I teach because I can
Dr Hanif Kanjer
I teach because I can. Founder Director and Dean, Rustomjee Cambridge International School & Junior College
In engineering school I was the de-facto tutor for several of my classmates and friends. During exams I would have many friends who would come to me for last minute studies or doubt clarification. At that time, I thought I was doing everyone a favour by making the time to teach them. I took pride in the fact that they needed me.
What I didn’t realize then, and I have learnt today is that all those friends and friends of friends who came to me then were doing me a huge favor by asking me to teach them. They were preparing me for my future career as a teacher and educator.
After engineering school, I spent 12 years in the corporate world in the areas of management consulting and IT before transitioning full-time into education, at the insistence of my best friend from engineering school, Boman Irani, who asked me to quit my job with Infosys in New Jersey (USA) to build his fledgling school.
His words, “I want you to grab this opportunity to make a difference, to make an impact!”
His promise, “You’ll gain love, respect and popularity for the work you do!”
Everyone thought I had lost my marbles to quit a well-paying job with a leading Indian IT company in the Mecca of capitalism to work in education in a sleepy northern suburb of Mumbai, Dahisar.
Some tittered “an MBA from London Business School was going to teach nursery rhymes and ABCD.”
But none of that dithered me from my decision. I was never one to be impacted by snide remarks or taunts, for I always saw people’s remarks as their opinion of me, and their opinions never defined the real me.
Today, our group of schools comprise 10,000 students, 450 teachers, 375 staff members, across 4 branches spanning K-12 and MBA.
I feel privileged that I have been given this opportunity to teach.
If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. Kudos to all teachers, students and parents for showing the determination to learn in these tough times, and setting the trail ablaze.
Happy Teachers’ Day.
Dr Hanif Kanjer
Indoor Outdoor Playground Equipment |Sports Flooring | Ozone Generators | Door Finger Safe
4 年With an opportunity of interaction with you, i recollect that you also give lot of thought in co curricular activities of students. And this leads to overall development of the child since early age. Kudos to your teaching and development strategy.
Senior Relationship Manager at Standard Chartered Bank plc
4 年We’re all glad that you do what you do!
Lecturer| Former Mumbai University Assistant Professor| Microsoft Azure AI-900 Certified
4 年Amazing .really good to hear Dr Hanif Kanjer
Inspiring Hanif... You are contributing to the future knowledge economy and creating a positive impact
Open to opportunities
4 年Awesome!!