Nidhi Sharma Awasthi

For me, education has never been just about teaching a subject. It has always been about people, possibilities and the belief that every learner has a unique path waiting to be discovered.

My journey in education and the social sector spans over 20 years and has taken me through very different learning environments — from working on development initiatives to teaching in schools and now supporting academic learning and leadership. Each experience has shaped the educator I am today. I joined 21K School in 2021 and currently serve as the Academic Coordinator for Middle School, where I work closely with facilitators and learners to make learning more meaningful, purposeful and connected to the world around us.

I believe the best classrooms are those where learners feel safe to ask questions, curious enough to explore and confident enough to think for themselves. I am passionate about learner agency, meaningful conversations, thoughtful questioning and creating learning experiences that encourage learners to connect ideas rather than simply remember them. At the same time, I believe that education is deeply human — relationships, empathy, encouragement and the small moments of connection often make the biggest difference.

My own learning journey has been equally diverse. With a background in Agriculture, an MBA and a B.Ed., along with qualifications in career counselling and Training & Development, I continue to learn from every role, every facilitator and every learner I meet. I see myself not just as an educator but as a lifelong learner who is constantly reflecting, growing and looking for better ways to support others.

What continues to inspire me is seeing a learner discover something about themselves — a strength they did not know they had, a question they were brave enough to ask or an idea they suddenly believe is worth pursuing. That, to me, is the heart of education: not telling learners who they should become, but creating the space for them to discover who they can be.

Beyond school, I find joy in nature, baking, cooking and creating warm, welcoming spaces. These simple things remind me that creativity, curiosity and learning are not confined to a classroom.

I think I became an educator long before I realised that was what I was becoming.

Over the years, I have met hundreds of learners, and each one has reminded me that learning is never a one-size-fits-all journey. I have seen a quiet learner find the courage to speak, a curious learner ask a question that changes the direction of a conversation and a learner who struggled with something suddenly say, “I can do this.” Those moments stay with me.

That is why I teach. Not simply to complete a syllabus or help learners find the right answers, but to create spaces where they feel confident to ask questions, make mistakes, try again and discover their own strengths. I want learners to leave a classroom with more than knowledge — with curiosity, confidence and the belief that their ideas matter.

Over the years, my role has evolved from being a classroom teacher to supporting other educators and shaping learning experiences at a larger level. Yet the reason I continue to do what I do remains the same: I love watching people grow.

For me, the most rewarding part of education is knowing that perhaps, in some small way, I have helped a learner see a possibility in themselves that they had not seen before. And sometimes, that is all the reason you need to keep teaching.