A few days back one of my classmates had come to my school to meet teachers. Before I forget, let me tell you that I teach in the same school where I had studied. One of my colleagues told me that an ex-student, (She told the name of the ex-student, which I would not disclose here.) has come to meet teachers. When I heard the name, I told her “I guess, she’s my classmate.” She was talking to the teachers in an excited manner. That’s what happens when you meet teachers after 13 years. Then she turned towards the side where I was sitting. When she saw me she said ‘Hiiiiiiiiii’. I was amazed that she recognized me . She hugged me too. I came to know that she has settled in New York. But something struck me. She had become a Yankee both in the way she talked as well as in the way she dressed. She had put on a lot of weight. Gone was the lean student of yester years. Now she was obese and that was one reason why I was aghast    at the kind of skin tight, sleeveless cloth that she was wearing. I know all American ladies don’t wear those kind of dresses. But those people who go to US from India just get carried away and think they can wear any kind of dress. But anyway,    it’s their choice.

As far as dresses are concerned, mine are of the simplest kind. One of my colleagues has problem with that too. Why don’t I wear dresses with slightly deeper necklines? My dresses have round neck, the kind that grandmothers used to wear, so people say. I don’t wear jewelry at all. That’s also a cause of problem for some. So this lady told me once that I should look presentable to students. They learn to wear dresses by looking at what their teachers wear. She wears the nicest clothes to school, complete with matching jewelry. That doesn’t mean that I go to school shabbily dressed but I believe in simple living. And that’s one thing which I would like my students to learn from me. This lady who’s very beautiful has created  problem with colleagues due to her behaviour. She has annoyed many people because of her razor sharp tongue. She keeps on gossipping about others and, many times she has told me things about others which I would not like to hear but I keep my mouth shut.

I am glad that I give more importance to inward beauty rather than outward one. It has helped me to deal with situations in a positive manner. May be, my students are not impressed with my dressing sense but whenever they have any problem they approach me for help because they know that Jissy Miss knows how to keep secrets. If the matter is between students and me then it remains just that. None of the teachers would know about it. If I am able to help at least one student to overcome her emotional problem, I would be the happiest person on earth.  At times, I am amazed as to how freely they tell about their personal problem to me. Believe me, the joy that this trust gives me surpasses all the material beauty.