My Students Are My Teachers

I feel we must change the way we look at the word 'teacher'. Till now teacher only meant someone who has a degree to teach in schools or colleges. All of us are teachers. Teaching has no boundaries nor is it age-specific. 

I teach my granddaughter and learn so much from her. She teaches me patience and just looking at her I want to learn more. Her innocence is all-encompassing and her honesty is all-pervading. People think only elders can be good teachers but the sensitivity,  compassion and purity of emotions that she has displayed has taught me to be  calmer. So, I would request grandparents to spend as much time as they can with their grandkids to learn from these energetic minds.  

I have another student who I teach voluntarily. He is in a school in Rishikesh. Thanks to technology, I can teach him online. He does not know English and wants to learn. He has taught me humility and a sense of pride in what I am doing. Despite it being voluntary, he attends most classes. They have only one mobile phone in the house but on two days a week, he makes sure it's available to him. Compare it to the urban kids who have everything available but lack the inclination to learn anything new. They will learn anything that is on gadgets but nothing which is bookish. The less people have in life,  the more they value it.  One should always be in gratitude.This boy I teach also has a vision, to become an IAS officer so that he can help people. Before him, I used to teach a girl from the same school who is in Grade 12. She is working hard to become a Cardiologist. 

These kids teach me perseverance and commitment in our desire to achieve our goals, even with little means available. 

I am overwhelmed to have these little teachers who bring joy and hope to my life.