Meet Ms Chandrika from K2

Ms. Chandrika is one of the many teachers who gracefully deal with the screams and cries of at least one ELC child daily. For most of us who aren't teachers, we are left to wonder why she’s willing to do it, and whether it induces negative feelings.

Ever the nurturer, when asked what made her unique, Ms Chandrika said that ‘caring for and sharing nature’ was the skill that defined her. But when she isn’t gardening or tending to her flowers, she continues to pour care into something else to make it grow: planning lessons. Outside of class, Ms. Chandrika almost seems like she’d rather rush back in to plan the next activity and water her tiny students with knowledge. Of course, to work this hard, she cannot simply rely on passion for her job. In her words, ‘According to me, it’s patience,’ when asked about her strength.

Burnout is very real, however, and almost everyone who dedicates effort to something agrees that it is difficult to overcome. I wondered if Ms. Chandrika had ever experienced this challenge, and her reply was nothing short of warm. ‘Wondering if I’ve done my best’ was her answer to whether she’d ever cried because of a student. In all honesty, I expected something related to anger or frustration towards a student. To my surprise, however, her response focused on her frustration with herself for not having done her best for her students. At this point, I was sure she deserved a Nobel Prize.

When we cry, naturally, we all have our coping mechanisms. Some may take a walk, listen to music, or write in a journal. For Ms. Chandrika, the solution is easy. ‘I will burst onto my husband,’ she says. While she keeps her chin up at school, the moment she gets home, she quickly seeks a safe space with her husband without shame. ‘I feel comfort,’ she added, reminding me that in the end, family is always a place you can turn to when the world becomes too overwhelming. A good cry won’t hurt, especially when surrounded by loved ones.

So, when asked if Ms Chandrika had ever wanted to quit teaching due to the pressure, there was no hesitation when she immediately said ‘never’— even going as far as to repeat it four times! Being a teacher was always Ms. Chandrika’s number one goal. Next to her husband, the profession could very well be her second soulmate. From a very young age, Ms. Chandrika expressed her teaching skills by helping her younger siblings, tutoring in grade 7, and, of course, now, at Sampoerna Academy L’Avenue. Outside of school, her biggest goal is to complete her journey of earning a master’s in education. Even teachers need to learn, just like their students, and this is always possible because knowledge is never limited; we can learn something new every day.

In the end, despite never having been taught by Ms. Chandrika, I’m happy to report that I still learned something. She was still a teacher to me, even in a brief interview. There is dedication, perseverance, and passion to learn from in each of Ms. Chandrika’s answers, even in the vulnerable ones. All it takes is a little love and a little sigh before rolling up our sleeves to work for what we want, and Ms Chandrika is a clear example that no matter where we end up, nothing should discourage us from reaching our dreams.