Upasana Shahi Rana shares her life’s journey as a teacher not only to her students, but also to her son. She also talks about the importance of a good teacher in shaping a child’s future, and the challenges.

Two days after her son passed his tenth grade board exams with flying colors, Upasana Shahi Rana was surprised by her husband with a radiant emerald jewelry set, a gift meant to thank her not only to for her commitment to her son’s upbringing and education, but also for her life long as a teacher. 

Upasana has been in the teaching profession for the past two decades. Growing up playing teacher-student games, she was passionate about teaching since childhood. “As a teenager too, I always had a soft spot for kids, and I would enjoy being around them,” she recalled. 

She began her teaching career as a preschool teacher at Disney International School, and then went on to teach at various schools across the Kathmandu valley—DAV School, Rato Bangala School, Lincoln School, and Rupy's International School—spending the longest period of time at Rupy’s International School, where she currently teaches.  

Specializing in primary school teaching, Upasana believes that there learning should be playful for children. “I believe that as a teacher,” she continued, “we should not only focus on learning but also promote education with entertainment. Children need to enjoy learning, and teachers need to create an environment where there is a love for learning.” 

She also believes that teachers—especially primary teachers—also need to play the role of a parent for the students. She explained, “The school is the second home for the children, and just like their parents, we need to guide the children and teach them values, motivate them, and set them on the right path.” 

Upasana has a small family consisting of her husband and a son. By deciding to get her son Suryodaya enrolled at Rupy’s International School as well, she was able to be a part of her son’s life at both school and home. “I was lucky to have my son at the same school where I teach; this way I had the advantage of being able to oversee my son’s performance at school. I think I made a great decision by getting my son enrolled at Rupy’s. The teachers were helpful, they were never baised and they would always give me feedback regarding my son’s performance. Furthermore, the school always provided a friendly environment, and I have my mentor, our school director, Rupy Singh to thank for that. She always endorsed practical learning, and I think her ideologies have had a great impact on my son’s growth,” she mentioned. 

She further added, “As a kid, my son was good-naughty, but quite sensitive too. Over the years, I have seen him develop interest in music, dance, and various extracurricular activities. He has grown up to become a confident, sociable, all-round individual. Although at home, I always prioritized good behavior over academics, I never had any trouble regarding my son’s academic performance. As a small kid, he was an average student, and I helped him every step of the way. By the ninth grade, he drastically improved his grades and performed remarkably well. While my husband was mostly busy, he always made time for our son. And I think he did a great job as a supportive father for our son’s upbringing. We have always created a supportive environment for our son, and I think that is the reason why today my son is more like my friend.” 

In the tenth grade her son Suryodaya scored an astounding 9.4 CGPA in his CBSE board exam, and this was proudest moment for Upasana. Grateful for his wife’s contribution in shaping his son, and most of all for her dedication as a teacher, two days later, Upasana’s husband Suraj surprised her with a lustrous emerald set. Emerald is Upasana’s birthstone, and the seventeen stones in the ring signified the year 2017.  This was the most meaningful gift Upasana had ever received. 

She remarked, “We teachers and parents are like gardeners. Before seeding, a gardener needs to remove weeds from the soil, so that the plant can grow. Once the plant grows and bears flowers, it brings the gardener happiness. Similarly, it is our duty to nurture children with our care and affection, so that they grow up to become smart young individuals. It gave me the utmost joy when my son—for whom I have been  a constant guide—made his parents proud by performing so well at school.” 

In addition to sharing her story as teacher, she emphasis the importance of a good pre-primary schooling in the growth of a child. “Sending your child to a good preschool is very important. A good preschool means good food, good hygiene, and a well-trained staff. Small things like the language didis use in school can also affect your child’s growth. Not to mention, being a preschool teacher requires a lot of training. Simply teaching the letter ‘A’ to a child can be quite a challenge for a teacher.”  

When asked about the challenges she has faced as teacher, she responded, “Every teacher must first acknowledge that each child is different. We must be able to polish a child no matter what his or her difficulties may be. However, some children - despite their school’s and parents rigorous pressure - are unable to study in school as they suffer from special learning disabilities. And what makes it more challenging is the fact that parents are unable to accept that their children are facing such disabilities. They would rather resort to pressuring their child with private tuitions than seek guidance regarding their child’s learning disabilities. Since people do not take issue like autism and dyslexia seriously, is difficult for teachers to explain such conditions to parents. Our government also lacks schools for children with special needs, which leaves children with difficulties no option other than attending a regular school.” 

With regards to the challenges, Upasana also believes that the prevention of bullying remains an important challenge for teachers in most schools. She added, “Students need to be under the teacher’s watchful eye. They need to be given proper guidance, and we must create an environment where they can share their difficulties. To overcome such challenges, I think a small class size is necessary. At Rupy’s, the average number of students per class is around twelve to eighteen. This way, we are able to monitor class activities efficiently, and we ensure that the children are able to bond with each other. Schools also need to introduce counselors, so that the children are able to discuss their problems, and receive constructive feedback.” 

Upasana concludes that whether you are a parent or a teacher, you need to understand that your role is to nurture and shape the child, and for that you need to be vigilant and caring. She believes that a teacher should not only limit learning to books, but create a platform where whether the child is travelling, on a field trip, or even socializing with friends, he or she is gaining knowledge and experience.