The other day, I watched a video on YouTube about a student-teacher relationship. It made me reflect deeply on my own experiences with teachers, from my kindergarten days all the way through college. Most of those memories are filled with gratitude and joy, but one stands out for all the wrong reasons — an experience shaped by ego, misunderstanding, and a test of my perseverance.
It all began with a Digital Circuit Lab. Digital Circuits was one of my favorite subjects, and as a student, I always aimed to go beyond the standard approach. While most students would rely on diagrams from manuals or senior students’ notes, I preferred to design the circuits myself the evening before the lab session, testing them on simulation software. My confidence in my designs was unwavering, and I took pride in the slight variations that made my diagrams stand out.
But not everyone appreciated this. My lab instructor, seemed to take an immediate dislike to me. It started with a comment she made during a class, dismissing my design as something that wouldn’t work. However, to her surprise, my circuit worked perfectly. From that point on, I could feel the tension building. Every mistake, no matter how small, was scrutinized, and she refused to sign my record books. She told me, “We’ll see you in the exam hall.”
That comment haunted me. I knew her judgment was clouded by ego, and I was determined to prove her wrong. I immersed myself in the subject, learning every concept inside out, with the awareness that she was looking for my downfall.
Then came the day of the exam. One of the questions asked me to design a pattern using multiplexers. It only took me 10 minutes to design the circuit, and I confidently presented it to her. Her face turned red as she saw my design. Without a word, she took back the question paper and updated it with a pen. The task was now to design the same pattern using only one multiplexer — because my solution used two. She laughed at me with a sense of triumph.
I quickly rethought the design, simplified it, and presented it again. This time, she crossed it out and declared it would never work. Her tactic was clear: she was preventing me from wiring the circuit by not approving my designs. But, in her effort to hinder me time was running out. The clock ticked as other students began wiring their circuits. I was left with only an hour. Just then, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of a guardian angel — Vineetha ma’am, who had come to replace the lab instructor for the final hour.
With a smile, she approached my workstation, observing the complex circuit I had designed. “Why are you making this so complicated?” she asked. I explained everything — the tension with the previous instructor, the tactics, and my journey to this point.
Vineetha ma’am calmly flipped through my pages. When she reached my circuit, she looked at it for a moment before removing the cross marks. “This is correct. You can proceed,” she said, with a confidence that restored mine.
As soon as she approved my design, I began to wire the circuit. But then, something unexpected happened: my hands started to shake. Doubt crept in, and my once unwavering confidence evaporated. For a moment, I felt like I had lost everything. Vineetha ma’am noticed my struggle and gently reassured me, “You can do this.”
Her words were like a breath of fresh air. I took a deep breath, steadied my hands, and within 15 minutes, I completed the wiring. I finished well before everyone else, and the circuit worked perfectly.
In that moment, I realized something profound: it wasn’t the circuits or the design that mattered most — it was the confidence, belief, and support that could make the difference. Vineetha ma’am had shown me the power of calm encouragement when things seemed impossible. Her words gave me the strength to push through my self-doubt and regain my focus.
That day, I not only passed the exam but also learned a valuable life lesson: perseverance and belief in oneself can overcome even the most trying circumstances. It wasn’t about competing with others or proving a point; it was about personal growth and pushing past the hurdles, no matter how hard they seemed.
For years after this incident, whenever I found myself doubting my abilities or facing setbacks, I would remember that moment — the red face, the crossed-out circuits, and Vineetha ma’am’s smile. It reminded me that kindness, understanding, and a little encouragement can go a long way in guiding others through their struggles.
To Vineetha ma’am, thank you for being the guiding light in a moment of darkness. You taught me that no amount of ego or negativity can dim the brilliance of perseverance and kindness.
