Two classrooms, eight thousand miles apart.

At Bankura Public School in New Delhi (2018 to 2020), I taught mathematics and general science to classes 5 through 8. Later, at Tempe High School in Arizona (2022 to 2023), I mentored more than 120 students in math and science through GEAR UP, the federal college-readiness initiative.

The material was similar. The students were similar too, once you got past the accents: the same mix of boredom, curiosity, and one kid in the back row who is smarter than the teacher and does not know it yet. Finding that kid is the job.