ON TEACHER'S DAY.. gratitude!!

The youth of today make their career choices fairly early in life.. mainly because they have multiple options available! Today's youngsters can choose to be pretty much whatever they want.. provided of course that they score the (seemingly) impossibly high grades demanded by various much sought-after institutions and ruling committees!! 

In retrospect.. my generation had far more limited options.. the really bright students took Science and became doctors or engineers.. the second tier took Commerce and the minimally academic minded (like me) took Arts from where it was a foregone conclusion that girls would either marry or become teachers!

The circumstances under which I became a teacher were slughtly different.. after trying my hand at advertising (and finding it too "fake") I realized that I needed to learn something and DO somwthing that would "make a difference" to people's lives! Social work was never my cup of tea.. and I was too much "Papa's Princess" to do an eight hour day.. very clearly I needed weekends off and adequate time to travel.. so teaching was my best option!

I signed up for and secured admission to a post-graduate Diploma (no degree course was available) in Early Childhood Education (Nursery Tracher's Training)! People assume that I LOVE little children and thats why I chose teaching.. honesty demands that I confess that I liked little children as much as the average person.. but I always found the process by which children learn fascinating and so..

Pitchforked into an intensely gruelling two year course that had been compressed and condensed into a one year programme was exhausting to say the least! I seriously contemplated giving it up more than once.. but the sheer joy of being in the classroom paired with the fun of getting to do something new different and creative on a daily basis kept me grounded focused and loving it!

After giving this profession a solid twenty five years.. I say with pride that it has given me so much more than I have given it.. In return for dedication hard work sleepless nights and being constantly mentally challenged.. I got sunny smiles.. bonecrushing hugs and daily opportunities to be a "magician" and see "wonder filled eyes"!

It taught me patience tolerance sympathy and empathy.. to be a good listener without judging.. to be able to look at situations from the child's point of view.. It taught me that I am accountable for my smallest action and most importantly.. it taught me that it's okay to make mistakes and that I didn't NEED to know the answer to every question! (Now there's Google but back then it was Daddy and the World Book Encyclopedia)!

Teaching and being a facilitator of learning brought alive to me the fact that "You have a very responsible job in this place/classroom/school/world.. if ANYTHING goes wrong.. YOU are responsible!" Learning to be super organized.. preparing in advance.. "a thing for everything and everything in it's place" and listening to understand instead of listening to reply.. phrasing less than positive words in a positive way and keeping my sense of humour intact no matter what are just a few of the many invaluable life lessons that I learned along the way! 

Today when I look back.. my heart overflows with gratitude for all the wonderful magical moments.. for all that I have learned - to give and to receive.. time energy and knowledge.. unconditional acceptance.. honesty and integrity.. wonderful  colleagues.. inspiring teachers.. strength and most of all.. the capacity to love! 

Older and a little wiser now.. I know that everyone in our life is a teacher and comes when we need them to.. "When the student is ready.. the teacher appears" and it is up to us to create the most meaningful interactions and be lifelong learners!

Heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude to all the children parents.and teachers whose lives I have been privileged to be a small part of.. for the faith and trust you have reposed in me.. and the hope that I have fulfilled my responsibilities and lived up to your expectations! 

To everyone else.. thank you for everything that without your teaching me.. I have gained and learned from you.. whether you are friends.. family.. staff.. neighbours.. financial advisors.. Thank you for being blessings in my life and know that I am deeply grateful and let's keep learning feom and teaching each other!

As always.. thank you for reading and wishing you a very Happy Teacher's Day!!

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