children
I have always been keen of doing my bit towards the society. Every now and then, I try and associate myself with stuff that give me satisfaction of doing my share of work towards the community.

Lately, I joined the Teach India initiative by Times of India and got to get associated with an NGO that works in the field of primary education. So this time I got a chance to teach.. Wow it sounds so good.. I can now follow my dreams of being part of the teaching fraternity.

I was given a MCD school in a locality near my house. I was all set to turn my dream into a reality. The beforehand instructions were as follows:
Do not expect the school staff to be cooperative.
Students may be filthily dressed.
Don't give students any homework because they will NOT do it.
Do not enter the school premises without the NGO representative. You might be thrown out.
I was all set for my first day in the school with the above set of instructions of learnt by heart. We were told to contact the NGO Representative of our area who would then introduce me to the school, the Principal, the Teachers and offcourse lovely students. Since we could go the school only once a week, I chose Friday to be the D-day.

My first Friday... I just realized after a long formal week, now it is the time for the funky Friday at the office so no formals.. time to wear jeans and skirts and dazzling tops and cool t-shirts... I chose to wear jeans with a white hanky-panky shirt... When it was time to go to school, i was uneasy... Boy's school.. government school... conservative teachers.. and me dressed like this.. tough decision.. I thought -- Go Ahead Shelly.. this time go ahead.. we will see next week.

Okay.. 10'O clock was the time to reach the school where I was to meet the NGO Representative. and it all happened that i waited for 25 min before coming face to face with her. I was tired.. both physically and mentally. It was 10:25 and i was almost about to move as I had to catch my office bus at 11:15. Just then that female came and I dropped the idea the leaving. I went inside the school with her. For the first time over in my life I had been to a government school and that too a boys' school. I was surprised to see children all over the playground as if a bee hive has just been hit by a bullet. I was wondering how come I would be able to teach here. Cool.. I met the Principal. His room was just a like a community park. Teachers, Parents and students all could be found at one time. Anyways I was introduced to the Principal and to the other NGO Teachers. Since I did want to go the school on a Friday, I finalised Thursday as my visiting day to the school as a NGO Volunteer.

My First Thursday... This time the school seemed much organised and better. Then I understood that it must have been the lunch time when i came last time. I met the Pratham teacher and she asked me to teach hindi to some weak students of class III and IV. It was such fun to teach them. Some of them were extraordinary good. Though most of them were not fit to be in the class in which they were in but this is why I was there to make them fir in the class that suits there age.

I am very hopeful that my experience with them would teach me things and help me become a better person in life.