Sometimes, the most meaningful reason to volunteer is simply wanting to see someone else succeed. For Adwika Tiwari, becoming a Zoom Teacher with SmartKids Ghana is an opportunity to help scholars discover new things, enjoy the learning process, and feel excited about what they are capable of achieving.
As a 10th-grade student at Burlington High School, Adwika is choosing to use some of her time to support scholars in Ghana through virtual teaching. What stands out about her motivation is that she is not only interested in teaching information. She is looking forward to seeing the excitement that comes when a child understands something new.
“I want to be able to educate and see kids’ faces light up learning new things and be able to make an actual impact in the world by teaching these kids.”
Her words capture the heart of why she chose to get involved. For Adwika, teaching is about more than sharing information. It is about creating moments that can make a student curious, confident, and excited to learn.
Making Learning Meaningful
Learning can be especially powerful when students feel engaged and encouraged. A teacher can introduce a new idea, but the excitement that comes when a student finally understands something can make that lesson memorable. This is one of the things Adwika is looking forward to through the SmartKids Ghana Zoom Teaching Program. She wants to create an environment where scholars feel comfortable learning, asking questions, and discovering new things. Whether she is explaining a topic, answering a question, or encouraging a scholar who may be struggling, she hopes to make each session a positive experience. For Adwika, seeing that excitement from the scholars will be one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
Using Her Time To Make An Impact
Adwika is choosing to give her time because she believes she can use it to contribute to something bigger than herself. As a high school student, she has her own school responsibilities and commitments. Still, she has chosen to make room for an experience that allows her to support children in another part of the world. Her decision reflects an understanding that creating change does not always begin with something large. Sometimes, it begins with one person deciding to show up, share what they know, and help someone else move forward. Through Zoom Teaching, Adwika will have the opportunity to connect directly with scholars in Ghana and contribute to their learning experience from thousands of miles away.
More Than Teaching A Lesson
While Adwika is joining the program to teach, she will also be building skills and gaining experiences that can stay with her long after the program ends. Teaching requires preparation, patience, communication, flexibility, and the ability to understand that every learner is different. Working with scholars from Ghana will also give Adwika the opportunity to learn about their perspectives, experiences, and interests. This makes the experience a two-way exchange. She will share what she knows, but she will also learn from the scholars she meets. Those connections can help her become a stronger communicator and a more thoughtful leader while giving her a deeper understanding of how education can connect people from different communities and backgrounds.
The Impact Of One Student
At SmartKids Ghana, we believe that young people have the ability to make a difference, regardless of their age. Adwika’s decision to become a Zoom Teacher is an example of that. She is not waiting for the perfect opportunity or for someone else to make an impact. She is choosing to use what she already has her time, knowledge, energy, and willingness to help. A single lesson may not change everything. But one lesson can make a scholar curious about a new subject. One encouraging teacher can help a student feel more confident. One positive learning experience can inspire a young person to keep asking questions. Those small moments can become part of something much bigger.
Looking Forward To The Journey
Adwika is beginning her journey with SmartKids Ghana with a clear goal, to educate, inspire curiosity, and make a genuine impact through teaching. We are excited to welcome Adwika Tiwari, a 10th-grade student at Burlington Public High School, to our Zoom Teaching Program. We look forward to seeing her connect with our scholars, share her knowledge, learn from the experience, and experience those moments when a scholar’s face lights up because they have discovered something new. Welcome to SmartKids Ghana, Adwika! We are grateful to have you with us and excited to see the impact you will make.
