In chaos of Pakistan’s haphazardly running education system and its boredom, where teachers just serve as employs, existence of exemplary mentors is like finding a needle in a haystack. Particularly at the graduate and higher levels, teachers usually do not give ear to build compassion with learners. When the questers are ridiculed or snubbed, certainly they turn towards someone considerate.
The deformities just not lie in the body but could exist in the character and hearts too. Poor listening skills, tarring and feathering of scholars plus deficient in accepting own flaws could never furnish a good mentor let alone the exceptional. Where I witnessed extreme form of such toxic traits in a teacher, I am obliged to honor and admire the conduct, counseling and guidance of Prof. Dr. Shamim Akhter, lady of grace, prestigious mentor of mine and Chair of Zoology department, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi.
Stoicism is the key for advancing on the ladder of success what she demonstrated me at its finest. Encouragement and motivation being a power that can lift up anyone, anytime, her verbal invigoration backed with non-verbal gestures are applaudable. The way she listens the academic doubts and queries as well as her insightful suggestions let one think on his feet and out of the box. A minute of encouragement during failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.
Her constant reassurance that “You have a lot of potential” not only makes me fall for her but inspires to put my best foot forward, even when I don’t feel like I belong. When educational process seems only to be a rat race of grades, she takes on creativity in research as well as her humility and listening ears even when containing an ocean of knowledge is exemplary.
She not only provided a warm and homely atmosphere but also recognized my raw in-build skills and polished them into well-presentable. It impels one becoming more open to try new things and share the ideas unhesitant. These traits of hers, besides greasing the wheels of my future, taught me that wholesome living is about work life balance. In some random un-academic conversation, she asked me once that do I remember color of one of her dress that she wore” and my reply was “no” but I am esteemed to tell that how could I remember the color of her dress when I could never take eyes / ears off her inspiring voice.
It is not sure to me that when and where I will be able to achieve enough to stand head held up, but I found this time, the most appropriate, to acknowledge and praise all the mentoring she bestow upon me. Her mentorship has been an invaluable gift that makes me a force to reckon with in the higher education academic track. Although there is no way I can pay off her priceless advices, but if I had a dollar for every time I expressed my gratitude, I’d be rolling in money soon. Last but not the least; I hope to inspire someone else one day as she inspired me.