That Midas Touch

   My husband's job is a transferable one, so every four years we are on the move. From my childhood, teaching has been my passion, so whichever place we go to, I join some educational institution. My first job, was as a teacher in Carmel Convent School. Hailing from a convent background, my profession became interesting and enthusiastic for me because I too inculcated to my students, the love, care, rapport, perfection, pronunciation, punctuality, and other traits with which I was moulded, by the nuns who taught me. We had to teach, various subjects and sometimes I also learnt as I taught. Work was worship for me and I derived satisfaction and serenity. Four years passed off unnoticed, so it was obviously heart wrenching when I bid a tearful goodbye, to my students to follow my husband to his place of posting.

             Next, I had to teach English, to students of Intermediate. Business Communication to pupils pursuing BBA and BCA. I was of the opinion that students who passed out from schools would put on airs. That, they would be difficult to handle and their behaviour and school of thought would be different too. Their understanding levels, their presence of mind and conduct was different, no doubt, but it didn't take much time to establish an intimate rapport with them too. Therefore, I had to bid adieu with moistened eyes, a choked throat and a heavy heart, when we had to shift again.

             When I entered into a colossal campus of an engineering college to teach Communicative English to engineering and MBA students, I was pre-determined, I would just be an object here. I thought the warmth, the exuberance, the intimacy and the personal touch would definitely be absent. Why would grown-ups, crave for a teacher's touch? This question kept haunting me. But, as years rolled by, I was proved wrong. Because, once again, when I resigned from the college, I was literally weeping and so were my students.

             What struck me then, and enlightened my mind is the fact, that no matter which strata of education students belong to, they need that affectionate touch of a teacher. Too often we under-estimate the power of touch -- a friendly smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, the smallest act of caring, patience, immediate response, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Some even find it comfortable to confide in, their feelings to their teachers. Therefore, it is mandatory for us teachers, to provide the comfort levels to our pupils to learn, to grow and to enable them to become perfect. 

            Teaching is undoubtedly the noblest of all professions because it teaches all other professions. Moreover, in certain other professions, we deal with tools, gadgets and other equipment, but in this, we have to handle human beings, who are growing up, especially children, whose minds are like wet cement and whatever falls on them makes an impression. We need to set ourselves as role models, worthy of emulation. Right from KG to PG, I have been influenced by many of my teachers, and I have observed this still happening with the present generation. Times have changed, no doubt, but the affectionate touch of a teacher, the moral values, the love and care and the impact will never change. They are constant.