"Madam congratulations," I typed while eating my noodles at the same time."??????" came the reply. I knew those question tags would be dancing in her head for first of all we were chatting for the first time after having departed for more than a decade and the first thing I said, actually even before a decent hi, was 'congratulations'. Well, I've that kind of nerve, I surely belong to the Ranchi clan(I mean the well-known treatment place for a special group of people there and not the place in itself) as my friends tells me.
But I didn't have to jump high to pull down her question tags,"Heard you are a Vice Principal now," I typed my explanation. "Waiiiiiii," I almost heard her say that as I sat staring at that lone response from my colleague. She had this peculiar style of saying this word, whether she was amazed, astounded, provoked or simply amused. I knew she was amused this time.
Further deep into the conversation I learnt she no longer was what I had heard she was. As she was given the opportunity for further studies in her subject she had to forego that position. Before I could hold back my outrageous comments, I typed,"I would prefer teaching over administration." I bit my tongue, I can be so unrealistically opinionated at times.
But I breathed with relief as she too shared my sentiments. While reasoning out why going in the class and dealing with students is far more better deal than sitting over a chair dealing with teachers, I received a 'Hi madam, h r u?' from a student of mine who is now in college in Bhubaneswer in India. She told me about an international festival they had in her college and they wanted a title for the entire program. She suggested 'Khetshen' which means 'striving for excellence'; her suggested name was chosen over the ones suggested by her seniors. She narrated how students from Korea, Nepal, Bangladesh,Canada, Nigeria, etc where awarded with certificates bearing the name 'Khetshen'. Later, she was asked to explain what the name meant. She began by telling them..."once upon a time( I felt like I had aged beyond all the fairy tales as she used this to refer to the time I was her teacher) I had a teacher......and she chose this name for our book which we published in our club." Her reasoning was well applauded she told me. Although I was reading it as a normal chat I could hear the claps and felt so good that she remembered me in such hour and in such manner. She went on,"I didn't win anything, they got all the trophies and certificates but I got pride for the name I suggested was there on every certificate and trophies they took with them."
I shared her pride as she went on telling me about how she thought of me and the kind of mentor I've been for her. I didn't doubt that at all. I remembered that book she was telling me about was the first newsletter we published in our school only after she left saying she had to go. (Only I know how much I had to put my fingers and poke my aged brain to remember what she had so admiringly remembered...I agreed to her using 'Once upon a time' to talk about her high school days, I'm getting old, I mean I am old....look at my memory system).
I didn't share this with the teacher-friend I was chatting with at the same time but yes! I knew with full heart that I wasn't fibbing when I was saying I love being a teacher. Like my student said," I got the pride." Like I always say, this is why I love being a teacher, you never know how you have touched somebody in some point of your life.
But I didn't have to jump high to pull down her question tags,"Heard you are a Vice Principal now," I typed my explanation. "Waiiiiiii," I almost heard her say that as I sat staring at that lone response from my colleague. She had this peculiar style of saying this word, whether she was amazed, astounded, provoked or simply amused. I knew she was amused this time.
Further deep into the conversation I learnt she no longer was what I had heard she was. As she was given the opportunity for further studies in her subject she had to forego that position. Before I could hold back my outrageous comments, I typed,"I would prefer teaching over administration." I bit my tongue, I can be so unrealistically opinionated at times.
But I breathed with relief as she too shared my sentiments. While reasoning out why going in the class and dealing with students is far more better deal than sitting over a chair dealing with teachers, I received a 'Hi madam, h r u?' from a student of mine who is now in college in Bhubaneswer in India. She told me about an international festival they had in her college and they wanted a title for the entire program. She suggested 'Khetshen' which means 'striving for excellence'; her suggested name was chosen over the ones suggested by her seniors. She narrated how students from Korea, Nepal, Bangladesh,Canada, Nigeria, etc where awarded with certificates bearing the name 'Khetshen'. Later, she was asked to explain what the name meant. She began by telling them..."once upon a time( I felt like I had aged beyond all the fairy tales as she used this to refer to the time I was her teacher) I had a teacher......and she chose this name for our book which we published in our club." Her reasoning was well applauded she told me. Although I was reading it as a normal chat I could hear the claps and felt so good that she remembered me in such hour and in such manner. She went on,"I didn't win anything, they got all the trophies and certificates but I got pride for the name I suggested was there on every certificate and trophies they took with them."
I shared her pride as she went on telling me about how she thought of me and the kind of mentor I've been for her. I didn't doubt that at all. I remembered that book she was telling me about was the first newsletter we published in our school only after she left saying she had to go. (Only I know how much I had to put my fingers and poke my aged brain to remember what she had so admiringly remembered...I agreed to her using 'Once upon a time' to talk about her high school days, I'm getting old, I mean I am old....look at my memory system).
I didn't share this with the teacher-friend I was chatting with at the same time but yes! I knew with full heart that I wasn't fibbing when I was saying I love being a teacher. Like my student said," I got the pride." Like I always say, this is why I love being a teacher, you never know how you have touched somebody in some point of your life.
Great article with great sense of writing. I loved and appreciated the passion you have to what you are doing, which lacks in many people.
ReplyDeleteI would fully support you that, un-known by yourself, you would have definitely touched many's heart and might be following you as their inspirational idol.
It is hard to find teachers, who love being what they are, but my joy knew no bounds when I read your article, to at-least find a teacher who is genuinely interested to teach.
Great one, keep going.
Thank you so much for understanding my passion for my profession!
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