Teacher talk: Students taught me to let my hair down

Before I went on a maternity break, till last year, I was teaching students in the post-graduate courses for Mass Media at two of Mumbai's reputed colleges. Even as the experience was overall enjoyable and stimulating for me, I learnt some valuable lessons from students, and let me tell you that this generation is a bunch of happy contradictions.

They can easily balance between completing a project on deadline and then partying the night out, only to return to class eagerly the next day. They are as comfortable in capris and tube-tops as they are in ethnic wear while attending pujas and festivals. I marvel at this ease, and I have sought to emulate it in my life. Once a workaholic myself, they taught me to let my hair down sometimes; to not beat myself up for refusing an assignment; and most importantly, to say a polite but firm 'no' where required.

They also taught me that it is very easy to maintain friendships in this hectic world – not just through technology but by prioritising one's work to make space for attending a friend's wedding even if it means taking an unpaid leave from office and hopping into an aircraft for it. Another thing that I would say I respect these youngsters for, is their insatiable curiosity and the determination to get all their questions answered, come what may.

Their relentless pursuit of information came as a pleasant surprise to me because one always hears the present generation being accused of being quite superficial and not too curious about different aspects of life. I was thrilled to discover that this accusation is wrong; and that, these youngsters are in fact very goal-oriented and determined to get the information they want.

It served as a lesson for me in the sense that, often at a certain stage of success in our careers, we tend to get complacent. But my students' attitude has taught me to never let complacency get the better of me, for, once the curiosity and thirst for knowledge ends, a person becomes stagnant and hollow. Another aspect that I am thankful to my students for, if for being my guiding light and a sounding board for many of my ideas – offering practical sane advice from a youngster's perspective.

After-class sessions would often include discussions about what I was writing/covering and my students would eagerly participate in the discussion to give me a fresh perspective or an altogether different take on the subjects, thus enriching my work a lot. Lastly, my students have inspired me to follow my heart in many matters because this generation believes in living a full life on its own terms.

They gave me the strength to change tracks into translation; they fully supported me when I decided to get married to an Army officer leaving my thriving career behind; and they still cheer me on as I take baby-steps back into journalism after having a child. Thank you students, for making my teaching stint such a wonderful learning experience."

Worked as a Visiting Faculty for Mass Media courses at MET (Bandra) and Welingkar, We-School (Matunga)