Friday, August 21, 2009

Leader in Me

2004 Hyderabad:
Returned home for good with my husband taking voluntary retirement from the Airforce.
I thought that my experience in different towns and cities does not matter much in front of the ‘big schools’ that Hyderabad has now.

I somehow was under the wrong impression that education is very much ahead of what I know of it in Hyderabad. I felt that schooling patterns in hyd are so modern that I need to begin my learning all over again. I also felt that I don’t know any of the modern methods the city schools have developed.

To my dismay and disappointment, there is nothing modern about them. I discovered that rote memory or creature comforts were being sold to students and nothing called education is happening.

Schools have become service industry rather than centres of learning. I could not come down from my responsibility of being an educator to someone who sells learning ‘to pass board exams’.

As I already said- I cannot sell anything, least of all sweet talk people. I cannot do anything against my convictions. I was in a quagmire-when I returned to hyd. I met many people who are running schools but most of them treated schools as business houses-no wonder the nomenclature-‘corporate schools’ have come into vogue.

It took a year for me to find my bearings. I didn’t fit into any of these schools.
Visakha Central School:

I joined VCS as the Principal on 20th June 2005.

A typical SSC school with nearly 750 students and 40 teachers where teaching/learning was highly predictable based on rote memory. I was certainly not excited.

Mr Dhanunjaya: I must give all the credit to the Director who has a vision to make good schools. His focus and sincerity to make ‘education happen’ gave me the required platform to become a true educator. If I am able to lead and empower others to lead-It is because Mr Dhanunjaya believed that I am capable. He helped me nurture my own abilities.

Team @ Silver Oaks:
I can never thank them enough-the students who give me an opportunity to lead them, the teaching and admin team who allow me to lead them and the parent community who recoginze my efforts in making their children into leaders.

Silver Oaks The School of Hyderabad- The Emerging Leadership School !

The journey from 2005 to 2009 was like a ride in the Bullet Train-for the entire team @ silver oaks.
From SSC to CBSE to IB, The School of Hyderabad to a Leadership School !
If today we are proud of our team@silver oaks with nearly 2000 students,150 teachers its because we all have found our leadership abilities. We lead ourselves and thereby lead others.


Mr Kingshuk Nag: Resident Editor Times of India Hyderabad:
When Times of India conducted the Lead India Campaign in 2007-they hoped to encourage ordinary people into recognizing their own leadership abilities. What they hoped to achieve of it-whether it has been achieved or not-but what I realized as being the only Principal (probably in the whole country) to nominate for that contest-is that I am a leader.

I must thank Mr Nag for encouraging me to nominate for the contest. But for his persistence I would have missed that experience of being a part of that contest/campaign.

Only when I was being interviewed by ‘Big shots’ like (former)Ministers & Governor, speaker, political and business leaders, Dean of ISB-I realized that no one can intimidate me. I saw my own confidence and my own lack of interest in the word called-contest. I enjoyed the experience but never looked at it as a competition.


There are many more people and situations that helped me find my own leadership qualities-but I guess I will give it an intermission till I find another day and mood to write down all that.

Episode Punch: Do not wait for a thanksgiving day or an occasion to thank the people who made you recognize your own abilities. You make the occasion or you define the day-but say that magical word-Thanks to all those who made you look at yourself in a different light





13 comments:

Jaya Lakshmi said...

I waited for this episode since 2-3 days. I was excited to hear about your ultimate journey, but the way you owed your abilities to someone who gave you clear platform shows your modesty. I too feel the same, eventhough we have potential to do some thing great or new, that should be recognised and encouraged by others, then only our full strength comes out, we can do miracles with the encouragement of others and become LEADERS. Thanks for our team who encourages and appreciates for the work we have done.

Anjana said...

Seetha
I liked reading ur memiors.enjoyed it thorughly. looking forward for more.
love you tak care

you know who said...

Buddy u can write an autobiography now.and dedicate it to me.I must be the only one reading all your blogs and enjoying them.

Nanduri family said...

It is your humility madam to thank everyone including parents.Hats off to you madam from all of us.

Revathi said...

I ALSO DEDICATE MY DEVELOPMENT TO THE TEAM @ SILVER OAKS. I HAVE TRANSFORMED MYSELF IN TO A LEADER WHO IS CAPABLE OF LEADING MYSELF AND OTHERS. NOW I STAND PROUD BEFORE THE SOCIETY WHO CAN CHANGE THE MINDSETS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSED.
ANYWAY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.

Ramakrishna S said...

Maam If you remember at the time of my son's admission I said that I am joining my son here because I read about you in the lead India contest. Everyday I was reading in the newspaper in those days about you. Your ideals and values are great. Thats why I joined my son in your school.I am very happy to see his development under your leadership.Thankyou so much for sharing your experiences with all of us.

Dr Kamal said...

Interesting blog Ms Murty..I am following whenever possible.I appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

Eachtime you come up with something different.Interesting -like you.

A SINCERE FOLLOWER said...

HI LEADER
YOU SAY PEPL AND SITUATIONS LED YOU.YOU ARE ABLE TO LEAD BECUASE SOMEONE HELPED YOU LEAD YOURSELF.A TRUE LEADER IS SOMEONE WHO HAS SELF RESPECT AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS-AND I SEE THAT IN YOU IN PLENTY.KEEP LEADING BRAVE LADY-WE ARE ALL WITH YOU

ravali said...

hi ma'am it has been long since i visited your blog. any way hi leader,
the blog was really superb. ma'am its true that every one is a leader and the only thing is that we must identify our leadership qualities... this is mostly done by people around us. if they encourage us, appreciate us, then we come to know our inner potentials and talents.
that's what our TEAM @ SILVER OAKS does always.
i am proud to find myself with team who always does most of the things to change the mindsets of people and trasform them into good humans who r naturally leaders...
thanks ma'am

Unknown said...

mam, ur episode punch was really gud.......and hence, i wanna 'THANK U' for bringing me into the limelight and supporting me in every aspect...without u i would be nothin in the skool...i feel really excited and pleasured when my juniors call me STUDENT COORDINATOR...i acheived my success b'coz of u...today,at present i feel very honored for being a young leader and leading others...and i promise i ll live upto ur expectations!
"THANK U "for u did everything dat made me into a gud human...
........ur young leader
-kavya

Sumeet said...

to me one of the important attributes of an leader is he must be inspirational,be able to motivate ppl, inspire them, to help, to mentor them, to instigate them, to help find the latent talent, and navigate the person to realise and enhance his abilities.

i am proud to be associated with Mrs Murty, a leader in true sense, a person with the ingredients of a true leader.

Anonymous said...

waiting for ur next one...???