Mystory@Vikram Rathod: How I made the most of my college years

Here is the real story of my college life. I am from Khorad Sawangi village in Jalna District of Maharashtra state. My father is a farmer who had only 1.5 acres of land. We are three brothers and a sister. My father worked on daily wages and educated all three brothers. I completed my 12^th from Navodaya School. I actually wanted to take up medicine but could not because of economic problems.

My father and my family was under a heavy burden of loan from private lenders. So I decided to enter the field of teaching instead. As per the merit list, I secured admission for DEd in RKT Sevasadan's College of Education.

I had to work hard in an ice cream parlour for eight hours every day to adjust my expenses of hostel and mess. It was very tough to cope up with college practicals and my part-time job but I received good support from all my teachers. Finally I scored 68.75% marks and a good rank.

Given a chance, I would have spent more time with my college mates. I would have attended singing classes and would have enjoyed hostel life more.

My college education has been the main key to my success as a teacher today. My college helped me acquire all the important skills required for teaching. My principal was a very strict and well-disciplined administrator. All my other professors, Mrs Pushpa Makhija, Meenu ma’am, Sangeeta Ma’am and Mr Tushar, Heena ma’am were all very good teacher trainers. I salute them for their guidance. While my college is one of the best in its category but a few misses such as ICT based practicals, less use of computer and technology, and poor faculty arrangements for physical education can be improved upon.
All these are vital in today's scenario.

It was my family and the current situation that inspired me to choose my career stream. Diploma in education was the easiest, cheapest and shortest possible way to a quick government job. So I chose it.
I don't think my decision of opting for education was a wrong one. In the last ten years of my teaching career, I have upgraded my education from DEd to BA in English, History and Psychology (double graduation) and MA in English. I have completed a BEd from IGNOU and MEd from BAMU. I appeared for SET and NET in December 2015.

An ordinary man can do extraordinary things if he has strong will power.

About the Author:

Vikram Pandit Rathore works as Assistant Primary Teacher at Zilla Parishad School in Dongaon Village of Aurangabad District. He likes writing articles as well as poetry. Singing is his hobby.

Mystory is a new Shiksha initiative to provide students a unique platform to share their experiences right from college admission to career selection. Here’s your chance to get published on India’s leading education portal. We’ll be happy to publish your story.   Write in to us at: mystory@shiksha.com