Before Teacher's Day, educators share the life lessons taught by their mentors

Rachna Narwekarr

It is a delightful coincidence that the life lesson Dr Marie Fernandes, principal of St Andrew's College chose to share happens to be the same statement she made in her very first class with her English Literature students nearly a decade ago. This writer was seated in that class and held on to the thought ever since. Dr Fernandes said, "Literature is life." Dealing with multiple plot lines and studying different characters, she noted, helps us gain various perspectives needed for life; everything about life, you will find in literature. Here are the lessons that Dr Fernandes and other educators shared with us.

Opportunities everywhere

Rachna Narwekarr, early years educator, curriculum expert and coach for LD (Learning Difficulties)
It is believed that a teacher can make you love or hate the subject they teach. I have been fortunate to have had mentors and teachers who made me love the journey of learning.

Life is full of opportunities; [to make the most of this learning] my mentors taught me to work hard, be respectful towards everyone, and be a confident person who is not afraid of making mistakes, but has the courage to accept and learn from them.

Another lesson picked up from my mentors is that if you want to achieve something, you must work hard. Who better to showcase this than a teacher who works tirelessly to ensure that their students have the proper foundation for a bright future?

Turn to a book

Marie Fernandes, principal of St Andrew's College, Bandra
I would like to focus on my teachers in college, particularly my literature teachers since literature is life. Topics they discussed in class, the books they analysed, and the poems they interpreted, helped us, as students get a glimpse of life and prepared us to face the world. Such insight and the different literary criticisms that we studied opened our minds to different branches of learning and to the world as it was. Similarly, another lesson comes from the Roman poet Horace, from a line in Odes that reads ‘carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero' [which can be translated to ‘seize the day, with the least trust on the next day'].

Learning over loss

Toral Shah and her father

Toral Shah, creative producer, QTP theatre & arts management company
When my father Viren Shah, who was a director at a company, saw me crying after a drawing exam at school because I thought I had not done too well, he told me that the only reason to cry or regret is if I had not tried my best or learned anything from the experience. Have no regrets. He taught me that every experience can teach you something; look for these learnings instead of looking at what you lost. Acknowledging this has held me in good stead all
these years.

Don't stop believing

Rohini Basu, choral conductor and music educator, Mehli Mehta Music Foundation
I started learning music at the age of five. With music, my teacher also taught me to always believe in myself even when times seem a little tough. It is a lesson that has stayed with me and I try to pass it on to my students now. He would say that when it feels like you won't be able to get back up after a fall, it is simply not true. You have to have faith that you can do it and feel it within you to achieve. And though it may seem impossible at times, if you believe in [the task, dream and yourself] enough, it does come true. It is easier and better to have faith in yourself because no matter what, you will get back up, dust yourself off and rise again. I hope younger generations have someone in their lives who can teach this.

Lessons from family

Anita Yewale, educator, VP, Maritime Mumbai Museum Society and ex-com member, INTACH, Greater Mumbai Chapter
I have consciously followed the virtues my father, Justice BV Chavan, who was a High Court judge, upheld such as patience, honesty, kindness, generosity, humility, and integrity. He taught me to listen, and be self-reliant, dependable and fair. Being exposed to all forms of art since my childhood and given the freedom to express myself have flowered into my love for arts and culture, and helped me develop a sense of responsibility in my decisions. The most important lesson he taught me was to be content and to not chase materialistic possessions. I continue gathering lessons from my family - my mother, husband, daughters and friends.

Do it well

Natasha Noel, fitness influencer and yoga instructor
One of the biggest lessons I have received is from my mother who is a teacher, and my first teacher, is that you can be whatever you want, but make sure you are the best at it. She said, "Natasha, you might not be the smartest in the room but you can always be the most hardworking and do your best." This has stuck with me throughout my life because I always felt I was "less" - less capable or less smart. But that doesn't mean you can't work on it, or anything you feel insecure about, to eventually get better at it. Don't give yourself the excuse or live in denial that you are not capable. You are! You just have to put in the work and you will yield the results.