of magic in love’ — a precious blessing.

Alka Mahajan,
Senior Academic In-charge

December 1997 – my first batch of Class XII students at KV Bantalab,Jammu Cantonment,J & K. It was a class of 35 students with boys and a few girls of different states,interests and IQs.

As usual,I introduced myself and interacted with students,enquired about the syllabus and started with the morphology of flowering plants.

While teaching,I observed a blue-eyed boy sitting near the window in the second row was looking outside. I went near the student and asked if he was not interested in what was being taught. I got a prompt reply: “Ma’am,you are teaching so naturally that it is inspiring me to go out and actually feel the structure of the plant growing outside.”

This answer of the student actually inspired me to take the class out and describe the structures of the plant in the garden.

This incident and the prompt answer from the student really helped me to grow as a teacher and made me realise the importance of first-hand information in teaching.

Today,I remember and acknowledge the contribution of that student in my life,who ultimately became a biotechnologist at AIIMS. I wish him all the very best in life. I also further wish I come across more such students in my life,which proves that the child is the father of man.u

Kanchan Kaul,
PGT Biology

It was September 20,2007. It was a Thursday like any other. I was summoned by the in-charge of my school for making derogatory comments about a girl in my school. She (the in-charge) saw me and said,“You,look very decent,how has this behaviour come from you?” I blamed the girl who had complained about me due to a fight we had earlier.

But the in-charge knew I was lying and trying to escape,which I had done successfully in the past. But there is a first time for everything. I was known in school as a good,decent boy,but now she told me,“After seeing this,I really think all that glitters is not gold.” Her remark really hurt me,and I resolved to be a better person.

My teacher and I have always bonded strongly,so strongly that she knows everything about me. Surprisingly,I never had to tell her anything.

My teacher moulded me into a leader,something which I always dreamt of but couldn’t accomplish. She has made me into a man who now has the confidence to conquer the world.

Perhaps,words in any language aren’t enough to describe the impact she has had on my life,or for that matter the fact that she has made my life. I’d always be indebted to my teacher Alka Mahajan for making me what I am today. u

Shivam Kapoor,
Class XII

When I was in Class X,I had a wonderful experience that exemplified the support of my teacher. During that time,I use to be extremely irregular and was missing out on most of my classes,which obviously led to a drop in my attendance. Seeing this,my teacher realised that at this rate I won’t be allowed to sit for my Board exams.

Her genuine concern led her to inquire about me from my classmates,but it was in vain. She then decided that she had to meet my parents,who had not attended the last few parent-teacher meetings because of their busy schedules. She then decided to give me a call. When I answered the phone,I was shocked to hear her voice. She asked if she could talk to my parents,I got really scared and gave the phone to my domestic help and told her to say that no one was home,but she refused.

I was then forced to answer the phone to my mother,who scolded me and insisted that I gave the teacher my mother’s number. I was extremely fearful of being caught,so I gave her the wrong number. At each moment,I was sinking in guilt and didn’t know how to get out of the mess,so I finally called up my mother to tell her everything. To my surprise,she already knew about everything as my teacher had already called her.

The following day,I decided to go back to school,but had no courage to face my teacher. Instead,she called me to explain her concern for me. She made me realise that the parents and teachers of a student would always stand by to guide him/her through the challenges in life. Then I decided that I had to win the favour of my parents and my class teacher who had supported and made me realise the about wrong path that I had chosen myself. I extend my deepest gratitude to my class teacher who offered her unconditional support and helped me realise my responsibility as a student. And proved that “the school is called a student’s second home only because of the teachers”.u

Jayshree Tandon,
Class XII

It was my first day in school and I was excited and full of enthusiasm to meet my new teachers and friends .It was really a pleasant day.The interaction with my teachers was very good,but completely different from that with my Accounts teacher. When I saw him,my first impression was that he was really strict. But it proved to be wrong. He was a really nice teacher and his way of teaching was really good. I was really bored in the previous class but during the Accounts period I really enjoyed the teaching. It was the first time that I found the subject interesting .But my heart was broken when I came to know that he was not a permanent teacher . The brief interaction,however,has left a lasting impression on my mind.

Kumar Rajdeep,
Class XII