"That day, I realised it isn't only in the classroom that we learn, and it isn't only the 'Teacher' who
teaches."
It was a usual day at work. The storm, the chaos, always comes to a standstill after the clock strikes 3
PM. The students had left for their homes, and I decided to complete grading some assignments. I
entered my classroom, and so silent was it that the whirring sound of the AC could be heard.
I decided to make the best use of the "peace time "I had: Paper corrections!
No sooner had I started the correction than I was buried under the pile of papers. So lost was I in the
paper corrections that I did not hear "Akka", one of the helping staff, entering my classroom to do the
usual cleaning. I was only brought back to the world outside the paper when I heard a phone ringing.
I looked up. The desks had been neatly arranged. The floor was spotlessly swept and mopped. I realised
it was Akka's phone. I got back into work. In the background, I could hear Akka murmuring in Tamil,
which was not enough to distract me from the pile of worksheets that I had to correct.
No sooner had I gotten back to my world than I was distracted by another sound. It sounded as if
someone was gasping for breath. I quickly took my eyes off the papers.
There was Akka. She was struggling to contain the emotions she had been bottling up within herself. She
was battling not to let me see her sob. When I looked at her, she quickly turned her face the other way.
Out of concern, I called," Akka!"
She looked at me as if a thief had been caught in the act.
Her facial expression bore a tinge of defeat: she had been caught sobbing.
Out of concern, I stood up from my chair and asked," Akka, you okay?"
She then composed herself like a soldier preparing for the final combat.
She quickly wiped the tears in her eyes, then turned around, looked at me and smiled. With the blink of
her eyes, she signalled that she was okay.
Before I could utter the next word, she did the last thing she was supposed to do. Sprayed some Colin
on the board and wiped it clean.
She walked out of the classroom without a word. She strode as if nothing had happened.
I was left stunned. I could not understand what happened, but that day….
That day, Akka became a symbol of strength and resilience.
That day, Akka taught me that nothing can be more powerful than the will to go on.
That day, Akka became my teacher.