The eyes are the windows to our souls, says the phrase.
I like people’s faces. Also cats’ faces…
I like looking in people’s eyes and see their souls. I like face expressions. I like smiles.
I like looking at people’s eyes, especially at my students’ eyes. I like when they look in my eyes. It blurs the boundaries between us; it exposes me to them, them to me; it also exposes us to the people around us; it makes us vulnerable; it connects us.
In our last class together, my 9th standard math-group students were thrilled. Finally, they have reached the end of the long road names “9th standard math classes”. It was an exhausting road, for most of them; annoying and boring, or difficult, for most, interesting for some. But all of them were excited it had come to its end. The end of that road also marked the end of the school year and their near coming holiday at their homes, which they missed very much. They were restless, but in a joyful way. A teaching-class, of course, did not take place that day 😀
In our last class together, I took close-up photos of my beloved 9th standard math-group students. A gift for myself; a souvenir; a memory.
It’s a personal gift – it has what they choose to share with me at that particular moment: their feeling, thought, trouble, or dream… and it also has what I see in them… what I got to know from them while walking a path together this year.
And since they were all wearing uniform for class, their faces distinguish between them even more. Funny: the purpose of a uniform is to make everybody the same, but in a way it forces us to look into their personality.
I look at them, and I see:
Aniket, confident and happy, as he is always in the class. For him, math is just another game to play… and math classes are his chance to be a teacher…!
Shivam, his eyes shine like a little boy’s eyes. For him, math is a challenge he keeps chasing, exercise by exercise. And math classes are time to compete…
Ajit, relieved that this year had come to its end. For him, math is just a waste of time… and so are math classes… but when pushed into the corner, he finds an interest in it!
Anand, interested, cooperates, thinks; his eyes are eager to understand. For him, math is a monsoon of numbers and operations… and it’s his favourite season… and math classes are the peak of the season… and he enjoys them like dancing in the rain…
Amar, not afraid of anyone, or anything; has his own agenda; his piercing eyes speak straight forward; angry and amused at the same time… For him, math is a bother, and math classes are simply gossip time…
Suresh, a respectful student with a strong mind; his eves observe and his mind processes. For him, math is a riddle he solves daily, determinately, while revealing its logic step by step… he doesn’t give up. His mood in math classes varies between interest and desperation… depends on the noise his classmates produced…
Suraj, a restless boy that got caught in a relaxed moment… his smile is irresistible, his eyes abound with naughtiness and kindness. For him, math is like a heavy stream he desperately fights to swim against… and math classes are party time…! Or desperation time…
Mayur, an unsolved riddle to his math teacher. His eyes cover more than they reveal. For him, math is a boring, though when he is into it, he tackles it well. Math classes are usually time-pass for him… unless when he is asked to construct a geometrical shape – then he is ready to act!
Kunal, his mouth says: I’m bored; his eyes say: give me harder questions! Challenge me! For him, math is something he still excels at, but doesn’t like as before… and math classes are the perfect time to annoy his teacher… while answering most of her questions correctly…!
Ranvir, positive and relaxed; doesn’t get angry or emotional; so does he in the class. He likes math, and he is sincere about studying it and understanding it. In math classes he works and tries, though always with an eye open to see what’s going on outside the classroom…
Nilesh, A wonderer; sensitive; sensible. For him, math is a challenge. A great, complicated challenge, which his teacher insists he would try to tackle. He sits in math classes, takes his teacher’s colourful pens, and draws her small gifts…
Dnyaneshwar, confident; responsible; hard-working; yet a teenager: not a child anymore. For him, math is a hobby, and it’s just too easy… Math classes are like a conversation to him; a dialog between a student, a teacher, and numbers... though sometimes the dialog got very emotional…
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