“Good morning, Ma’am!” – those simple words, echoed by a classroom full of cheerful faces, are enough to brighten the beginning of my day. As I walk through the corridors of DPS Sharjah, I often wonder how many chapters a teacher’s life can hold. Every morning begins with a familiar routine, yet every day writes a different story.
My journey began in India, where the classroom was beautifully simple — a blackboard, a piece of chalk, and a room filled with curious minds. After two years, I moved to the UAE, and my teaching journey travelled with the changing times. The blackboard gave way to the whiteboard; the desktop became a personal laptop; overhead projectors brought pictures and videos to life, and eventually, the Smart Board transformed the classroom into an interactive world of learning.
Then came the unforgettable days of online teaching. Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet became our virtual classrooms. “Camera on, please!” became a familiar refrain, often followed by amusing excuses — “Ma’am, my camera isn’t working!” or “There is a network issue!” Students disappeared behind black screens, occasionally disappearing from class altogether, yet somehow managed to leave behind plenty of laughter and memories.
For the last twenty years, DPS Sharjah has been more than just a workplace; it has been a significant part of my life. I have watched classrooms, technology, and generations of students change, while the joy of teaching has remained constant. The laughter in the corridors, the little conversations in the staff room, celebrating birthdays and special occasions with colleagues, and watching students grow from young learners into confident individuals have made these years truly memorable.
Perhaps the most precious moments in a teacher’s life are not found in certificates, awards, or achievements, but in unexpected encounters. Sometimes, years later, a familiar face appears in the corridor and a voice says, “Ma’am, do you remember me? You taught me when I was in Grade 9.” And suddenly, the years seem to disappear. The student standing before you may now be a doctor, an engineer, a fashion designer, or a successful entrepreneur, carrying dreams that have blossomed into reality.
Seeing the confidence in their eyes and the happiness on their faces fills a teacher’s heart with a quiet, indescribable pride. In that moment, you realise that somewhere along their journey, you were a small part of their story. And perhaps that is the greatest reward of teaching — to watch the little minds you once guided grow into individuals who are shaping the world in their own unique ways.
You may not remember every lesson you taught, but knowing that your words, encouragement, and presence once mattered to them makes every moment of the journey worthwhile.
Looking back, my journey from chalk to clicks, from blackboards to Smart Boards, and from classrooms to virtual spaces feels like a beautiful book, the pages of which are still being written. Teaching has taught me that while technology may change the way we teach, it is the human connection that gives teaching its heart.
And so, another school day begins – with a smile, a lesson, a little laughter, and perhaps a new story waiting to be written.
Twenty years have passed, but the journey continues.
Ms. Amruta Pathrabe Chemistry Department
