"Hello," a bunch of voices greeted me."Hello" I returned instinctively as I walked into class looking a like a martian since my right foot was encased in the costliest shoe that I had worn in my life. I was wearing a surgical shoe as I had during my journey in life fallen down the stairs and torn a ligament on my right foot. More on that historic occasion at some other time.
I occupied the first seat that came to my mind-which was actually on the last row. I had been a confirmed back bencher all my life and I reaffirmed my credentials. A word of explantion is in order here. I had enrolled for an Executive MBA programme. I had done this after two decades of service (distinguished or otherwise) to journalism and then corporate communications. I am on the wrong side of 40 actually forty five and what is more I look it. (Although, I must clarify that there are no silver strands as yet).
Even then I wasn't prepared for what quite happened. There was this guy who suddenly came upto me and who not only engaged me in conversation but actually sought my guidance. A few minutes into the conversation and I realized that that the guy had mistaken me to be well-- a teacher. Much to his disappointment, I had to clarify that I was a student just like him. This young chap said " I thought that the entire class greeted you since you were the teacher. Another chorus rose in protest, " Hey,we always knew that he was a student." I looked round at the class gratefully, with my ego restored.
I must say that the past two months in B-School have been a delight. While I had done some some short term distance education programmes before, this was the first time that I had actually entered the hallowed precincts of a class room after more than two decades. The students are a mixed lot in the age groups of 25 to forty five. I have realized why companies prize classroom learning over distance learning when it comes to an MBA. Like one of our profeSsors said," An MBA is a state of mind". The collaborative experience of working together in groups is something one looks forward to as it enables you to learn from others apart from getting to know people better.
Sorry my dear young friend. At this point in life, I prefer to be a student Teaching, will have to wait.
PS: This young kid who mistook me for a teacher has not been seen in class since my first day and seems to have quit the course. I guess he prefers to be a teacher.
