THREE WORST TEACHERS IN MY LIFE

On Teachers’ day honestly I am not recalling the lessons I learned in the classroom. Even after years I still wonder where will I use those maths equations that I studied and the chemistry which was always a mystery for me. When I grew up I realised, the history lessons which we studied as facts, needed to be challenged and I also recalled the teachers that I hated the most. 

I think I will never forget my class teacher from 8th standard, Mrs. Bhagwat. She made me CR of the class at the beginning of the year and took away my position in 3 months time.

Her reason was, “Aparna you are not regular in doing your homework and this position can be enjoyed by someone who can walk the talk." Believe me, I hated her at that moment. But I took it up as a challenge to make myself better. I started completing my homework diligently and it was the same Mrs. Bhagwat who again made me CR in 6 months.

Talking about my worst teachers, how can I forget Bapat Sir my Maths Tuition teacher. I used to bunk his classes like anything and was always found playing in the ground during that time. One day sir came to the playground and asked me to join the class very patiently.

It taught me that if a teacher really wants to make a student learn, he will make that happen no matter what, even if it calls for keeping his ego aside. Bapat Sir's patience created a huge impact on me. 

Further, as I moved from school to college to my doctoral degree, being academically weak turned my Ph.D. into a nightmare. Imagine my guide, Dr. Kirti Dharwadkar's situation to have a student like me who always used to go in reverse gear in those 6 years.

On the day of my convocation, while getting my degree in hand, she said, “With a degree, you get a lot of responsibilities on your shoulder, continue the process of learning.” Dr. Kirti gave me the lesson of Ph.D. Persistence, Hunger, and Dedication. 

Believe me, there was a moment in my life when I hated all three of them but the best part is that they never tried to be in good books of students, only worked towards making them better. Today I feel blessed to have had such kind of teachers in my life who went beyond the curriculum and imparted lifetime lessons. 

These teachers strengthened my belief that you need to be surrounded with people who throw you in an uncomfortable zone and give you a straightforward feedback than being goody good all the time. I wonder if my teachers would have been able to give me these life lessons if we were part of today’s private education system. A system where teachers need to be in the good books of kids & parents under the fear of getting suspended on a complaint. No doubt there have been some bad incidences which resulted into strictness in the system but I believe that cannot be a common measurement parameter for all.

The impact from my teachers stayed. I was hurt and angry when they taught me those lessons but those are the ones I love and remember the most. The best part about these teachers is that even after years and all the small big progress, I have made in life, whenever I try repaying my Guru Dakshana, my threes teachers would never accept anything more than a conversation. Their humility towards their profession inspires me always.

“I am grateful to be your student.

Thank you for challenging me...to be my best

And instilling in me the passion for lifetime learning.”