My Zoology Professor-My Inspiration
The role of a teacher is not just limited to deliver a lecture, but he plays an important role in educating, inspiring, and guiding them to become responsible. A teacher is a person who can motivate and assure the students that by learning and doing, they can achieve everything. In this essay, I am narrating about my zoology professor that how he inspired me through his guidance.
Introduction
A teacher is known as a person who delivers lectures and disseminates knowledge. He/she guides students and acts as a mentor. A teacher creates a learning environment in the classroom, engages students in various activities, develops competence, and motivates them. He understands the learning style of students, understands their sensitivities and differences. Based on that, he/ she plan studies and develop an interest in the subject taught.Entering Post-graduation
Being a science student, I wanted to be a scientist, and it was my childhood dream as well. With this aim, I chose the science stream in my 10+2. I have had a great interest in science since my childhood, especially biology. I was too much interested to learn about plants and animals. Luckily, after completing my BSc in Biology stream with Zoology, Botany and Chemistry, I got admission in MSc Zoology.
In my Post-Graduation (MSc Zoology), we studied several subjects taught by different professors. They all were good teachers. But I was fascinated by one of my professors. He was passionate about his subject. He loved to teach zoology. He used to teach us Animal Physiology and Animal Classification.His way of explaining the things
When we think about a professor, usually we have an opinion that they will be rude and very strict. Most of the professors were short-spoken and insolent in our College. He was also short-spoken and used to speak as much as needed. He was strict, punctual, but not rude. Rather, he was very polite.
Since the beginning, when my classmates and I attended the first few of his lectures, we felt that he would be the most arduous teacher of our life because of his strict attitude. But gradually we found that he loved his profession very much. He was very dedicated to his teaching, and he also taught us passionately. He taught us animal physiology (a complicated subject), animal classification, and other topics. He gave some helpful tips for animal dissections. He trained us to use equipment carefully while dissecting a small animal, for example, a tiny insect.
Once, our class and professors went for an educational excursion in and around the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun. It was also a part of our curriculum. Before going to the field, our professor gave us some helpful tips on the identification of potential sites for insect collection, use of insect trap/net, preservation and identification of insects using a hand lens and field guides. He also gave some tips to take pictures of animals/insects in the field. All these tips were helpful. And I still follow these tips during my field survey for the identification of animals. That was one of the most memorable trips I have ever had in my life.
He used to trust his students, which encourages us to work differently. I remembered an incident in our final year of the practical exam. We had to identify some insects using a standard key. All the students were using that standard key. But I practised identifying using a different key. This key was a suggested book by our professors, but they preferred another key. But when I talked to him about this and explained to him that I was comfortable with this key, he allowed me to use that key for identification. It helped me a lot in my practical exam.Following my Zoology Knowledge
At that time, I developed the second thought that teaching is also a good profession and I can also be a teacher. After completing my post graduation, I applied for teaching in some colleges, and when I was called for a demo class in a college; I demonstrated Arthropod's classification following the style of my professor. As a result of which, the students and the interviewer were highly impressed. And finally, I got selected for the Zoology teacher's post. However, now I am working in another sector, but my zoology knowledge is still very helpful in my current work profile. Conclusion
Every teacher is important to his students. Likewise, my professor was important to me. When I think about my journey towards my career, I found my mentor is my Zoology Professor as he was a true teacher who gave me a new way of learning and developed so much love for this subject which cannot be developed like this without his guidance. He became my inspiration. I miss him and will respect him always.