Seema Gautam, Teacher, Dalimss Sunbeam School, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
India celebrates Teacher’s Day in memory of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan every year on the 5th of September to commemorate his wisdom and contribution to academia. Mrs. Seema Gautam a teacher of Dalimss Sunbeam School talks to us about her journey as a teacher so far and how she overcame the difficulties posed by the pandemic as a mother and a teacher.
“The news of complete closure announced on 22nd March ’20 due to the pandemic came as surprise rather than a shock. Board exams were called off and a strange fear gripped everyone. The uncertainty, the unanswered question “what’s going to happen now?” was visible on every face. I started missing the hustle and bustle of the campus. A part of me was left behind.
I started missing the smaller things that gave me joy as a teacher. The frequent knocking on doors by little hands, the never-ending emergencies in a classroom, the occasional hugs that I received from my students. It was a divine feeling when I learned that the kids too were looking forward to coming back to the campus and breathing life into the atmosphere with their laughter and merriment.
But this seemed to be a distant dream. With the surge of the second wave, with greater intensity; it looked like the students were going to spend another year in the confines of the four walls, forgoing all the outdoor activities.
My two sons too were totally bored and disillusioned with the online classes as well and the very idea of studying at a boarding school seemed to have lost significance. At this juncture, my role as a teacher and parent became vital. I had to take care of their mental health, their overall personality development and instill in my children and students a spirit of responsibility….how they could contribute to society and make a difference.
