A dedicated teacher and vice principal, Ranjana Choudhary has been teaching secondary school science, focusing on bridging the rural-urban education gap and ensuring that students from agricultural backgrounds receive quality education despite challenges.

Ranjana Choudhary is working as a Teacher and Vice Principal in Gyanoday Public Secondary School, Udaipur. She has been shaping young minds as a Science Teacher for the past four years.

Chaudhary explains that Gyanoday Public Secondary School, a rural belt institution, presents a unique set of challenges, vastly different from those faced in urban schools. Unlike city students, who have access to private coaching and parental support, children in rural areas often lack academic guidance at home.

One of the biggest challenges Choudhary faces is the absence of parental involvement in their children’s education. Many of her students come from agricultural backgrounds, and their primary responsibilities often revolve around helping in fields, grazing cattle, or handling household chores—even on the eve of important exams like the 10th board exams. Due to financial constraints, these students cannot afford private tuition or extra coaching and are completely dependent on their school teachers to succeed academically.

Recognizing this, Teacher Ranjana goes beyond conventional teaching methods, dedicating extra time and effort to ensure her students grasp concepts effectively. Ranjana says, in a rural school setting, a teacher’s role extends far beyond the classroom, as they must become mentors, motivators, and the sole source of academic support for these children.

Apart from the socio-economic challenges in rural education, another major hurdle she encounters is handling adolescent students in secondary classes (8th, 9th, and 10th grades). She points out that teenagers today are more emotionally sensitive, ego-driven, and quick-tempered. They are easily irritated and often struggle with discipline and concentration.

Vice Principal Ranjana has learned that the key to engaging with them is maintaining a delicate balance between authority and empathy. She ensures that while strictness is maintained during lessons, she remains approachable and understanding after class. This method allows students to feel comfortable sharing their academic concerns, emotional struggles, and even personal challenges that may affect their learning with her.

Building this trust and openness is crucial in rural schools, where students are often shy and hesitant to seek help. She believes that being a good teacher is not just about delivering lessons but also about understanding students on a deeper level and motivating them to overcome their obstacles.

Science Teacher Ranjana laments that a major knowledge gap exists between rural and urban students, something that becomes evident in classroom discussions. While urban students grow up with easy access to media, books, and discussions at home, students in rural areas lack exposure to basic general knowledge.

Ranjana Choudhary shares that when she asks students in grades 7 and 8 to name different countries, most can only recall neighboring nations, struggling to name others. This limited world awareness is a result of their restricted access to information, a problem she actively works to address. She integrates extra knowledge beyond the syllabus, ensuring that her students come to know about not just science but also current affairs, geography, space exploration, and general world knowledge.

Her approach to teaching is inspired by the philosophy that a teacher must be both firm and compassionate—like a potter shaping clay. Just as a potter uses one hand to shape and another to support, a teacher must be strict yet supportive. She emphasizes that only scolding does not work, nor does excessive leniency; instead, a balanced approach is key. She advises fellow teachers that before stepping into the classroom, they must prepare thoroughly.

In a setting where students rely solely on their school education, teachers must go beyond basic textbook lessons and ensure their lectures are engaging, thought-provoking, and interactive. She believes that the goal of teaching is not just to complete the syllabus but to make sure students remain curious and eager to learn.

For teachers looking to make a real impact, she suggests bringing creativity into the classroom. If a teacher notices students losing interest, it is essential to introduce real-life examples, storytelling techniques, or engaging discussions. For example, she incorporates space-related knowledge, animal science, and environmental studies to make her lessons more interesting. Her primary goal is to ensure that students remain engaged, develop critical thinking skills, and expand their knowledge beyond what is written in their textbooks.

For Ranjana Choudhary, teaching is not just a job but a commitment to shaping the future of students. Working in a rural school, she understands the challenges faced by underprivileged students and takes it upon herself to bridge the educational gap between urban and rural learning environments. She remains dedicated to providing her students with knowledge, guidance, and mentorship, helping them realize their potential and build a better future.

Ranjana Choudhary’s journey into teaching started after she completed her 12th grade, when she began tutoring students. Encouraged by her students’ appreciation and their belief in her teaching skills, she realized that education was more than just a means of livelihood—it was her true calling.

After marriage, she stepped into the world of formal teaching by joining her father-in-law’s school, where she initially took up teaching as an experiment. The experience, however, was deeply fulfilling, and the strong bond she formed with her students convinced her to stay in the profession. Now, after four years in the teaching field, she finds immense joy in guiding, mentoring, and shaping the futures of her students.

