SHERYL PUTHUR, TEACHER

“I always knew that I wanted to teach, but I was petrified.” Meet 27 year old Sheryl Puthur, who has come a long way since that feeling of uncertainty. Now, five years into the profession, she cannot imagine doing anything else! You may be curious to know how Sheryl overcame her fear. So was I. And she was happy to share her story.

Sheryl comes from a family of teachers and always loved the idea of teaching. It was when she was in her second year at college that she and a friend asked her teacher if they could teach a module to one of the undergraduate classes (under her supervision). The teacher was kind enough to agree and this proactive step gave Sheryl the confidence to pursue the career of her choice.

A typical day starts early and ends late, as Sheryl prepares for her classes post official work hours. Teachers are expected to devote their time beyond just teaching – there is administrative work and other aspects of being part of an institution that takes away time from teaching and it can get exhausting. But Sheryl ensures once she enters the classroom she leaves everything behind and is mindful of being completely “present”. for her students  She aptly describes the profession saying, “It’s a dynamic space and it’s almost like a performance – a one-person show where you try to keep this large heterogeneous group engaged with your subject.”

On being asked if it ever gets overwhelming, Sheryl says that emotions vary. “Sometimes the class responds better than you expect and you feel giddy with joy. At other times, it can be an entirely indifferent response and you very obviously feel upset.” On especially tough days, she makes sure she vents her feelings to a fellow teacher and tells herself that, “the next class will be better”.

Sheryl urges that all parents involve themselves more in their children’s lives and give them lots of time. She feels concerned that she has had “too many students, who have, without actively mentioning it, implied that they deal with absentee parents.”

As it is a profession that expects you to be present at all times, Sheryl says it is easy to fall into the trap of giving so much of yourself that you burn. So one needs to find a space where one can, for a while at least, disconnect from it all.  And ending on a practical note, Sheryl says to all those aspiring to be teachers, “Go for it if you are truly passionate about teaching as it is an extremely fulfilling, exciting, intellectually stimulating and utterly demanding profession.”