My background and what inspired me to become a teacher...

I originally studied to be a sugar technologist. I have done a master's program in sugar technology from a well-reputed university. After graduating, I was recruited by a highly reputed company and was supposed to go to work in a sugar factory.

But before I started, I had a change of mind. I didn’t want to do that, and I wanted to do something else. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I was pretty sure that being a sugar technologist was not my calling. Because I kind of felt that it is more like a robotic job. There won't be any conversations, or human interaction in the job. Someone close to me told me that I should earn a degree in education and take up teaching as a profession. So, that's how I became a teacher.

My experience as a teacher...

I started as a teacher at B.V.Sonvalkar Hippocampus School, located in Mudalgi, Karnataka - a small, suburban town. It has been a pretty good journey. I have been teaching for two years now. I taught English first. Then Social Sciences for grades 6 and 7 and 8. Then they asked me to teach Hindi as well. Now I am a class teacher for grade 9. And I teach science.

There have been many ups and downs. But it turns out this is what I was intended to do. It is meaningful to me, and I have no regrets.

I am inspired by...

I draw inspiration from everybody I meet. I just look at things which are really going to be helpful for me in my career. My idol is APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of India. He was a teacher as well. I like his personality, his take on religion and the nation.

My interest outside of teaching...

I'm very fond of languages. I even have a goal. Before the age of 35, I would like to know at least 10 languages.

Right now, I can speak Kannada, English, Hindi fluently. I can speak Telugu, Marathi, and Konkani at a basic level.

My experience with Aikyam...

When I heard about Aikyam, I requested the school principal to be part of it. The education system here is very academically focused. More needs to be done for the overall development of our children. A program like Aikyam will be very helpful in their future endeavors. They learn skills that they are going to use in the future. And it is going to be very useful for society as well.