Sharing more about her deep  interest in teaching, Ranjana shares that growing up in a financially challenging environment, she started giving tuition classes at the age of 12 to support her family. Unlike many who enter teaching later in life, Ranjana’s passion for education was ignited early. Even when she was in grades 9 and 10, she found immense joy in explaining concepts to her classmates. Teaching not only helped her peers but also reinforced her own understanding, making the learning process even more fulfilling for her.

After completing 12th grade, she took a significant step by formally starting tuition classes for younger children in her neighborhood. This decision was driven by both necessity and passion—her family needed financial support, and she genuinely loved teaching. She has a younger sister, and she wanted to ensure that their daily expenses could be managed without putting additional burden on their mother.

Having lost her father early in life, she was raised by her grandfather and mother, both of whom worked tirelessly to support her and her sister. Her grandfather took care of her education, marriage, and other major expenses, while her mother’s hard work ensured their day-to-day needs were met. As she matured, Ranjana felt a strong sense of duty to contribute financially so that her mother didn’t have to struggle alone. This deep understanding of responsibility and sacrifice became the foundation of her teaching career.

For her school education, Ranjana studied in Zawar Mines until 10th grade and then completed 11th and 12th in Udaipur. Despite facing difficulties early on, she was determined to excel academically. One of her most impactful childhood memories comes from her time in 4th grade, when she struggled with learning English answers. She recalls having a hard time memorizing long English and Hindi answers, often finding it impossible to retain half-page responses. Back then, English felt like an insurmountable challenge for her, making it difficult to keep up with class expectations.

An incident during her English exam in 4th grade left a lasting impression on her and became a turning point in her academic journey. Knowing that she couldn’t memorize answers, she decided to focus on what she could do well— exercises and grammar work. She studied diligently and attempted the paper with full dedication, though she left the question-answer section blank.

When the results were announced, she was absent from school that day, unaware of how she had performed. The next day, a friend told her that the teacher had praised her in front of the entire class. Confused, she wondered how that was possible since she had not answered the long questions.

Her English teacher, Munawar Ma’am, explained that Ranjana had secured full marks (45/45) in the exercise section, and although she missed to score marks in the question-answer section, she had still managed to score 50 out of 60. What touched her the most was her teacher’s words of encouragement—that instead of leaving the entire paper blank, she had given her 100% effort in what she could do best.

This recognition and encouragement in front of her peers gave her an immense boost of confidence. That was the first time she truly felt motivated to study harder. The teacher’s words—"Whatever you know, do it with 100% effort. What you don’t know, you will learn eventually"—became a guiding principle for Ranjana.

From that day forward, she developed a love for studying, determined to improve herself year after year. In 5th grade, she moved from being an average student to securing a rank within the top 5. By 6th grade, she became a 3rd ranker, and by 7th grade, she had secured the 1st position in her class. This transformation from a struggling student to a top performer was driven by her teacher’s encouragement, her self-discipline, and her determination to give her best effort in everything she did.

Educator Ranjana never got the chance to meet her teacher after leaving school, as Munawar Ma’am left after 4th grade. However, she still remembers her words and the impact they had on her. To this day, she carries forward the same message to her students, ensuring that they never feel discouraged about what they don’t know but instead focus on giving their best effort. The lesson she learned as a child—to never give up and always maximize one's strengths—continues to shape her as a teacher and mentor.

For her, education is not just about teaching lessons; it is about inspiring students to believe in themselves, work hard, and build confidence in their abilities. Her journey from a struggling student to a dedicated educator stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, encouragement, and the right mindset. Today, she ensures that her students receive the same motivation and support that transformed her own life.

From an early age, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam became a profound source of inspiration for Ranjana Choudhary. She first learned about his story when she was in 3rd grade, reading about the challenges he faced as a child in his pursuit of education. His story struck a chord with her, as she resonated with the idea of perseverance through struggle.

Despite facing numerous obstacles, Kalam never gave up on his education and went on to become one of the most respected scientists and leaders of India. This deep-rooted admiration for Dr. Kalam's determination, dedication, and resilience stayed with her throughout her life and continues to inspire her journey as an educator. She firmly believes that his contributions to the nation and the world serve as an example for all students, and his philosophy of dedication to knowledge and hard work aligns perfectly with the values she instills in her students.

