My Teach for India Institute Journey.

I joined Teach for India because of diverse reasons. For me, our education system was not what it should have been. As I was growing up, I always hated going to school; I would make excuses to avoid going to school. For a long time, I was told that I am lazy, and I will fail miserably. And I believed that.

When I got to know about the vision of Teach for India, I decided I have to be part of this vision cause I don’t want the next generation to suffer the way I did, and I wanted to do whatever small bit I could.

So here I decided to start my Teach for India journey. When I got selected, there was this moment of pride in me, and I knew what my destiny is.

We all were excited about the institute, which was supposed to happen in Pune. But due to the pandemic that hit us, our training occurred virtually. To be very honest, I was quite happy because I am a relatively shy person and I am kind of scared to meet new people. But I didn’t know what I am going to miss out on.

I think all the 2020 fellows and the staff of TFI were uncertain how this journey will turn out. For everyone, it was like the first year of TFI, because the virtual institute was happening for the first time.

Now here I am, after seven weeks of my training, writing as a completely different personality from the first day I started. Indeed this was a life-changing experience for me. And I wish I could relive some of the moments in my institute days.

I remember, Shaheen Mistri, the founder of Teach for India, made this poster of Miss creativity on the first day of the institute. I always thought that I am the least creative person in this entire world, but the TFI institute journey has forced me to get my creative side out. This journey has taught me the power of the limitless mind, and how much capacity our minds have.

On the second day of our institute, we did this Yellow hat activity, which made me believe in infinite possibilities in life. I cannot express how positive I have been after joining Teach for India. The effect that being positive brings in our lives is just so astonishing.

I remember the feeling, when I clicked this picture of me reading my first asynchronous packet while having a cup of coffee, I was so ecstatic and disoriented at the same time because I didn’t know what I am going to explore, but I knew that I am at the right place. This is where I am supposed to be.

And just as I thought that my journey couldn’t get any better, I met my Learning circle. We have laughed together, cried together, reminded each other to drink water, encouraged each other, and been the best support system that I could have ever asked for. Some of them left the journey, but they will always be in our hearts. If someone asks me one thing that I miss the most in the TFI institute, it will be this LC forever.

I remember, when I met my kids for the first time. I wanted to put a great first impression on them, I am sure I was more scared of them than they were of me. And it was so satisfying seeing all those beautiful faces smiling when I told them that I am going to be a part of their lives for the next two years.

Very soon, I started calling my girls, my butterflies, because they will struggle in life but they will bring happiness to the world to and to themselves.

My butterflies surprised me with how much talent they possess, some of them love to paint, some write poems, some are interested in sports. But one thing that I would want my butterflies to be able to do before I leave TFI is, to be proud of their passions, and start believing that anything is possible.

I remember when we talked about “What is Scarcity?” in our LC. I couldn’t sleep that night because I was asked to manage my family with 2000Rs as my monthly income. I was feeling so helpless at the moment and some of our kids feel that way every day of their lives. But on that day I realized that maybe I don’t have control over how my kids live, but I definitely have control over how I make my kids feel. I want them to be loved, to experience unconditional compassion and kindness.

This journey has made me reflect a lot on myself and I believe these self-realizations have helped me a lot to become a better person.

I was a selfish and jealous person, but after coming here, I have experienced kindness and selflessness, two abstract emotions I never thought existed. And it’s the people here who made me see my real self, the traits I never thought I had.

This journey has been full of inspirations, I learned so much from all the fellows not just about teaching but also about life. I took so many classes, and in each class, I could see how I am growing as a person. The feedbacks that were given to us were never negative, it was always encouraging.

In between my training I had my Delhi University exams, I remember my school leader Niketa personally texting me. I mean taking time out of your busy schedule and wishing someone you have never talked to shows how much people’s well-being is important in this organization.

My program manager Harsh requested me to take a leave when my Nanaji expired. I remember he asked me to feel the emotions and not let it hide away behind my work. He asked me to be with my family. It showed me how I am supposed to be with my kids. The values that the people of this organization have makes you believe in humanity.

One of the best days of my institute journey was when one of my butterflies told me that she wants to write articles in newspapers after seeing the articles I wrote for a newspaper in my school days, she said she wants to educate people about how sports are not just for boys but also for girls. Rishita, my butterfly, loves to play volleyball, and this gesture from her actually made me emotional.

And after these seven weeks, I know that I am on the right path, and no matter what my future holds, I am going to cherish these two years of my life. I will learn, grow, inspire, get inspired and be the change that I always wanted to see in the world. ❤