“I want to be a teacher when I grow up!!!”

With this dream my story starts in a Mumbai suburb, Ulhasnagar. I grew up in a small town in a big joint family where I cultured the significance of Values and Tradition. Being the youngest and mischievous child of the family I was more inclined to amusing stuffs like cycling, gully cricket and other outdoor activities and eventually I developed leadership, accountability, self-reliance and watching out for family and neighbours. I am a hard worker but I don’t mind to have fun, after all life is too short not to enjoy it.

I earned my Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Mumbai in year 2000, got married in year 2001 and became mother in 2002. Family and Motherhood made me completely forget my childhood dream of becoming a teacher until I realised that starting all over again is not that bad, because when you restart you get another chance to make things right.

I restarted and completed my Masters in Commerce (Advanced Accountancy) in year 2006. Each day I amused fantasies about what it would be like standing in front my own classroom, how would I present myself, perhaps even how would I introduce myself that memorable first day, till that big day came in June 2008 when I started my journey as an Assistant Professor.

A teacher’s journey is remarkably adventurous as every year I encounter new students and become a part of their lives. I witness their joys and sorrows, watch as they learn, grow, and mature, as well as when they make mistakes, and fail. I believe Students aren’t the only ones learning in the classroom; one of the gifts of teaching is that I am privileged to learn almost as much as my students.

Life as a teacher begins the day you realize that you are always a learner. It’s been 16 years in this voyage but the drive of learning hasn’t stopped and made me add numerous professional qualifications like PhD (Commerce), MAH SET, UGC NET and MBA (Finance). Teaching and Research go hand in hand, it is said that the best research will give the best teaching and best teaching will give the best research. As I associated with Vidyalankar School of Information Technology in June 2014 the researcher within me awaken as a result I authored 13 National and International research papers which were published in indexed/ listed journals. In December 2019, I completed by PhD (Commerce). I am still enjoying the successful completion of my PhD, I am renewing and refocusing.

Vidyalankar has given me opportunity to unearth an administrator within me. As an administrator I am coordinator of Internal Quality Assurance Cell and Head of Management Department. It is certainly a great feeling to reach that point where I know what I’m doing. I have established a reputation that I’m proud of, that I’ve worked hard to develop. I’ve got plenty of friends in the college, I prefer to spend time with my colleagues because we have so much in common and share so many of the same experiences. What is most interesting is now how some of the new teachers are seeking me out for advice, just like I was doing just a few years ago. I am by no means an expert, but I do feel like I’m pretty good at what I do. I think what I enjoy most after all these years is how my college has become a second home. My colleagues and students are extended family to me.

I think most of all, the students teach me so much; They keep me young, energetic and full of life!!!

I plan to keep teaching until I fall over…