Don't be sad it's over...

 Dear Rahat miss

There was once a time during our school days when the position of computer teacher was like a rotating trophy.

Every year a new teacher sprung about to teach us the subject only to never be seen again next year. We never built any connection with the teachers and in turn, with the subject. The cycle seemed to never end. That was until you arrived.

At first I assumed that you too, would merely be another teacher, swept away the next year, never to grace our sights again.

Five years since, I now stare at the ceiling at the thought of your departure.

With your presence gracing the school premises for so long, I never really thought I would see this day before my school days came to an end. But here we are.

All that remain of the vivacious computer periods are the memories and antics you let us get away with. But beyond all this I can confidently say that you have impacted my life in a myriad more ways than one. Maam, you  are not just a wonderful teacher but you are an even better person, and I'm here to tell you why.

One thing I find admirable about you is that you genuinely care about the students.. You are quite the anomaly in a world where teachers only read from the book and offer little to nothing to keep us interested in the subject. No matter what antics the student engages in, you should not waste time yelling at them or degrading them. Instead, all you need to do is get them seated and return to the subject. You convert students, often wary of the subject in to proficient programmers with incredible ease- something i myself have seen over my time under your tutelage

But with your discerning and almost motherly patience, there is also a facet of your personality that has always set you apart from the rest of the teachers I have had- your frankness.  You have always  opened up to us on so many fronts, in a time where teachers are barely able to finish the curriculum. I know about your  adulation with BTS, the fact that they are still teaching us java despite python being objectively the simpler and more widespread coding language, the fact that you wish us happy birthday on your instagram account  and the list goes on. Apart from being a mentor, teacher and guide- you are also something great teachers can only dream of being- a friend. 

But one thing I will always be ever thankful to you for, is your unbridled faith in me. 

I have always struggled to believe in myself. Often I feel like most of my achievements amount to nothing, and while I can fake pride or joy, hearing a “congratulations”  or a “good job” on my victories, makes my chest swell up tenfold. You are the ultimate hype person for me, and seeing you believe in me more than I have ever believed in myself, is something that will always stay with me. You are one of the individuals who truly make me believe I can make something of my life, and when I do,  rest assured you were the catalyst that brought that change within me.

Winnie the pooh says “don’t be sad it's over, be happy it happened”. While Winnie is cute, he is wrong. While I will cherish our memories together, the loss of a teacher- rather a friend- like you is sure to leave an ache in my heart. I will miss you multifold ma’am.

I hope life treats you just as well as you have treated all of us.

Thank you ma’am

Sidharth