The Teachers Who Made Me the Teacher I Am
- Umme Salmaa Bharmal
- Sep 6
- 2 min read
Umme Salmaa Bharmal
Contact me at: 9920492453
Today (5th September) is Teacher’s Day in India.
Children come with handmade cards, chocolates tucked into tiny hands, and so much sweetness spilling everywhere.
It always makes me pause and think—not just about teaching, but about teachers themselves.
When I look back, I realize something:
I am the teacher I am today, not only because of the good teachers I had, but also because of the bad ones.
The Principal Who Took Us Outdoors
One of my most beautiful memories from school is of our principal.
He believed that learning wasn’t confined to four walls.
He took us on trips to farms, walks by the river, even to sleep under the stars on hay. Once, we even cycled in heavy rain.
I was in 7th or 8th grade back then, and I still remember the excitement—packing our bags quickly and showing up because
“Sir said so.”
Parents didn’t question, classmates didn’t hesitate, we just went. And those experiences gave me confidence that no classroom lecture could.
The Teachers Who Pulled Me Down
But not all memories are sweet.
Some teachers made me feel small.
When Sanskrit was introduced, I struggled.
I tried hard, but my marks never reflected the effort.
Instead of encouragement, I was labelled average.
Sports weren’t much better—I wasn’t great at basketball, but I loved running.
Still, it didn’t count.
Favoritism was everywhere.
A few students were uplifted, while the rest of us quietly sank.
I was body-shamed too, though back then we didn’t even have a word for it.
Sarcasm cut deep, and some of those marks still remain with me,
even now at 39.
The Teacher Who Changed My Perspective
Ironically, my respect for teachers came much later—when my daughter was just two years old.
At her daycare, I watched her teachers closely.
They remembered the little things, responded with warmth, and treated every child as precious.
Watching them was an aha moment for me.
I realized the power of a teacher is not just in teaching, but in shaping how a child feels about themselves.
The Teacher I Choose to Be
So here I am today—a teacher myself.
And every day, I make a conscious choice:
💛 To be kind.
💛 To never belittle.
💛 To celebrate uniqueness.
💛 To understand that not every child learns in straight lines.
When my students—especially the teenagers—respond with joy, curiosity, or even trust, I feel an incredible sense of purpose.
It tells me I’m making the right kind of mark.
This Teacher’s Day
So yes, today is Teacher’s Day.
But for me, it’s not just about being celebrated as a teacher—it’s about honoring all the teachers who shaped me.
The one who gave me the courage to explore.
The ones who pulled me down (and unknowingly taught me what not to do).
And the ones—like my daughter’s daycare teachers—who showed me how kindness can change everything.
Because of them, I stand here as a teacher who just wants to brighten a child’s day / anyone’s days spark their creativity, and maybe give them the confidence to believe in themselves.
And if I can do that—even for one child / one person- I’ll call it a Teacher’s Day well spent.
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