How One Sentence From My Teacher Changed My Life
Picture this: the year is 1998, and there I am, sitting in the last row of my B.A. English class, trying to blend into the background. It was the first month of the course. Every one of us was new to the college and the teachers.
But today, the air is thick with anticipation and a fair bit of dread as Dr. Dhanya Menon, our teacher, begins handing back our first internal exam papers. This was the first test and we were all panicked.
I knew that at any moment my name would be called. That would expose my poor English to my classmates. Since I was a loner nobody knew anything about it up to then.
Getting shamed in front of seventeen girls was the last thing I wanted then. The classroom feels like a stage, and not in a good way.
“Pradeep,” my teacher called, and oh, how my heart raced. Walking up to collect my paper felt like the longest walk of my life. I was bracing myself for the worst. “Here comes the humiliation,” I thought. “She’s going to say I’m a disgrace to the course.”
Standing in front of her, I could feel the eyes of my seventeen classmates on me, a mix of curiosity and sympathy in their gaze. Dr. Menon unfolds my answer sheet, and I’m preparing to shrink into nothingness. But then, out of nowhere, she throws me a lifeline.
“You have written nothing,” she starts, a pause that feels like an eternity, and then, “but you have good handwriting!” Wait, what? Did I hear that right?
Let’s pause here for a moment. Can you believe it? After years of never hearing anything positive about my academic efforts, this one compliment about my handwriting from Dr. Menon felt like a ray of sunshine piercing through dark clouds.
It wasn’t just a comment; it was a lifeline, a beacon of hope.
This story isn’t just about a compliment; it’s about the power of positive feedback, the kind that grabs you by the shoulders and says, “Hey, there’s something good here. Let’s build on it.” That’s exactly what happened to me. That single line of encouragement was the nudge I needed to start believing in myself. It propelled me on a journey I never thought possible, leading me to become an Assistant Professor of English in Govt. Service.
Now, let’s fast forward to a sad note in 2021, during the first COVID lockdown. The world lost a remarkable soul — Dr. Menon passed away due to a cardiac arrest. Her absence left a void in the hearts of many, including mine. But the lessons she taught me, both in and out of the classroom, live on.
She had this favourite quote from Brian Tracy,
“It doesn’t matter where we come from, but what matters is where we are going.”
And I carry those words with me every day.
In her honour, I strive to find positive values in my students, believe in people, remain non-judgmental, and do my best as an educator. It’s my way of keeping her legacy alive, of passing on the kindness she showed me.
So, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Dhanya Menon.
For that unexpected compliment, for believing in me, and for teaching me that it’s not just about where we start but where we’re going.
To everyone reading this, I encourage you to share your stories too.
Who was that ‘woman’ who changed your life for the better?
Let’s fill this space with gratitude and stories of transformation.
Happy Women’s Day, everyone!
Here’s to the remarkable women who inspire us to be better, do better, and dream bigger.
Thank you for reading.
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