“This is it” I told myself, “It’s time to take the leap of faith!” The consequences did not matter. All that mattered was that inner voice that desperately wanted me to take the plunge…and so I did. Suddenly, just like that, I resigned from my extremely promising corporate job and decided to pursue my passion– teaching.
The days leading up to the decision weren’t easy. There was this constant inner struggle that kept throwing conflicting ideas to the brain. One voice said, “Tejas, you’ve got a job that many would envy. You’ve been great at it. The company needs you and you cannot possibly leave at this stage. Don’t quit now! Your life is so well set. Why on earth would you want to struggle from scratch again? Leave the teaching for retirement!” However, there was another, much more vociferous din that kept me agonised. “How can you possibly continue when your mind isn’t in it? Remember, you have always been passionate about teaching. This may very well be your mission in life. And there’s nothing to feel bad about! Worst case, you don’t make it big. But you will at least go to bed with the satisfaction that you’ve helped improve someone’s life. And if you put your mind to it, I’m sure things will work out just fine. Sometimes, all it takes is a little courage. Just do it!”
I did what my heart told me to do. And I’ve been doing it ever since. It’s been more than three years now, and there’s no doubt that these have been some of the most memorable years of my life.
The rest, as they say, is history. I did what my heart told me to do. And I’ve been doing it ever since. It’s been more than three years now, and there’s no doubt that these have been some of the most memorable years of my life. The path hasn’t been an easy one. I’ve faced plenty of challenges, fallen flat on my face a few times, slogged tirelessly to improve my knowledge and strived hard to become a better teacher with every passing day. But, at the end of the day, it feels great to be doing what I love.
I remain a believer in the notion that the day a person stops learning is the day he/she stops living. Every day, I learn from my students. While it may surprise many, students actually have a wonderful knack of frequently sending a teacher back to the drawing board. The kind of questions they ask are so fundamental that it often challenges the very paradigm of knowledge. I’ve learnt many new things while hunting for answers to their questions. Their impatience in class has taught me to be patient. Their faith in my judgement has always pushed me to work that extra bit to make them feel comfortable with concepts. It’s indeed been a steep learning curve.
While it may surprise many, students actually have a wonderful knack of frequently sending a teacher back to the drawing board.
Unfortunately, even today, I face a lot of questions regarding my decision. Most people still sneer when they ask me why I let go of my personal growth and corporate glory. I’ve always told them just one thing – by being a teacher, I can mentor and guide several thousand students in their pursuit of growth and glory. That, to me, is a worthier choice. Sometimes, it is necessary to look beyond the obvious and strive for a better cause. Teaching allows me to do that. If there’s one thing that my alma mater has taught me, it is “Gyaanam paramam dhyeyam.”
We all have our ‘Eureka’ moments in life that help us understand what we feel strongly about. I am fortunate that mine happened fairly early in life. I am even more fortunate to have been in a position that allowed me to take the plunge. And the journey thus far has been immensely satisfying. I live my passion every single day. And I’d rather not have it any other way!
