Catholic Connect, an online news portal, published an inspiring story on June 15 that can motivate many teachers. Naveen Hulihalli, a former student of CS Vastrad at Kumareshwar High School, Hangal, Karnataka, gifted his teacher a brand-new Maruti Suzuki Swift as a lifelong expression of gratitude. This highly inspiring gesture took place during the farewell function held in honour of Mr Vastrad's retirement.

There is a touching background to this story. Naveen lost his father during childhood and faced extreme poverty. He was on the verge of dropping out of school when Mr Vastrad, the headmaster, stepped in. Mr Vastrad paid Naveen's school fees for several years and supported him through his post-graduation studies. The teacher also conducted special classes during holidays to help students succeed.

Naveen, now a successful professional working at a multinational company in Bengaluru, surprised everyone by presenting his teacher with the car keys. Upon receiving the car, the moved teacher announced that he would use the vehicle entirely for serving society.

On June 15, during a seminar for teachers at a higher secondary school in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, participants were asked to share the challenges they face in their teaching profession and mission. The challenges they shared were many, and some of them were quite complex.

Challenges Faced by Teachers
1.    Students often show little respect for teachers and are often undisciplined.
2.    They are quick-tempered and prone to anger. They increasingly question rules, sometimes aggressively.
3.    Because of the prevalence of nuclear families, single-parent homes, and working parents, students often seek attention, validation, and emotional security from teachers. However, many teachers are not formally trained to provide such support.
4.    Students frequently face intense pressure to perform, leading to anxiety, fear of failure, and low self-esteem.
5.    Their attention span is very short, and they expect quick solutions to everything.
6.    Some students are exposed to alcohol, vaping, and drugs.
7.    Mobile phone addiction leads to reduced attention span, poor memory, impatience, and a lack of deep thinking.
8.    Excessive exposure to social media contributes to mental health issues. Depression, loneliness, anger, identity confusion, and trauma are increasingly common among students.
9.    Students are familiar with modern communication technologies, including Artificial Intelligence. Consequently, traditional teaching methods are no longer sufficient to capture the attention of digital-native learners.
These challenges are faced not only by teachers in a particular school but also by teachers across most parts of the country, especially in urban areas. Because of the revolution in Information and Communication Technology, the role of the teacher as a mere instructor has been greatly reduced. Almost all kinds of information are readily available to students through the internet and mobile phones.

Teacher as a Mentor: Ways and Means of Becoming One
Against this backdrop, the role of the teacher increasingly resembles that of a mentor. In the ancient Indian Gurukula system, the Guru (teacher) was a spiritual guide, life coach, and mentor rather than merely a dispenser of facts. Education focused on holistic development, including character formation, life skills, and individual guidance. Instruction was tailored to each student's unique nature, and teachers taught primarily through their daily actions and personal integrity.

While it is not feasible to return fully to the Gurukula system, some of its valuable aspects can be integrated into the current educational framework to address contemporary challenges.

Focus on the Three Levels of Educational Results
Educational institutions and teachers must focus equally on the three levels of educational results: output, outcome, and impact.

Output refers to students' academic performance in examinations and co-curricular activities. Outcome refers to the overall transformation and growth of students, encompassing both character and competence during their school years. Impact emphasises the positive changes students bring to society when they enter various professions.

A teacher acting as a mentor accompanies students even after they leave school. This is precisely what teacher CS Vastrad did for Naveen Hulihalli. Unfortunately, many educational institutions and teachers remain primarily concerned with educational output. Even the development of competence—knowledge and skills—is often inadequate in many institutions, while character formation is frequently neglected.

Without competence, a person of character may not contribute significantly to society, but they are unlikely to cause harm. Conversely, a competent person without character can inflict tremendous damage on society. History provides many such examples, one of whom was Adolf Hitler, who was responsible for the genocide of about ninety lakh people.

