Hello! I am an educator (by profession), a sports person (by choice), a fashion designer (by instinct), a music lover (at heart) and a chocolate maker (by accident). My inquisitive nature makes me an extensive traveler and an avid reader. I have spent my growing and working years in Rajkot, India. My inquisitive nature has led me to acquiring qualifications in varied fields like Commerce, Management, Education, Computers, Fashion Designing, Journalism and Mass Communication. As National Level Hockey player, I has won the best sportsperson award and scholarships from Government of Gujarat. I have also received the District BOLT (Broad Outlook Learner Teacher) award, conceptualised by Air India to recognise excellence outside the field of academics for Teachers. I was a privileged member of Group Study Exchange Program to Sweden and Latvia from District 3060, Gujarat, India by Rotary International.
A Marketing Head turned Educator, I have been associated with The Galaxy Education System, Rajkot (India) since the last 17 years playing various leadership roles in the school system. I have been teaching across curriculums like History, Geography, Global Perspective and Enterprise at Grade 9-10 level in different examining bodies like CIE, UK, National Board and State board. I also trains students to prepare for entrance exams for the Indian Administrative Service and also been a visiting Faculty for Event Communications and Event Marketing and Aspects of Event Marketing at National Academy for Event Management and Development (NAEMD), Rajkot
My journey as a teacher….
Like a lot of good things in my life, discovering my vocation was also serendipity. After completing my graduation (B.Com) , I did not do what almost every other person of my generation now seems programmed to do – appear for MBA entrance exams. I got so busy trying to re-cast my image of myself as a trapped pen-pusher to that of a successful Alpha Woman busily climbing the corporate ladder, that teaching happened quite by accident.
Sometimes I wonder what made a Marketing Head become a full time teacher…
During my tenure with Aptech Computer Education, I observed the students struggle to choose a right career path. They seemed to be lost even after completion of graduation. I was immediately struck by the extent to which teachers expected students to assume and believe statements and theories, without being offered tangible proof or explanation. This posed an extreme contrast to the type of education I had received until that point. As a child I was blessed with an inquisitive mind, and wanted to know reasons for just about everything. I fondly remember my Grandfather who firmly believed in self-education even then. Learning did not, in his mind, start at 08.30 and end at 15.00. It is a continuous process. I began to distinguish two different types of teachers: those who merely teach and those who motivate. In my high school, the first category attempted to persuade us students to absorb information and repeat said information during exams, the latter stimulated us to discover this information on our own.
In 1999, I gave up my career in Marketing and joined The Galaxy Education System as a teacher of Social Studies. Upon joining the school system, I became part of middle school and my first lessons were for History. It was a subject completely different from the one I actually graduated in – Commerce. It was a challenge for me for two reasons: it was not my subject and was perceived as ‘boring’ one usually disliked by students. I took up the challenge to study this subject and make it interesting for my students. My inquisitiveness to know the past and explore people and places helped me with a kick start.
My journey into teaching has been like a roller coaster ride. On one hand I have grown as an individual, I am still evolving as an Educator. As I reflect on my years as a teacher and years as an academic administrator, I realize that my expectations, perspectives, and conclusions have already experienced several alterations. I understand that, quite often, my idealism runs contradictory to practical conditions. Finding the balance between the two, and finding a way to articulate my vision through both my words and actions has always remained my focus as I envision my future as an effective educator.
The Galaxy Education System (TGES) is a pool of talents. I was fortunate to work with some of the Best Educators in TGES. My fellow educators have been my constant support and guidance. Their constructive feedback has always helped me to see things from a different paradigm. I have come across some of the best Parents, who have been a great support in my endeavors who have bestowed their trust in me in whatever I did for their child.
Even after twelve years in teaching, I feel I am a still a newcomer to the field of education; my vision needs strengths both within and from outside. I expect that my current perspectives will gradually be altered by the people I encounter, the knowledge I acquire in the continuous share and care process.
You may see my resume to know more about my professional experience:
professional_resume_sakina_bharmal.pdf | |
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