Education
Angel in disguise: Priyanka PV who teaches autistic students
A God-sent gift to these autistic children who are willing to face the real world, this Indian teacher professional skills to them
Teachers are said to be next to parents, they can mould or break the student completely. Here’s a teacher who moulds lives of many students, who need special help, to whom she offers a whole-hearted helping hand.
Erin, an autistic girl from the US was in need of teacher who could assist her with her MBA coursework and so she searched for it on almost all e-learning platforms but all in vain as nobody was ready to take her owing to her condition.
But as destiny has its own plans for everybody so she came across, Priyanka PV, a teacher of management studies from Bengaluru who agreed to help her study.
Citing Erin as a challenge, Priyanka said, “Erin had speech and behavioural issues. But, I took her. For me, Erin was a challenge because I had to really simplify management jargon. I had to keep repeating myself for her to understand.”
Though like other teachers of today, e-learning has proved instrumental for her in educating children across the world, but it is ThinkVidya that has played a crucial role for her in reaching out to autistic students.
And the course was not easy for either of the two, while Priyanka was trying all methods to make learning easier for Erin; Erin was failing her exams time and again. However, their hard work finally paid off when Erin passed her MBA with distinction and applied for a PhD in statistics.
“Erin had got a job as a researcher. I was so proud of her. Sadly, Erin passed away after having a fall last year,” said Priyanka.
Today, Priyanka proudly takes credit of teaching 5 autistic students from countries like China, UK, Indonesia, etc.
“They just seem to find me on these e-learning portals,” she said.
Natile Berkman from China, a BBM student, is yet another example.
“I get demotivated a lot due to the way I am and because studies are hard. But Priyanka ma’am is like an angel. She has given me so much of encouragement. People have called me a loser. But today I can show them my good grades. And I have to thank Priyanka ma’am for that,” said Natile.
Priyanka knows she gets children with some special abilities and problems, yet knowing what her true job is, she said, “These students face a lot of other challenges as well. So we, as teachers, have to be mindful about that and be patient.”
And that’s not all about Priyanka, apart from taking management classes she is the director of the Philip Kotler Center for Advanced Marketing and is also pursuing a PhD.
“It is hectic. But I love taking time out for these students. The difference I make in their lives is what keeps me going,” she said.