What does it take to have a great realtionship

In the case of a teacher-student relationship, each has to trust each other, that they work in the best interest of each other. Once that fundamental is established, the relationship can scale to greater heights. Establishing it is tough though. Crossroads happen only If the teacher has an agenda that is not transparent to the student or vice versa.

Therefore, I would feel that establishing a healthy and transparent relationship is the most important aspect in imparting and receiving education. There has to be constant effort to keep the relationship in good shape, reiterating its needs, time and again through actions that demonstrate it,on all possible opportunities. If one closely observes, a student is likely to score more in a particular subject, if a healthy relationship exists between them.

On the other hand, the teacher becomes a better teacher every day by enjoying the success of the student. Well at the end of the day, it takes effort, a lot, for a win-win situation.
Dr. GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Principal, Shri Natesan Vidyasala MHSS, Mannivakkam.

Embracing vulnerability as a source of strength

Dr. GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Principal, article publised in Newyork based web magazine Lotus in the Mud

Life is a blend of both bright and dark sides. I often find myself entangled in a complex web of emotions as a woman. On one hand, there are moments of pure joy, love, and pride. But on the other, there are feelings of hurt, anger, jealousy, and betrayal. It’s as if I’m constantly balancing on a tightrope, trying to manage the highs and lows of life. I’ve realized that I’ve been conditioned to hold on to negative emotions more deeply than positive ones.

Recently, I stumbled upon a TED Talk by Brené Brown, titled ‘The Power of Vulnerability’. At first, I was skeptical. Vulnerability as a source of strength? How could that be? Aren’t we always taught to be strong, to hold it all together, and to never show our weaknesses? But as I listened to her words, something clicked within me. Brené spoke about embracing our imperfections and understanding that feeling deeply — both the good and the bad — is what makes us truly alive.

I started reflecting on my own life. I am a mother, a wife, and a working professional. Every day, I wear so many hats and play so many roles. At work, I try my best to prove myself in a competitive environment. At home, I strive to meet everyone’s expectations, often sacrificing my own needs. And yet, a single critical remark from a relative or being overlooked at work can shatter my confidence. The hurt lingers, festers, and slowly seeps into every part of my life, like a dark cloud that refuses to go away.

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The power of the purse

For women, financial freedom brings inner strength—the ability to make decisions, protect loved ones, and contribute to society in a meaningful way.

Dr. GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Principal, article publised in Newyork based web magazine Lotus in the Mud

A few months ago, I joined a group of people from different walks of life. Our shared belief in living ethically and growing spiritually brought us together. Each week, we meet to celebrate our moments of growth—whether in our careers, personal lives, or spiritual journeys. It’s a space where everyone feels safe and supported; it has become a special part of our lives.

We recently celebrated the incredible work of an amazing woman—a mother of three and homemaker turned entrepreneur. Her skills as a designer and unique crafts, designs, and customizations are ready to amaze the world. As I learned more about her inspiring journey, I also heard about another ‘mompreneur’ who transformed her love for cooking and baking into a thriving business, creating healthy snacks and expanding to London and other cities in Europe.

While I admired their success, I couldn’t help but think about the dedication, hard work, challenges, and sweet victories they must have experienced along the way, especially after being homemakers for so long. Both women have excelled in every role they’ve taken on, and now they’re stepping into a new, exciting chapter where their talents can shine for all to see. Finding a balance between their personal lives and their passion must be a powerful feeling.

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Mental Health Matters

Dr. GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Principal, article publised in Indian based web magazine India’s cross-disability magazine

When I visited a school, as a guest speaker, on Mental Health Day, children asked me unfiltered questions and expressed their true selves with no inhibition and genuinely sought solutions. This helped me introspect about my thoughts and perceptions about the world. I realized that despite the age gap, our thoughts were not very different.

In our role as teachers or adults, it’s crucial to stress that, like physical health, mental well-being is equally important for children and young adults. We must continuously remind them of the significance of their mental health and guide them in navigating the complexities of life. We must encourage children and young adults to share their feelings and concerns, much like reporting issues with the car so they can be addressed promptly. For example, children should get valuable insights on handling bullying effectively including who they can speak with about their experiences.

