My educational background...

On completing my elementary school education, I was selected to attend middle school in the prestigious Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in Andhra Pradesh, which is a system of central schools for gifted students predominantly from rural areas in India. While I was there, I was selected to attend high school in a linked JNV school in Chhattisgarh. This was part of an external migration scheme instituted at JNV to promote national integration through exposure to different languages, culture, and traditions. I attended pre-university on a merit scholarship from a corporate sponsor and ultimately graduated from SRKR Engineering College in Andhra Pradesh with a B. Tech in Electronics and Communication.

My teaching experience...

While I was an undergraduate student, I developed a keen interest in teaching. During my first teaching job as a lecturer, I was recognized as best lecturer in the very first year based on student feedback. Since I had chosen teaching as my career, I needed to continue my education and enrolled in an M. Tech program at Bapatla Engineering College. At that time there was a surge of new engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh, and I had the desire to play a role in the formative stages of a new college. With that intention, I joined ASN Womens’ Engineering College in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh and rose to become the head of the Electronics and Communications department. During nine and half years there, I enrolled in Ph.D. program at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. Currently, I am an assistant professor at Bapatla Engineering College. In addition to teaching and pursuing my doctorate degree, I am involved in programs that promote innovation and entrepreneurship in colleges like Smart India Hackathon and Institutions Innovation Council.

My approach to teaching...

I start each class with a puzzle or a general question. While the students work on it, I take attendance. After which I ask them for the solution. The idea is to keep them thinking and engaged. The puzzles are challenging but not too difficult so most students can get it with some effort.

I try to connect theoretical concepts with practical applications. I share lecture materials I prepare with the students, and then discuss in classroom. I also provide external sources and references for additional information. I ask them questions and encourage discussions to keep the class as interactive as possible.

My message to graduating students...

I believe learning is a life-long process. I would encourage them to develop a habit of self-learning, so they continue the process even after they leave college. I would encourage them to strive for a high work ethic so they can contribute more and achieve greater success. They should demonstrate empathy and patience towards others, so they understand and learn from different perspectives.

My Aikyam experience...

I was nominated by the head of department as an Aikyam facilitator. Initially, I thought this program was more suitable for school students and perhaps not as suitable for undergraduate students. But, later, as I worked with the students and saw their interest and enthusiasm for the program, I changed my mind. The program has a positive influence on the students. I do believe that Aikyam and the Institutions Innovation Council are complementary and should go hand in hand. The goals are common and having the programs operate in sync will be beneficial to the students.