The goodness of being good!!

This year Class 12 Board results were declared all of a sudden…We were in school and there was a surge of excitement in the air. Some of my colleagues started calling their friends n relatives to know the results of their near and dear ones!

And I, on the other hand, got 4 missed calls from a student…noticed them when I picked my phone just before the dispersal of students. I was intrigued and somehow called him back immediately. The words he spoke are etched in my mind for eternity, “Ma’am I have secured an unbelievable 84% in boards and the credit goes to you!”

Yes, I teach students from only the primary wing and I do not take any tuition, so how was I instrumental in the result of a class 12 student? Well, this young adult was with me when he was a naughty little boy in class 3. I was his class teacher then and probably taught him Maths till class 5. Yes, he was one of my favourite students. Later, we stayed connected through ‘fb’ and met once in a while in school.

Around mid-Feb this year, by a matter of chance or you might say destiny, I came to know that he was barely passing in his pre-boards and that he had lost interest in academics. I was shocked to hear this because I knew him to be a child who was above average in studies. I decided to talk to him and help him whatever way I could.

We barely had 40 odd days to prepare and perform well in exams. I spoke to him and his parents. I understood his mental blocks and got down to work immediately. I insisted that he made his own work schedules, did written practice and talked it out whatever was stopping him from giving in his best. Very reluctantly he started with written revisions and started posting his notes in my whatsapp window, sometimes into the wee hours. And later, for a few days he broke every promise and didn’t write or report at all. I stepped back but always kept him in my prayers and gave him the power to decide about the course of action to be taken in future. Surprisingly, he always chose to work under my guidance. Maybe the reason was that I had not given up on him and had faith in his potential.

The days flew away in a jiffy. With the efforts that I saw him putting in, I was confident that he would easily clear his boards. The exams were over and I got busy with my life and a new session in school.

I almost forgot about him…and then one fine day those 4 missed calls…84% and the acknowledgement that I made the difference…it has given me a high and boosted my morale! I celebrated the occasion and why not…this event has helped to reinstate my faith that a good deed done is never lost!!