Taking care of mental health can be explained using the analogy of maintaining a car. Just as regular maintenance ensures a car runs smoothly, taking care of mental health through open communication is essential. Here are some ways in which we can help children practice habits that can help their mental health:

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What does it take to have a value system?

For example, being Vegan could be a great value system for a particular individual, but may not be applicable in a different culture or society Irrespective, a value system becomes very very scred and important in one's life based upon one's own strong belief in the value it brings to one's life. It becomes something that will never ever be compromised, whatever the situation may be. Even in the event of a life and death situation. While in its extreme, it may sound dogmatic, it is indeed a non-comprisable part of an individual. That's when it becomes a value system.

Therefore, for one to imbibe a value system, I would consider these three important aspects. A strong belief that it is good for oneself. A powerful conviction that it cannot be compromised, whatever the situation maybe

An unwavering commitment to uphold it, so much so that it be comes a living entity in one's life. This is what it takes to have a value system.
Dr. GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN Correspondent and Principal,Shri Natesan Vidyasala MHSS, Mannivakkam.

The Educationist The Attitude Of Grattitude

Walking through gardens is an exhilarating experience, as many would agreefilled with brilliant, vibrant flowers that dance in the wind, ancient sturdy trees that seem to arch up into the arms of the sky dotted with pristine white clouds, and a carpet of dewy grass that looks like an inviting bed for hot summer days. All this beauty makes the garden look like a mystical landscape, crafted by the gods themselves, to allow us a moment of respite from the monotonous ongoings of life. But no behind this wondrous thing of beauty is the work of a patient gardener who toils every day, be it under the scorching sun or a sudden deluge. He carefully tends to the plants, plucks out the parasitic weeds, and trims the thorns, all so that we may have our pleasant stroll through the garden.

The universe conspires to make everything possible for you, through a chain of people you may know. Or even not. Even behind the simplest things in our daily lives. there is a whole process that must occur for them to happen.

Take for example, a sim- ple lunch that you take to school- your mother must've woken up early to make it for you, she must have earned money in order to buy the ingredients required, the shop- keeper must have transport- ed his goods from a whole- sale godown, the wholesaler must have obtained the raw goods from a farmer, who toiled day and night, through rain or shine, to cultivate the crops that feed you today. Truly humbles you, doesn't it- to realise the sheer magnitude of work that goes into making every mo- ment of your life happen. To realise how small and insignificant we are on the scale of the universe, but that the universe in its own ways, cares for each one of us. Though the universe seems to expect nothing from us, it is impor- tant that we acknowledge all that it does for us, starting by thanking the people who are part of the process, our closest and loved ones first. Our life may lack a lot of things that we want, but we have an abun- dance of things that got us to where we are in the first place. That's where gratitude comes into play. Do we whine that the rose has thorns, or do we be grateful that the thorns have roses?
Dr GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Chief Principal, Shri Natesan Vidyasala, Mannivakkam, Chennai

TOP OF THE WORLD!

My teacher's followers often say "Top of the World" when asked how they are. At first, I found this strange, wondering how someone could always be so excited. After all, sadness, disappointment, suffering, and challenges are part of life, just as happiness and excitement are. Hearing my teacher say that the quality of our words manifests in the quality of our lives gave me a new perspective

I recall a story my grandma used to tell about Krishna and Balram. Balram saw a huge demon, because it was fierce and huge, all negative thoughts engulfed Balram and he became panicky. But when Krishna saw the demon, he laughed and ignored its mighty roar. Since demon drew power from negative thoughts, it couldn't grow further and in fact, Krishna's laughter, made the demon lose all its confidence and shrink into a tiny creature. I related this story to what my teacher said. Why indulge in negative thoughts? Why not focus on positive feelings to improve our lives? Many of us brood over what went wrong and share these thoughts with everyone, giving power to negative words and thoughts.

Instead, if we use positive vocabulary regularly, it can improve our thoughts and feelings. As our thoughts and feelings improve, our lives will get better. Aren't we co- authors of our destiny? By saying "Top of the World," our lives can indeed become top of the world. Let's improve our vocabulary and shamelessly learn to say things like "rocking," "great," "heavenly," and "excited to be alive" as often as possible. Let's get the fundamentals right and speak as if we're on top of the world. And soon, we will be!

