Monday 21 November 2011

An Autograph from a Teacher

Standing in a teacher’s shoes at a very young age has been an experience worth a life time of learning and good feelings. At age 22 I began my role as a teacher. Too young to know the seriousness of life, I entered my second job, as Faculty member of a B School , before which I was a Sales Officer in a Bank.  I was in the transition phase of my life and I was in the middle of the best of what life offers, college Life. I was out of my college life, experiencing others enjoying their college life. Imagine that you have a big pot of honey which you are not supposed to touch. Gosh!!!

The first day as a teacher I realized how good and diplomatic our teachers were. Standing on the other side of the classroom was an experience the first day. I saw myself sitting in their place. I could see everyone and everything they did. That’s when it struck me how my teachers tolerated us. But my dear friends, to be frank a teachers life is actually a very fulfilling one. Every student’s achievement becomes your achievement and every students fall becomes your pain. With the exams they write the tension is in the teacher’s heart. But yet all the missed heart beats and pains the teacher goes through get washed away in the process being friendly but not familiar or rather to make it simple being strict.

Here I would like to narrate a small incident of my life as a teacher which made me think a lot. Fortunate as a teacher I have always had very controllable batches, which has been also the reason why I have felt very close to many there. In my class I had a student named Kiran who was very shy and wanted to discontinue the post-graduation course halfway through. Not seeing him in class for a few days I called his parents and asked them to come over. The first shock the parent gets is the look of the teacher. He asked with the highest exclamation “are you the one teaching Kiran?” I answered yes, that’s me. I told him how it was important that Kiran needed to come back and how his parents needed to support us in the cause of getting him going well.

The initiative worked and the then Director of the institute, a walking encyclopedia said “Boss, I am not sure of what you are planning for.” Months passed by and one day the Director summoned me to his cabin. I was sure there was a mess and he asked me to sit with the most irritated look on his face. He extended his hand and said “Congratulations.” I was perplexed. He said “Kiran spoke to me with immense confidence, and it’s all your work.” I was lost and in the middle of nowhere. That was one appreciation I got which was an achievement. I take it as an achievement because it came from a knowledgeable man. Today Kiran is doing excellently well and I feel happy for him. When he said he was leaving the course I felt the pain and today I feel proud of my student and friend Kiran, who has since changed from being a chronic introvert into a confident young man.

Truly, nothing could be more rewarding than the life of a teacher to witness a transformation in the lives of his students.

9 comments:

Rakesh Vanamali said...
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Rakesh Vanamali said...
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gslekshmi said...

very true naveen...i too hd many similar experience in my career as a teacher....so i can very well understnd ur feeling bro......

Naveen Manomohanan said...

Thank you Lekshmichechi for visiting my blog. and i am sure nothin can pay back better than a teachers job. the love and affection they show u can never be forgotten. anyways thank u so much.

AJEETH said...

very true naveen .............

Anonymous said...

Hello sir,
It's nice to read about kiran.I saw your profile and it doesn't give any information about your current job.Are you still pursuing a career as a teacher?

I loves teaching and has great respect for peoples who are into teaching.Teaching is something divine,you are in a greater responsibility,as the life of many sitting before you depends on you.Many students,different talents,some are aware and some none amid this they are in exploration of themselves and it is the teacher who have to find out and help him find out as a friend,making him think positive,to show and make him dare to dream big and when they take higher strides,a teacher says back in happiness to see the height they are soaring that dawns with a peaceful realization,to tell you by your self that you are proud of them,to be their teacher.A student should have some similar moments,when their life hold them back on a journey into future,and when he takes a rest and look down on the memory lane,a teacher with his words should be there to tell him move on,you're the best.If you give a student a book and tell them to study,they will do it.Students MAY not going to remember what you taught but surely they are going to remember HOW you taught.

And one day surely,they will pop up on a crowded road sometime in the future,to tell you their tales and will disappear into the crowds leaving a touching realization back with you.This moments are waiting for wonderful teachers after all life is all about some happy moments...

Keep on writing! be descriptive we love long stories :)

Naveen Manomohanan said...

Thank you so much and i too agree with you. Its a very noble profession. A teacher is someone who really can make or break a person. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Jeevan said...

Sure its a true, great feeling! I recall my teachers now and hope they should felt the same and we only realize the worth of teachers and their care when we rose in life. Keep posting....

Nathalie H.D. said...

A remarkable achievement indeed, well done !