How I became a teacher?

The ones who know me as a teacher might find it difficult to believe if I tell them that I never wanted to be a teacher in the first place! I mean, I wanted to, then things changed so I didn’t want to, and I ended up becoming one.

Let me clarify! I was never good at maths (the cliché that language teachers are generally never good at maths). I was good at languages and this was proven right by the aptitude test my school had conducted during my class 10^th. After a long discussion with my parents, I decided that I will become a teacher and make a career in English.

I had scored 85% in class 10^th (Mind you, it was 2007 and my school topper was at 88%. These were a lot of marks back then). Many, when I chose Arts, believed that I had tricked my parents into it and that my parents would never let me chose anything but Science with this percentage. Even teachers in college were surprised because any percentage post 75 was equivalent to choosing science. One of the teachers went to the extent of telling me to quit Arts and pursue Science. Many even went on to assume that with such marks, I was in arts to become a collector and even forced this dream on me. Many people asked what I would end up doing having taken Arts. They went to the extent of saying, “teacher hi to banega… usse jyada respect to engineer ki hoti hai, aap kuch bhi keh lo.”

I really appreciate my parents on how cool they were. It was as if, they knew what I would end up becoming and how I would come back one day for all of these people.

The truth was that I was firm on my decision and I had full support from my parents. In fact, my parents being elder and being able to think for the long term, had also advised me to get the form of diploma (engineering) so that I never regret having the opportunity but not using it.

I cleared my 12^th and went to Mumbai for my graduation in English. During my college years, I realised that the world is a huge place with a variety of opportunities. I diverted and wanted to do many things over the years: becoming a writer, a photographer, an actor (though I never really had any skills there). At the end of my graduation, I had no idea what I had to become.

I completed my M.A. and started with a job (not in my field exactly but those jobs gave me experiences and most importantly, priceless friends). Tired of politics in the job and no room for personal growth, I ended up calling my Aai baba one day, frustrated and said, “I would do anything in the world but not this job. I am coming back to Nagar. I will work in our factory but won’t do this job any further.” I don’t know what they exactly felt at the moment. They calmly told me to think about teaching as I was well educated in the field (They were telling me for two years but I wanted to do so-called something different).

It is said that “every teacher has a teacher who inspires him to be a teacher.” Phadke sir and Madam were those angels for me. One evening, they visited my parents out of the blue. We had moved to our current residence in 2011 and they just visited to see the new house, that too after 5 years of moving in. Upon asking about me, my parents told them about my frustration. He immediately called me and said, “Come back here. Why slave for others when you can be your own boss? Work with dignity.”

This changed my life. I came back thinking that trying won’t harm and if it doesn’t work, the option to go back to Mumbai is always open. I was unsure about teaching as it is a responsibility and one mistake on my side would mean wrong information in the mind of the student, maybe forever. Maybe a ruin in his career. I was scared of spoiling someone else’s life. Phadke Sir and Madam supported me right from the start and they still do. I am eternally indebted to them. If not for them, Ashish Sir and Excellence Classes would never be born. If not for the sacrifices of my parents, I would be nowhere. My friends have understood me for my unavailability most of the time. Many others have supported me and encouraged me by telling me that I am on the right path. A special mention of my friend Aradhika, who is now a teacher in Germany and is doing well, who always told me that I was a born teacher. Truly sorry if anyone’s mention is left. I will always cherish your support.

My parents meet many people and even those who had doubts about my career when I had opted for Arts. Today they tell me parents that I ended up making a great decision back then.

One day, it pays off. You have to wait for it to pay off. As Steve Jobs says, “You can never connect the dots looking forwards but only backward.”

In this journey, I am equally thankful to everyone who entered my life during this phase. Right from my first batch of students to their parents and to my friends and fellow teachers. After 5 years in this profession, I feel more confident with a lot of room for improvement. As I teach students, I learn with them and no teacher can flourish in the truest sense if he/she keeps pampering his/her ego.

And hey you! Thanks for being here. Means a lot. If you liked reading this, do share it with others, comment your thoughts on it and help share the optimism.