My name is Akshata Hegde, and I come from a small village in Karnataka, a state in southern India. My native language is Kannada, a language that can be challenging for non- native speakers to learn. My hometown is surrounded by hills, forests, and rivers, making it a beautiful and peaceful place to live. My family consists of four members: my father, my mother, my younger sister, and me. My father is a businessman. My mother, with over 25 years of experience, is a primary school teacher, a role she began in 1994 when it was challenging to pursue education in rural areas like the one, she grew up in. My father also pursued his undergraduate degree during a time when it was very difficult to afford education. However, he chose to focus on agriculture, developing his own farm independently. My father and mother both are very active and strong persons, always dedicated to their work. My sister recently completed her master’s in economics and is now in the process of finding a proper job. 

I grew up in India, where I completed all my education. I attended primary school in my village before moving to a hostel for higher education. I earned my bachelor’s degree in 2015 and completed my master’s in mathematics in 2017. Inspired by my mother’s dedication to teaching, I developed an interest in becoming a teacher, although I wasn’t initially sure which level—primary, secondary, or higher education—I wanted to pursue. My first teaching role was as a lecturer at a college, where I taught undergraduate students. Initially, it was quite challenging to teach adults, and I struggled to find my footing. However, over time, with guidance from colleagues and feedback from students, I improved and became a more confident teacher. 

In 2019, I transitioned to teaching students in grades 8 to 10, which presented new challenges as I worked with students from diverse backgrounds and learning abilities. My mentor, an experienced teacher with extensive knowledge in both science and mathematics, taught me many teaching strategies. His support allowed me to witness real progress in my students’ learning, making it a memorable and rewarding experience. I have several hobbies, including painting, gardening, and singing, and I’ve always been interested in learning one of the cultural dance of Karnataka(Bharatanatya), though I haven’t had the opportunity yet. 

At the end of 2021, I got married and moved to the United Arab Emirates with my husband. It was my first time living outside India, and although I initially missed my family, I gradually adapted to the new environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I took the opportunity to learn new skills, including cooking, which I continued to enjoy after moving to Dubai. I didn’t seek a job during my time there, as I focused on adjusting to my new lifestyle. 

My husband works as a lab engineer at a university in the UAE. We had an arranged marriage, and our families knew each other well beforehand. In Indian culture, it’s traditional for a woman to move to her husband’s home after marriage, and since his family also lives in the same district as mine, the transition was easy. My husband and I both love traveling and experiencing new places. We enjoy taking on challenges and exploring new things, which is why we left a well- settled life in the UAE, invested a lot of time and money, and came to Canada to pursue our dream. 

We come from a culturally rooted family, where traditions and values are deeply respected. My parents and grandparents instilled in me the importance of respecting elders, being disciplined, and staying strong in the face of challenges. My grandmother, who passed away a few years ago, had a profound impact on me during my childhood, sharing stories with moral lessons from our cultural books. She, along with my parents, shaped my identity and values. My husband continues to motivate me to stay strong and maintain a positive outlook on life. But we faced one of the hardships recently, the sudden death of my uncle just three days before our scheduled move to Canada. We were torn between staying with our family and continuing with our plans, but after spending a few days with them, we decided to go ahead with our journey. It was a difficult time, but we persevered. 

My goal is to become a certified teacher and gain international teaching experience in a diverse learning classroom, and that’s why I am here today—to pursue my Bachelor of Education degree. I am really passionate about learning and teaching and I want to gain more knowledge about teaching. My husband has been a huge support in this journey, and it took us about a year to prepare for this move. I worked hard to my IELTS and Canadian studies exams, applied for visas, and fortunately, I was granted one. I have been exploring new volunteer opportunities and adjusting to a new lifestyle again. It’s going to be a bit challenging for me, as I moved from a hot climate to here, but I am open to these challenges. 

This education is not only a step toward my future but also a gift to my mother, my first teacher and inspiration.