On day one, our supervisors at both Lady Andal and Madras Seva Sadan left us alone in a classroom of 30-50 students. Zero resources, zero expectancies, just me and all those eyes staring up at me. Having little prior teaching experience, and intense anxiety in front of crowds, I told the students about my home. Fifty wide-eyed stares turned into fifty screaming children. I needed to get them occupied. Fast. Being forced to improvise, I became their entertainer.
After overcoming weeks of cyclic depression due to stress and acculturation, I had a second wave of inspiration. I realized where the schools were lacking and what my duty as an intern was to attempt and fill that space. The students are constantly told to copy what the teacher puts on the blackboard, and are graded on their accuracy. Now, I've never taken an art class in my life, but I am an incredibly creative individual. Creativity is essential for every single academic field. And because of this, I found it imperative to shake them from this habit. Creativity comes from within, it's self-expressive, unique, and there is no "right or wrong."
After overcoming weeks of cyclic depression due to stress and acculturation, I had a second wave of inspiration. I realized where the schools were lacking and what my duty as an intern was to attempt and fill that space. The students are constantly told to copy what the teacher puts on the blackboard, and are graded on their accuracy. Now, I've never taken an art class in my life, but I am an incredibly creative individual. Creativity is essential for every single academic field. And because of this, I found it imperative to shake them from this habit. Creativity comes from within, it's self-expressive, unique, and there is no "right or wrong."
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