My Life changing path

How do we change the world within and around us? – “One random act of kindness everyday”.

One Child, One Teacher, One Pen, and One Book can change the world – Malala Yousafzai

I always wanted to be independent women, which generally means work for a good company earn money and enjoy life on our own. Most of us have that as our basic thought, but somewhere we do want to give back to the society what we got from it. We all believe in ‘Karma’ and have Mother Teresa mode deeeep inside our soul:-D, which works like a switch system ON & OFF kind of. We help our servants, educate kids, donate and many such stuffs. It feels good doing good deeds.

When I saw “Know Future, No future” poster of Teach For India (TFI) on Facebook towards the end on 2013, made me curious to know more. It was an extremely impulsive decision, but looks like it has made a huge impact in my life. Where rest of my friends where working in Top IT companies getting paid hugely, I was applying for TFI’s Fellowship.  Luckily, I got through in my 1^st attempt (sigh).  It’s a fellowship period of 2 years.

TFI is an organisation of completely diverse background people (Writers, Lawyers, Doctors, Entrepreneur, Sports person, Musician, Dancer  ... etc...), and, working among them truly puts you out of your comfort zone.  As a part of my fellowship I taught in a Government School in Pudupet, Chennai, for 2 years, teaching 21 4^th grade students. I named my class as Bright OWL’s (Bright Outstanding, Wonderful Learner’s). The kids come from the nearby slums, most of them live on the banks of Coovam River.

Initially it was most difficult teaching them, 4^th std kids not knowing ABCD…Numbers… Counting….Talking to them in English was Greek and Latin. I would have seen real fights so real that one would be admitted in hospital with broken bones or crying with broken tooth and blood pouring out. I would have heard and learned almost all the Tamil ‘swearing’ words.

Class photograph - Year 1 :-D 

But with time everything changes, they were the best thing to happen in my life, and me in their life. Both (Kids & I) had a transformational journey. Kids who didn’t know ABCD where now reading Short stories, participated in all government competitions, writing their own stories, started watching English Animated movies, planned & started their own Organic farming in school, having their own Football team (Playing abiding all the rules).  From not knowing what to do in future, aspiring to become Scientist, Aeronautic, Engineers, Doctors, Teachers, and many more. It is not that they were bad learns or had uneducated parents, they just need some ‘guidance’ & ‘motivation’ & ‘exposure’ to achieve and be where they want to be.  Watching these student read and understand is something money or position cannot compare to. Also, seeing the students battle everything around them also makes you realise how protected you have been all your life. It makes you value the things you have in your life. It makes you think.

Class Photograph - Year 2- :-) Much better :-P 

I have learned how to be ‘patient’. I have learned how to not give up when the situation seems grim. I have learned not to judge people by their looks or from the place they come from. I have learned that ‘ambition’ is probably one of the most important things in life. I have learned that ‘grit’ can get you through situations that you cannot imagine. I have learned that sometimes we just need someone to listen to us and show genuine care. Learning never stopped being around them, should never stop as well in ones life. 

P.S – I personally believe education is a way to get rid of poverty. Education is not just through books but by exposure & values one learns through you. Be that change in some-one’s life and see the impact it makes in your life. Good deeds are just not through education but has its own way.

P.S.S - My come back post after yearssss :-O .. Keep waiting for more... :-)

I love them. Like teacher, Like student. :-P
And yea sneak peek to my class...