Be careful of your words and your actions,

You never know who might be watching you and taking inspiration

Be careful of your words and your actions,

You never know who might be watching you, and taking inspiration.

My sister and I started working at 18, giving home tuition to a few children in our locality.

After a full day at engineering school I would return home to give tuition in the evening for two hours, and sometimes, if they stayed late to complete their homework, they would watch me study and do my homework along with them. My sister would have her own students, and during my semester exams she would tutor my students as well.

On a visit to Los Angeles, I stayed with the family of two of my students, Harin and Keyur. Both brothers. Both successful dentists with their own practice. I stayed with them for a weekend, and they were excellent hosts.

At the dinner table in the evening, their father thanked me for teaching the boys, and being their role model.

When I replied that they were both always good boys, and were always bright, he said, “Both my sons were mischievous, and not focussed on their studies when we moved from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. You made a real difference.”

The boys didn’t speak any English then, and their father had enrolled them to study with me.

One day, Harin went home after tuition and remarked to his father, “If Rajubhai (that’s how they addressed me) can attend engineering college the whole day, and then come home and give tuition, and after tuition do his studies too, I should, also, study well, and become like him.”

I learnt of this many years after I had taught these boys. It was then I realised how often we are unaware of the impact we have on others. What aspect of our personality, our efforts, our work ethics they are observing, making notes, and taking inspiration from.

We become role models without even realising the influence our words and actions can have on young minds.

This has always played at the back of my mind through the years:

* when I first entered the profession full-time in 2002,

* when I took the first teacher training program at Rustomjee,

* when I led the first MBA at S P Jain School of Management in Dubai in 2004.

* and it has been so every time I have entered a class over the years.

I made this my guiding philosophy when I became a full-time educator.

I didn’t want to just be a teacher. My goal was

* To inspire,

* To challenge,

* To reinvent,

* To innovate,

* To never give up.

And as I complete 20 years as a teacher, here’s a reflection on the years,

Life as a teacher has never been boring,

Some days are sunshine,

Some days are rain.

Some days I laugh with them,

Some days I discipline them.

Some days I answer their questions,

Some days I question their answers.

Some days I help them find their belongings,

And Some days I help them find themselves.

These “Some days” have been my life,

And someday I will relive these memories, and smile.

Happy Teachers Day, everyone.

Remember, the difference between Ordinary and Extraordinary is that little “extra”

Dr Hanif Kanjer

Founder Director, Rustomjee Cambridge International School & Junior College

Be careful of your words and your actions, You never know who might be… | Dr Hanif Kanjer | 34 commentsBe careful of your words and your actions, You never know who might be watching you, and taking inspiration. My sister and I started working at 18, giving home tuition to a few children in our locality. After a full day at engineering school I would return home to give tuition in the evening for two hours, and sometimes, if they stayed late to complete their homework, they would watch me study and do my homework along with them. My sister would have her own students, and during my semester exams she would tutor my students as well. On a visit to Los Angeles, I stayed with the family of two of my students, Harin and Keyur. Both brothers. Both successful dentists with their own practice. I stayed with them for a weekend, and they were excellent hosts. At the dinner table in the evening, their father thanked me for teaching the boys, and being their role model. When I replied that they were both always good boys, and were always bright, he said, “Both my sons were mischievous, and not focussed on their studies when we moved from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. You made a real difference.” The boys didn’t speak any English then, and their father had enrolled them to study with me. One day, Harin went home after tuition and remarked to his father, “If Rajubhai (that’s how they addressed me) can attend engineering college the whole day, and then come home and give tuition, and after tuition do his studies too, I should, also, study well, and become like him.” I learnt of this many years after I had taught these boys. It was then I realised how often we are unaware of the impact we have on others. What aspect of our personality, our efforts, our work ethics they are observing, making notes, and taking inspiration from. We become role models without even realising the influence our words and actions can have on young minds. This has always played at the back of my mind through the years: * when I first entered the profession full-time in 2002, * when I took the first teacher training program at Rustomjee, * when I led the first MBA at S P Jain School of Management in Dubai in 2004. * and it has been so every time I have entered a class over the years. I made this my guiding philosophy when I became a full-time educator. I didn’t want to just be a teacher. My goal was * To inspire, * To challenge, * To reinvent, * To innovate, * To never give up. And as I complete 20 years as a teacher, here’s a reflection on the years, Life as a teacher has never been boring, Some days are sunshine, Some days are rain. Some days I laugh with them, Some days I discipline them. Some days I answer their questions, Some days I question their answers. Some days I help them find their belongings, And Some days I help them find themselves. These “Some days” have been my life, And someday I will relive these memories, and smile. Happy Teachers Day, everyone. Remember, the difference between Ordinary and Extraordinary is that little “extra” | 34 comments on LinkedIn