Shampa Chakravarty
Activity Co-ordinator
Sunbeam School Lahartara, Varanasi
Shampa is a passionate teacher who loves storytelling and choreography. She has completed her graduation from Banaras Hindu University in English, Ancient History & Culture, and Music. She has a keen interest in drama and theatre.
Shampa finds the process of teaching and sharing knowledge with children extremely exciting as it also allows her to learn from them. She is dedicated and enthusiastic, and always aims to create a fun and engaging learning environment for her students.
One day I woke up and I was confused. Somehow, I realised that I am not the person I always wanted to be. As a teacher, I had always been driven by a deep passion for education and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of my students. I had always prided myself on being dedicated, compassionate and knowledgeable, and I had worked hard to cultivate these qualities throughout my career. But that morning, as I sat up in bed and gazed out the window at the sunrise, I felt a profound sense of confusion and unease. It was as though a fog had descended upon my mind, clouding my thoughts and leaving me feeling lost and disoriented. I tried to shake the feeling off, telling myself that it was just a passing phase, but as the days went on, I found myself struggling more and more. I found it difficult to muster up the enthusiasm and energy that had always fuelled my teaching. I began to doubt whether I was truly making a difference in the lives of my students.
One day, as I sat in my empty classroom after school, I realised that I needed to confront these feelings head-on. I needed to figure out why I was feeling so lost and disconnected, and what I could do to get back on track. And so, I began to reflect on my life and my career, digging deep to uncover the root of my discontent. It wasn't an easy process - I had to confront some painful truths about myself and my choices - but ultimately, it was an incredibly illuminating one.
What I discovered was that, for all my hard work and dedication, I had lost sight of what truly mattered to me as a teacher. I had become so focused on achieving external markers of success - good test scores, glowing evaluations and praise from colleagues - that I had forgotten why I had entered this profession in the first place. I had always wanted to be a teacher because I believed in the power of education to transform lives. I believed that every student deserved to be seen, heard and valued, and that it was my job to help them unlock their full potential. But somewhere along the way, I had lost sight of that mission.
As I sat there in my empty classroom, I realised that it was time to make a change.
I needed to reconnect with my passion for teaching, to rediscover the joy and purpose that had once driven me. And so, I set out to do just that. I began by revisiting my teaching philosophy, thinking deeply about what values and beliefs were most important to me as an educator. I read books, attended conferences, and sought out conversations with other teachers who shared my passion for transformative education. And slowly but surely, I began to feel that fog lifting from my mind.
As I reconnected with my love for teaching, I also began to make changes in my classroom. I stopped worrying so much about test scores and evaluations, and instead focused on creating an environment where my students felt seen, heard and valued. I made a conscious effort to build strong relationships with each of my students, to understand their individual strengths and challenges, and to create opportunities for them to shine. And as I did so, something magical began to happen. I started to see my students thriving in ways I had never imagined possible. They were more engaged, more motivated and more excited about learning. And as they grew, so did I.
Today, looking back on that confusing, disorienting time in my life, I am grateful for the lessons I learned. I realise now that sometimes, it's when we feel the most lost that we have the opportunity to find ourselves again. And as a teacher, that's one of the greatest gifts we can give our students - not just the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, but the inspiration and guidance they need to find their own way in the world.