For many, Teachers’ Day is a celebration marked by flowers, handmade cards, and heartfelt greetings. But for Hansa Chhabra, teacher at Sunbeam School, Varuna, Varanasi, the day holds a much deeper meaning.
Hansa Chhabra, Sunbeam School, Varuna, Varanasi.
Reflecting on her journey, she shares how her students became her greatest teachers—teaching her patience, resilience, and the value of walking alongside children at their own pace. “Mistakes are not failures but stepping stones,” she observes, noting how this perspective has transformed her both as a teacher and as a person.
Patience, she explains, has become her most valuable lesson. Waiting for hesitant hands to rise, giving space for children to find words, and turning mistakes into opportunities have created a classroom where students feel safe to explore and grow.
Central to her teaching philosophy is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). “SEL is not an add-on activity; it is the heart of what I do,” she says. Recognising children as individuals with emotions, hopes, and fears has enabled her to foster empathy and understanding, turning the classroom into a space of warmth and trust.
Hansa also stresses the importance of working closely with parents. Their concerns and anxieties, though sometimes challenging, can be transformed into trust through dialogue and partnership. Together, she believes, teachers and parents share the responsibility of raising not just bright learners, but compassionate human beings.
Acknowledging the growing demands of the profession, she admits the workload often extends late into evenings and weekends. Yet, a smile from a student or a simple word of thanks makes it worthwhile. Technology, too, though initially daunting, has become a valuable ally in reducing repetitive tasks and freeing time for deeper connections with her students.
Despite evolving methods, Hansa believes the heart of teaching remains rooted in love. “The real wealth of a teacher is the bond built with children,” she reflects. The cards, laughter, and affection she receives from her students remain her greatest treasures.
As she looks back, she sees teaching not only as a profession but as a calling. Teachers’ Day, to her, symbolises an ongoing journey of growth, challenges, and gratitude. “It reminds me that teaching is not static; it is a process of constant becoming,” she concludes.
