A teacher’s greatest reward is not in the marks her students score, but in the lives they build.”
I am a Mathematics teacher who taught teenage boys of Grade 9. After one of our Class tests, when I handed back the corrected answer sheets, a boy came to me requesting an increase in his marks. In fact, I had intentionally reduced his mark, and was determined not to give way, so that he would not repeat the same error again. But seeing tears in his eyes – and keeping in mind the ego and self-esteem of that young boy – I called him aside for a one-to-one conversation.
I told him gently, “Look dear, I deducted your mark because this small deduction can make a big difference to you; it can help you learn the correct way and improve. Do you still want me to increase your mark?” “No ma’am, I understood my mistake,” he said. With that I wrote a comment on his answer sheet and gave it back. I wanted him to understand the importance of honesty and sincere effort.
Years later, while I was sitting in the staffroom, a young man with bright, confident eyes approached me and said, “Ma’am, do you remember me? I’m Rohan.” He then narrated the whole incident and added, “Ma’am, I’m a doctor now in Kerala, and I still have that answer sheet where you wrote that note to me.”
That moment filled me with immense gratitude. I silently thanked God for blessing me with this beautiful profession — one where I can touch, mould, and impact young lives in meaningful ways. Teaching, I realized once again, is my little contribution to making this world a better place.
REENA BHANDARI
HOD MATHEMATICS
