“What do you want to be when you grow up?
“I want to be a teacher”, answered Shruti right from the very first time she could articulate her aspirations.
Even at the tender age of 4 or 5, while her friends had their own joys of play, Shruti was drawn to a different kind of wonder. Her home transformed into an enchanting classroom, with a cherished blackboard as her prized possession. She wielded chalk with a grace beyond her years, teaching imaginary students with unwavering enthusiasm. The dream of becoming a teacher was etched deep within her heart.
As time passed, her passion for teaching only intensified. She dedicated countless hours to practicing her teaching skills at home, absorbing every subject with the mindset of a teacher. To Shruti, teaching was not merely a profession; it was her life’s calling. She approached every topic with the dedication of an educator, driven by the unshakable belief that her destiny was to teach.
High school gave her the opportunity to take her first steps towards fulfilling her dream. She offered tuition to her fellow students, providing them with the gift of knowledge and igniting their curiosity. Weekends were spent volunteering at government schools, where she helped prepare underprivileged children for their exams.
While everything seemed smooth and she was getting closer to her dreams, life had different plans for her. Family obligations compelled her to momentarily set aside her dreams, casting her into a void of uncertainty. It was a period of darkness, during which her mental health deteriorated. She fell into a maze of depression and anxiety. She felt her life had no meaning if she wasn’t a teacher. With unwavering determination, she sought psychiatric treatment, emerging stronger than before to not let go of her dream.
After completing her undergrad in the field of management, she decided to do a postgraduate degree in child and adolescent counselling psychology with the belief that she would achieve her dream one day. Meanwhile, she had also completed a professional programme in soft skills training, inching closer to her teaching dream. Yet there was a lingering emptiness within her.
Currently, Shruti is pursuing a postgraduate diploma in education from Birmingham City University, UK, determined to become more than just a teacher—a reflective educator.
She has mentored over a hundred students to date, and she continues to do so, finding boundless happiness in their success. The naysayers who belittle her dream, calling it old-fashioned, do not deter her; they are merely echoes in the distance.
Shruti’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, reminding us that life’s storms may momentarily divert us from our path, but they cannot extinguish the flames of our dreams.
As Shruti eloquently states, “Teaching is not just a profession; it’s a calling, a sacred duty to shape the future, and I am living my dream with every life I touch.”
In the embrace of Shruti’s inspiring journey, we are reminded that it is never too late to pursue our passions, regardless of the challenges we face. Her story underscores the profound impact educators have on shaping the world’s future and the immense satisfaction derived from nurturing young minds towards success.
In a society that sometimes belittles her dreams as old-fashioned, she stands tall, resolute in her pursuit of excellence.
