- Being a Teacher - Industrial Finance (and a HAMSTER)

Just before i started to pen down this post, I looked into the dictionary to confirm the meaning of "hamster". You'll know why.

Teaching, be it at any intellectual level, is nothing short of a major challenge. I wonder why society banishes this profession so ruthlessly saying, "Those who're unable to perform in any field, take to teaching."


This stark realisation dawned upon me, not while lecturing the B.E. class 07-08 on Industrial Finance, but while I was sitting with my 4 year old niece, Esha, helping her out with her puzzle game.
The game had two-piece puzzles; on one was a word and on its fit was the picture representing that word. It was all good for about a couple of minutes; Esha picking a pic-piece, and I giving her word pieces to check the fit, trying my best to make her get the idea of word form.
All of a sudden I came upon a word piece that read "Hamster". I do not feel ashamed to admit that I had never come across that word till then. But it made me realise how far away I am from being adept at teaching, for that matter, even a 4 year old.
And the hamster piece was naturally one of the last few puzzles we solved. I recall the "match the column" exercises in which I used this tactic for elements did not know about. Keep solving till you have one remaining in each.

Finally, this is what a hamster turns out to be:



The dictionary says: short-tailed mouselike rodent often kept as a pet.

This petite, cute creature taught me that when it comes to knowing one's world, I'm no bigger than it is; certainly not more noticeable than......... a drop in an OCEAN.
Indeed, the best way to learn, is by being a TEACHER.