One more fruitful yet tiring day came to an end. After dinner, I sat chatting with my son about random things. Then it struck me—the kitchen sink was waiting patiently for its turn to shine and glitter. As I went about this mundane chore, memories resurfaced suddenly from a different phase of my life, my campus interviews during the final year of my MBA, marriage followed by an eight-year parental break before stepping into the teaching profession.
Choosing a teaching profession was a deliberate and well-thought-out process, with smooth transition by completing B.Ed during the parental break. Studying was never challenging to me, but what truly stood out was the evident gap with my outdated thoughts. I clearly remember the advice given by a senior colleague before I went on maternity leave: “Keep yourself updated.” Though I embraced it wholeheartedly only after confronting the negative effects firsthand.
A simple habit I developed reading articles and news, so I could use real-life examples, to make teaching aids from waste, and some proactiveness which wasn’t my quality at all, earlier. To my surprise, this approach was well received and appreciated by many of my fellow teacher trainees.
Looking back, what seems small now was significant then. Balancing B.Ed. work, teaching internships, household duties, and caring for two young children kept my days tightly packed. With an often-failing plan, I adapted by completing micro-tasks whenever time allowed, which helped me stay composed, manage stress, and make steady progress.
A tribute to my professors who trusted me with constant guidance and encouragement was a blessing. They reassured me that I was on the right path. Life lessons are much like riding a bicycle—you may move slowly or quickly depending on the need, but you should never park. Doing something, no matter how small, creates momentum and opens doors for progress rather than a miraculous breakthrough. May the universe favour you to align with opportunities.
These realizations gained deeper meaning when I attended interviews at renowned CBSE and IGCSE schools for the same teaching role. Interestingly, the interview processes were entirely different. One school asked me to conduct a teaching demonstration followed by an interaction with the vice principal. The other involved a relaxed, engaging conversation with the principal. By the very next evening, both schools informed me of my selection along with salary details, offering competitive packages aligned with market standards.
This left me wondering—what exactly were they evaluating in those interviews? What was it about my teaching capabilities that stood out? This pattern had repeated itself throughout my career transitions: some of my best opportunities emerged from simple conversations rather than elaborate teaching demonstrations.
Even today, I often reflect on what recruiters truly perceive during a brief 30-minute interview. It brings to mind the saying, “All that glitters is not gold,” popularized by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice. Over eleven years of experience across varied paths, I have realized that interviewers look beyond surface-level performance, seeking commitment and passion—the inner drive to do best. Drawing on their vast experience, principals and heads of schools develop the intuition to identify candidates who genuinely align with the institution’s vision and goals.
I truly believe the universe guided me toward the right opportunity to grow into a better facilitator. When the right person meets the right opportunity in the right place, it creates a powerful multiplier effect on both personal and professional growth—much like the Keynesian concept of economic growth.
A hard truth I’ve come to accept is that what seems best may not always work in practice, while what appears insignificant can be invaluable. In teaching, we nurture children with diverse abilities without judgment and later watch them grow into confident, compassionate individuals. My journey has reaffirmed that growth comes not from grand gestures, but from consistent effort, passion, and a willingness to unlearn and relearn. Career pauses and small beginnings are stepping stones that build resilience, and true success lies in aligning our values and efforts with the environment we serve—allowing both individuals and institutions to grow together.
Bhargavi Besthamalli
IBDP, IGCSE, AS & A level Economics Facilitator