Dr GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Chief Principal, Shri Natesan Vidyasala, Mannivakkam, Chennal

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

I visited a school as a guest speaker on Mental Health Day. The children asked unfiltered questions and expressed their true selves with no inhibition. They genuinely sought solutions. This helped me introspect about my own thoughts and perceptions about the world. I realized that despite the age gap, our thoughts were not very different. In our roles as teachers and adults, it's crucial to stress that, like physical health, mental well-being is equally important for children and young adults. We must continuously remind them of the significance of their mental health and provide guidance on navigating the complexities of life.

Friendship choices can be compared to selecting the right ingredients for a recipe. Just as we carefully choose ingredients to make a delicious dish, we should choose friends who add positivity and support to our lives. High lighting examples of support ive friendships can help young minds understand the importance of surrounding themselves with the right people.

when we're unsure of a route, seeking help from a counselor or trusted adult is a sign of strength when navigating life's challenges. In essence, as responsible adults, we must convey the importance of mental health through relatable examples and provide guidance to help children and young adults make informed choices, build supportive relationships, and seek help when needed. This empowers them to lead mentally healthy lives in our ever evolving world, much like maintaining a well-functioning vehicle.
Dr GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Chief Principal, Shri Natesan Vidyasala, Mannivakkam, Chennai

Become the best at what you do

Dr GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Chief Principal, who was interviewed by The Times of India during her Book Launch "Never Alone"

HOW HAS THE SCHOOL EVOLVED SINCE ITS INCEPTION?
We have grown from a school of 80 students and 8 teachers at the time of inception to 3500+ students and 180 staff members now, in 2021. It's been 26 years of constant growth in multiple streams. We have constantly tried to stay ahead of the curve in terms of getting the best books with the latest syllabus. We have encouraged students to perform in sports; to write; to explore space research, and many more. We want to see holistic growth, where conventional growth is accompanied by non- conventional, extra-curricular growth.

Your message to childrenI would tell children to identify what they good at, and work on becoming the best at that. Want to become a journalist, an athlete, or a physicist? Make sure you constantly put time and effort into that. These days, there is more awareness amongst parents that there are multiple ways to succeed in life, and there are established pathways to ensure that. So it's not still a time where you'll have to become only engineers or doctors any field is fine, provided the necessary endeavour is applied.

HOW ARE YOU BLENDING INTERNATIONALISM IN THE CURRICULUM?
The vision to provide the best to students, forethought to make NATESANITES Global Citizens, meticulous planning and impeccable work to give international exposure to the stu dents and staff, the execution behind every international trip to few European countries, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka to name a few, international interaction with schools across the Globe, Taiwan, Srilanka, France, USA to name a few- all this makes our school truly a school bringing International dimensions.

The Boy Who Made Me Think

Recently, I watched Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talk, "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" and it left a deep impression on me. Robinson's message was clear: traditional education often stifles creativity by focusing too much on subjects like math and science, pushing students into narrow paths. As an educator, this resonated with me. In India, while there's some progress in em- bracing the arts, there's still a long way to go. The big question is: Are we really let- ting our students explore their full potential, or are we still boxing them into paths we believe are the only ways to succeed?

For the longest time, I believed that success was found only through institutions like the IIMs and IITS. Academic excellence was everything to me. But then, my perspective shifted after an encounter with a student who chal lenged my beliefs. This young boy wasn't a regular student, and his grades reflected that. Frustrated, I asked him how he ex- pected to get into college with such low scores. His response surprised me. He calmly said, "Ma'am, I'll manage to score decent marks, but I'm passionate about painting. I'll find my way and carve a niche for myself." That conversation was a turning point for me.

One of the biggest ways schools can kill creativity is by sticking too closely to standardized curriculums. When we focus too much on rote learning and standardized testing, we limit students' ability to think creatively and standing, and belief in their potential to succeed, no matter the path they choose.
Dr GAYATHRI RAMACHANDRAN, Correspondent and Chief Principal, Shri Natesan Vidyasala, Mannivakkam, Chennai.