At 22, when most are raring for a corporate career, Amit Mistry joined the Teach for America initiative. “I wanted to do something service-oriented before starting my career.” His choice was made easier by his stint as a teaching assistant during his undergraduate chemical engineering studies. “And I also enjoyed volunteering with kids,” says Amit, now 30, and working with a Democrat Congressman on various health and education issues.
The BS in chemical engineering from Rice University taught high school chemistry, physical science and algebra for two years in New Orleans. An experience that was not without its initial hiccups, challenges and as it is with any clear-minded and noble endeavour—the inevitable rewards. “It was extremely difficult to go from being a student at my university to being in charge of my own classroom.”
But Amit managed well enough. In the two years, he realised that to make science appealing to kids, designing lessons and assignments and, all the while, maintaining discipline were anything but child’s play. Once he got into the groove, though, Amit found himself enjoying the time. “I felt especially rewarded after a good lesson, when I felt students left my classroom learning something new or being able to do something they couldn't do before.”
But education is also about shared memories and character building. Amit recalls organising a Saturday cleanup, where many of his students helped clean the campus and repaint the gazebo. “I also remember sharing quite a few laughs with students. One of my chemistry students proclaimed during a lecture, ‘May the phosphorus be with you, Mr Mistry’. And I remember a student interrupting an exam when he noticed my name was in the word ‘chemistry’.”
Clearly, says Amit, he is a better communicator today because of the experience. “I also have a better perspective on many problems affecting under-served communities in the US.”
The young teacher moved on to do a PhD in bioengineering from Rice University and also obtained a teaching certificate from the State of Louisiana. He then worked at Research!America on various science policy and advocacy issues. Recently, in September, Amit began a Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship sponsored by the Materials Research Society and the Optical Society of America. For the fellowship, Amit works for Congressman Edward J Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, on various health and education issues.
The BS in chemical engineering from Rice University taught high school chemistry, physical science and algebra for two years in New Orleans. An experience that was not without its initial hiccups, challenges and as it is with any clear-minded and noble endeavour—the inevitable rewards. “It was extremely difficult to go from being a student at my university to being in charge of my own classroom.”
But Amit managed well enough. In the two years, he realised that to make science appealing to kids, designing lessons and assignments and, all the while, maintaining discipline were anything but child’s play. Once he got into the groove, though, Amit found himself enjoying the time. “I felt especially rewarded after a good lesson, when I felt students left my classroom learning something new or being able to do something they couldn't do before.”
But education is also about shared memories and character building. Amit recalls organising a Saturday cleanup, where many of his students helped clean the campus and repaint the gazebo. “I also remember sharing quite a few laughs with students. One of my chemistry students proclaimed during a lecture, ‘May the phosphorus be with you, Mr Mistry’. And I remember a student interrupting an exam when he noticed my name was in the word ‘chemistry’.”
Clearly, says Amit, he is a better communicator today because of the experience. “I also have a better perspective on many problems affecting under-served communities in the US.”
The young teacher moved on to do a PhD in bioengineering from Rice University and also obtained a teaching certificate from the State of Louisiana. He then worked at Research!America on various science policy and advocacy issues. Recently, in September, Amit began a Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship sponsored by the Materials Research Society and the Optical Society of America. For the fellowship, Amit works for Congressman Edward J Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, on various health and education issues.
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