I am Srikari Pasumarthy and 15-years old. I have finished my X standard and pursued my passion for teaching during summer holidays and would like to share those experiences.
On my first day, as I arrived at the autism centre, the principal of Care 4 Autism school asked me why I wanted to volunteer teaching in an autism centre when there are thousands of other things I can do during my vacation. How was I to explain? The joy that I receive when a child smiles because of me is like the warmth of the sun, an achievement, a happiness that I could not have received while partying with my friends at McDonalds.
The first time I found out about this passion in me was at my school in Rishi Valley. A teacher of ours, Rishi Jayaram, had a project in mind, to share with the rural children in our surroundings our skills in art. I signed up for this with some of my friends and this marked a turning point in my life. Whenever we went to the rural school to interact with these children aged 10 to 12 years ,we were greeted by the same enthusiasm as the first day.
In every small invention of theirs, there lay a sense of satisfaction that it was I who taught them how to make it. They waited for us every weekend and the excitement in their eyes was enough to keep us going. After 10th as I left the school, I resolved that I would continue doing something to bring happiness in children. That was why I arrived at this autism centre, to follow my passion. Children with autism are very special. The love I received from them for little things I did to make them happy was more than enough to tell me that I am a good person. Now I feel confident that I too can do something to make somebody I hardly know feel happy. Working with these innocent minded ones here with no complicated thoughts in their mind has changed me immensely as a person.
Here in this school I do activities with children to improve their communication skills, their senses and behaviour with society. I have seen them improving step by step, following my instructions and responding to my efforts. Doing activities with them has helped me gain patience and control over my emotions.
Though every student here suffers from autism, the behaviour of every child is different, their reaction to situations is different and so I have learnt how to change my actions according to their personality and abilities. By working here I have really been able to gain control over myself and understand myself better. One thing that I learnt from my experience is that the happiness we receive from making others happy has no bounds.
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