Accept Teaching as a Mission Beyond a Profession
Teaching is considered a mission rather than merely a profession because it fundamentally shapes human lives and society. Beyond imparting academic knowledge, teachers serve as mentors, counsellors, and role models who inspire character development, instil lifelong values, and empower students to realise their full potential.

The role of a teacher transcends typical professional boundaries because of its long-term impact, emotional involvement, and contribution to societal transformation through the younger generation. Above all, the motivation of a genuine teacher is not purely financial but rooted in a passion to see others succeed, grow, and contribute meaningfully to the world.

Recognise the Uniqueness of Each Student
The saying, "To teach Thomas English, one should know not only English but also Thomas," highlights the importance of recognising each student's uniqueness. A teacher must strive to understand each student individually and identify their unique talents and abilities. Teachers should be aware that every human being enters the world with a unique mission. They should nurture their students' dreams based on their distinct qualities and talents.

Build Trust in Students
Building trust and confidence in students is essential for becoming a good mentor. Students should feel assured that whatever they share with a teacher will remain confidential. Maintaining confidentiality is therefore a crucial requirement for a mentor. Students must also trust that the teacher can guide them effectively.

To create trust, teachers need to move from an attitude of authority to one of guidance. Mentorship is not about control but about accompaniment and support. Instead of saying, "Do this because I said so," a teacher should say, "Let us understand why this matters."

Model Values, Not Just Teach Them
Teachers must become role models if they wish to be genuine mentors. They may need to give up negative habits such as poor punctuality, dishonesty, and gossiping. Teachers should never compromise on core values such as honesty, integrity, and respect for the dignity of every human being.

They must practise the values they seek to inculcate in their students. In other words, they must become the change they wish to see in their students.

Students learn more from teachers' behaviour than from their lectures. A teacher's calmness, honesty, empathy, consistency, and ability to resolve conflicts speak louder than moral science lessons. The way teachers handle their own stress and failures can significantly influence students.

Provide Emotional Support to Students
An important aspect of becoming an effective mentor is providing emotional support and encouragement to students. Today's children experience various forms of stress for many reasons. Family problems often disturb them. The cut-throat competition in society and the high expectations of parents regarding academic performance frequently make children anxious and vulnerable to mental health issues.

Teachers should be able to notice signs such as a sudden decline in performance, isolation, aggression, or persistent sleepiness, which may indicate deeper problems. Gentle conversations with the concerned student and timely referrals to counsellors can prevent serious crises.
Regular communication with parents and school counsellors can greatly assist students in overcoming emotional and mental health challenges.

Integrate Life Skills and Ethical Values into Teaching
Self-awareness, self-management, empathy, problem-solving, decision-making, interpersonal relationships, the ability to accept criticism, stress management, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration are essential life skills that teachers should integrate into their teaching, regardless of the subject they teach.

Similarly, Indian constitutional values—Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity—along with values such as forgiveness, love, and compassion, should be imparted to students to help build the peaceful and harmonious society envisioned by the Constitution of India.

Teachers should also help students learn to say "No" to unhealthy peer pressure, excessive screen time, and substance abuse.

Be Digitally Aware, Not Dismissive
Teachers do not need to be technology experts, but they should understand the digital world in which students live, including digital learning, social media engagement, entertainment and gaming, information abundance, and online communities and networking.
Teachers need to help students develop critical thinking, responsible online behaviour, time management skills, and awareness of online safety and privacy.

They should discuss social media openly with students—its benefits, dangers, and limitations—and guide them towards healthy screen habits rather than imposing blanket bans. They should also help students use Artificial Intelligence responsibly and judiciously. Students must understand that AI is a tool that enhances human capabilities and not a substitute for independent thinking.

Conclusion
Every challenge is also an opportunity. If teachers remain open to continuous learning and combine creativity with hard work, challenges can be transformed into opportunities. Educational institutions must provide the necessary support and encouragement to enable teachers to respond effectively to these challenges and become true mentors to their students.