A mail that made me sit and think

Today, I received a mail from Ayush Kandhway, a student of 2012 Batch. It is overwhelming to read his letter and at the same time encourages me to reflect on the student-teacher relationship. Teachers often fail to acknowledge:-

1. How much difference they can make in the life of students? 2. How much value students attach to each word, action and contribution of teachers? 3. How a teacher’s action shapes the life of the children?

Ayush’s letter quoted below has several takeaways for a teacher. Most importantly those related to values, attitude and gratitude.

"Three years back I graduated out of the mansion which has trained me for ten long years for my upcoming life. My name is Ayush Kandhway and I am a pass out of 2012 science batch. Currently, I am in my final year and will graduate out of the SRM University in less than a year.

It pumps me with pride and joy to inform you that I have been placed with a US-based business analysis firm, Mu-Sigma which caters to 140 of 500 fortune companies. I have been assigned the role of a trainee decision scientist and my next abode will be the silicon valley of India, Bangalore.

Once in the morning assembly, you said ' Companies these days hire attitude and not knowledge'. I must say you were not wrong. There are two reasons why I have been recruited amongst 50 people out of 3000 candidates. First of all, I proved them I am workaholic and that was substantiated by the automobile team I am working for in my college.

The second reason is the kind of verbal skills and persona I carry. This attitude was inculcated in me by no one but my school. I wish to thank you especially, for all you have done during my school days, including scolding me at times to stream me on the right circuit. I will make sure I pay a visit to school whenever I visit Delhi. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR!".