January 19, 2023
It seems as though St Aloysius College has always been my second home! From 11th grade all the way through my post-graduation, looks like I had a seat reserved or Pre-destined. Just when I thought the farewell speeches were over, little did I know that I would be extending my stay and embark on whole new two-year adventure pursuing my Bachelors in education (BEd). It feels as though my college and I have an unbreakable bond – a sequel to the typical academic storyline. My friends and relatives took a jibe over it, “Are you collecting degrees or planning to build a dorm there?”. All I could say is, “It’s my master plan for academic immortality”.
Without further delay, let me take you on a journey through my educational pursuits, specifically my Bachelor’s in Education. This intentional choice was fueled by a deep-seated belief in one’s transformation. My initial encounter with the principal was more like, blending formalities with glimpses of shared humor, creating an unexpected ease. This was a mere foundation for my adventurous and treacherous journey at St Aloysius Institute of Education.
Assembly – college’s daily ritual, is actually a unique blend of tranquility and trivia; meanwhile us, trying to find inner peace amidst the chaos of all the impending exams and assignment deadlines. Moreover, adapting the work environment was like learning a new dance- each step uncertain yet filled with potential. “Life is full of surprises and shocks” – so is BEd. But I must say, ‘Every challenge that we face is the opportunity to become more than we’ve been before’.
As the days unfolded, I felt that, the classrooms held the promise of knowledge yet to be discovered, little did I know that beyond the syllabus and general course expectations, a world of profound experiences and unexpected lessons awaited me. Everyday was a new day with new challenges, tasks and leadership. Oh! About the leadership, I was fortunate enough to be the Vice President and then navigated my way to being the Student President of the Students Council. It was more like, Vice President- the one who had a say but not the final says – to the big cheese, the President. I would say that those weren’t just titles but were passports for representing my college, managing events, representing student interest and contribution to the overall development of the college community.
One of the most important phenomena for any B. ED trainee student is crafting lesson plan. For me, lesson plans were an elite function for which I’m the party planner with a detailed introduction to the brief grand finale; which should be thoughtfully arranged and also be ready for unexpected twists, ensuring the learning to be both informative and entertaining. But it’s also true that lesson plans served as the compass guiding both teacher and students through the landscape of knowledge.
Talking about the gazillions of extracurricular activities, I felt like it was a juggle of a dozen of different flavors of ice cream – challenging but undeniably exciting. From the outreach programs that extended our educational reach to festive celebrating the joy of Christmas and the lights of Deepavali to making the significance of important days were a vibrant mosaic of cultural diversity. The college day and sports day unfolded the memories of the school. Each activity was a brushstroke on the canvas of my college life, contributing to the masterpiece that shaped me.
Lastly, I would like to ask you all a question. What do you think is the most important thing for any BEd student? Is it the lesson plan? Or block teaching? Nah! It’s just Eating and Sleeping!
To conclude, I would like to say that, from classrooms to practical experiences, each step reinforced my commitment to the profound impact education has on individuals and society at large. As I am at the last level of my BEd (4th sem), those sleepless nights, hard work, perseverance, dedication, commitment, sacrifice, challenges, stressful yet glad, has made me face any tribulations in life. Be ready for any ‘Change or Adaptability’ because that’s what a teacher stands for as a whole.
AND THAT’S WHAT MY COLLEGE GAVE ME, THEY MADE ME WHO I AM.
“See the change, Make the change and be the change” – TEACHER