My background…

In 2023 I completed bachelor’s degree in physics, chemistry and mathematics. I was looking for jobs and found one in Bangalore but it was too far to travel to work from where I live. My mother happened to visit a shop in my village that was owned by the SSVM school secretary. When he found out that I was looking for a job, he asked me to apply for a teaching position at SSVM school. I decided to go for it and was offered the job immediately after my interviews. When I was a student, I never imagined that I would become a teacher, but life circumstances led to me this profession.

My experience as a teacher…

I teach science to 6th grade students. SSVM is located in rural ares close to the border of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. I grew up and continue to live in a village close to the school. I like being with my students a lot. Even No matter how many personal problems I may be stressed about, when I step into the school, I feel very happy. The children are a joy to work with and bring out a smile in me every day.

I am inspired by…

I draw inspiration from a teacher I had in high school – Ms. Fernandes. She was my favorite teacher, and every day when I teach, I think about her. She was a genuine person who made sure she was connecting with every student in the class. She believes that every student has the potential to achieve great things and encouraged us to believe in ourselves. I want to be like her.

My Aikyam experience…

I am new to the Aikyam program. I was a little confused at the beginning but after a couple of sessions I got clarity. Whenever I need clarification, I consult another facilitator (from a different school) who has experience with the program. The children have been awesome from the very beginning. They are coming up with some great ideas. The children have already identified two problems that affect their community and will be speaking with the community members next to pick the one they want to address.