Padmaja A.V.N

Educator/Teacher

I am an educator, mentor and counsellor, and I have always felt that education is not only about marks, examinations or academic achievement. It is also about helping children become confident, responsible and independent individuals. Over the years, I have worked closely with students, teachers and parents in different roles. Every experience has taught me something new about children and about the kind of support they need while growing up. One thing I strongly believe in is the importance of habits. Habits build our lives. As educators and parents, I feel we have a responsibility to help children develop good habits from a young age. Simple habits like being disciplined, being responsible, managing time, communicating well, being kind and taking care of themselves and others can make life much easier as they grow. I also believe that children should be given opportunities to think, question, express themselves and share their ideas. Sometimes a child may have a wonderful idea but may not have the confidence to speak about it. Creating the right environment can help bring that confidence out. My interests have always been around education, psychology, communication, counselling and the overall development of children. I enjoy working with young people and helping them look at things from different perspectives. This is also what interests me about TEDx. I like the idea of bringing people together to share ideas and experiences that can make others stop, think and perhaps see something differently. For me, a TEDx event is not just another event on the school calendar. I would like it to be an opportunity for our students and our community to listen to different ideas, learn from one another and realise that their own thoughts and voices also have value. I hope to create an experience that stays with people even after the event is over.

I’m passionate about education and about helping children become confident, responsible and independent individuals. I’m especially passionate about developing good habits in children, because I believe the habits we build early in life shape the way we live later. I also enjoy mentoring students, understanding their individual strengths and helping them find the confidence to express themselves and their ideas.

Good habits build better lives. I believe that as parents and educators, we sometimes focus so much on children's academic success that we forget to teach them the everyday habits that help them live well. Small habits developed early—discipline, responsibility, kindness, time management, taking care of themselves and being accountable for their actions—can make a huge difference to how children grow into adults. My idea is that habit-building should be treated as an essential part of education, because good habits don't just help children succeed in school; they help them navigate life more easily and independently.

and student development., career guidance, communication, counselling, curriculum planning, Education and school leadership, student mentoring

My TED story began with my belief that every child has an idea, a story or a perspective worth sharing. As an educator, I have seen how much children can grow when they are given the confidence and the right platform to express themselves. TEDx gives me an opportunity to create that platform in my school and community. I want our students not only to listen to inspiring ideas, but also to realise that they can be the ones sharing those ideas.

People don't know I’m good at bringing people together, especially when there is a lot to organise. I enjoy taking an idea, working through the details and making it happen. I’m also good at noticing when someone needs encouragement, even when they don't say it openly.