Mentor Ranjana strongly believes that faith in oneself is the key to success. According to her, self-belief is the foundation of achieving anything in life. She often shares this thought with her students, emphasizing that whether others believe in you or not is secondary, but believing in yourself is essential. She firmly states that if you have complete confidence in yourself, no challenge is too big, and no goal is out of reach.

When asked about her achievements, Ranjana humbly acknowledges that teaching is not about awards or recognition. Instead, the greatest reward comes from the students themselves. She recalls that whenever a student tells her, "Ma'am, you are my favorite teacher," it feels like the biggest achievement. In the life of a student, they meet many teachers, but when a child looks up to a teacher and expresses a desire to be like them, it is a testament to the impact that teacher has made. She sees this as proof that she is successfully fulfilling her responsibility as an educator.

Despite having only four years of experience in teaching, she feels an immense sense of pride and fulfillment in the bonds she has built with her students. She teaches 8th, 9th, and 10th grades, but whenever she has free time, she makes it a point to visit pre-primary and primary classes. She believes that children in the younger grades need extra emotional support, and she makes a conscious effort to uplift their spirits, especially when they seem down or unmotivated. Her goal is to bring energy and excitement into the classroom, making learning a joyful experience.

Ranjana also emphasizes the importance of curiosity in learning. She believes that without curiosity, education loses its essence. Whenever she teaches a topic, she encourages students to ask questions. She firmly states that if a student is not questioning or wondering how things work, the teaching method needs to be adjusted. To her, a successful class is one where students are engaged, asking "why" and "how," instead of just passively listening.

She highlights that when one student in a class loses interest, it affects the entire class dynamic. Boredom spreads quickly, and soon, multiple students disengage from the lesson. This is why she believes that keeping curiosity alive is the key to an effective teaching environment. She explains that it is unrealistic to expect students to remain silent and still for long periods, so the best way to manage a class is by keeping students interested and involved. A curious child is an engaged child, and an engaged child will not disrupt the learning process.

Ranjana Choudhary strongly believes that every child is unique, and their learning abilities vary just like different animals in nature. She explains this with a powerful analogy—if you ask a fish, a monkey, and a tiger to climb a tree, the monkey will always win, but that does not mean the fish or the tiger are any less capable. This, she says, is exactly how children are—each one has their own strengths, learning pace, and talents. Some students grasp concepts quickly, while others need multiple explanations before they fully understand a topic. As a teacher, she believes it is essential to cater to every student's individual needs, ensuring that no child is left behind.

One of the key learning tips she shares with her students is the importance of regular revision. She emphasizes that students should not wait until the day before an exam to start studying. Instead, they should follow a structured timetable, dedicating more time to subjects they find difficult and less time to the ones they are already good at. She firmly states that having a well-balanced study schedule is crucial for effective learning. For example, if a student is naturally strong in English but struggles with Math, they should allocate more time to Math practice while ensuring that their English preparation remains consistent.

Choudhary also touches on the role of teachers in a student's life. She explains that when teachers scold or correct a student, it is always for their betterment. Many students feel disheartened when disciplined, but she wants them to understand that only two people in the world truly want their success—parents and teachers. Apart from them, no one else will push them to improve. While friends and acquaintances might agree with everything they do, it is parents and teachers who genuinely care about their growth and future. She encourages students to trust their teachers and accept constructive criticism, as it is meant to help them grow and succeed.

When asked to share a message for the youth of India, Ranjana Choudhary offers valuable guidance based on her own experiences. She recalls that during her own school days, students were entirely dependent on teachers and classroom learning. However, today’s generation has endless learning resources at their fingertips. The internet, online courses, educational platforms, and digital classrooms have made it easier than ever to access knowledge beyond textbooks. She urges students to take advantage of these opportunities but warns them not to rely solely on the internet for education.

She expresses concern over the growing trend of students wanting to pursue gaming or social media-based careers. While she acknowledges that these fields can be lucrative career options, she advises students to always have a backup plan. She emphasizes the importance of having both Plan A and Plan B when making career decisions. If Plan A doesn't work out, having a secondary career option ensures stability. She believes that today’s youth will shape the future of the country, and the more they educate and prepare themselves, the stronger the nation will become.

As she concludes her message, Science Teacher and Vice Principal Ranjana Choudhary reminds students that success comes from discipline, continuous learning, and determination. She encourages them to make thoughtful career choices, stay focused on their goals, and always be prepared for unexpected challenges. By following these principles, she believes the students can create a bright future for themselves while contributing to the growth and success of India.