Some times destiny stores something different you anticipate
The path I choose that I never thought I would do it .
I left my house without a second thought and approached the school’s gate. My heart raced as I tried to muster the words to speak to the lady in front of me. The weight of my brother’s passing and the recent loss of my father weighed heavily on me. I felt suffocated by grief, and the sight of my 45-year-old widowed mother, my 9-year-old brother , my young widowed sister-in-law, my 11 months old nephew, and the unsettled property disputes added to the burden. Amidst all these demands, my mother was handling everything while still worrying about my well-being. Before my father’s passing, we had purchased a house with two separate portions. We resided in one, while my parents occupied the other after we relocated from Punjab in the 1980s.
The lady behind the desk invited me into her office, and with a deep breath, I inquired about the availability of a volunteer position. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I struggled to control my emotions. She kindly listened to my story and suggested that I return at the beginning of the next month.
Upon returning home, I announced to my family that I’d be commencing my volunteer work the following month. Given my mental health concerns, my family wholeheartedly endorsed my decision. The issue of who would care for my two-year-old daughter during my absence arose, and once again, my mother stepped in to provide a solution.
I was assigned to observe a class at a private preschool, despite holding a master’s degree without formal teaching education. This particular school only required a bachelor’s degree, not certification. I began assisting a young teacher who had graduated from a prestigious teacher training institute and was full of creative ideas to engage 3 to 4-year-old students. I felt a strong connection with her and became eager to find opportunities to learn and expand my knowledge in the field.
Impressed by my performance, the principal decided to expand and open a new class section, and I was hired for my first teaching position in the preschool.
That marked my initial foray into teaching my very own class. It was the beginning of my quest to understand pedagogy. In the school, there was a student with special needs, and it seemed no other teacher was willing to accommodate him. So, I took the initiative to welcome this student into my class, driven by the question of why students learn differently. This event sparked my determination to explore the world of education further. I embarked on a journey of distance education, enrolling in an education degree program, which, even now, continues to shape my path, spanning over three decades.
