BSc(hon) Mathematics from Delhi university with 5+ years experience in Australian Curriculum, IGCSE , GCSE , IB , NAPLAN , Singapore Math and Kangaroo Math , Book a free demo.

Find out more about Sonali

• Tell us more about your subject. How did you develop an interest in this field?

  I teach Mathematics and Science, and yes , I am one of those people who genuinely gets excited about solving a tricky problem!
  
  I completed my graduation in Mathematics Honors, but my love for math started much earlier. As a child, I treated math problems like little puzzles waiting to be solved. While some people enjoyed mystery novels ,i do too but i too enjoyed the feeling of finally figuring out the missing step in a problem.
  
  Today, my favorite part is helping students realize that mathematics isn't scary it's actually a subject full of discoveries, challenges, and "Aha!" moments.

• What or who is the motivation behind you choosing to teach & why?

  Honestly, teaching chose me before I chose teaching.
  
  Growing up, I was always the friend helping classmates understand concepts before exams. I loved seeing someone's face light up when a difficult topic suddenly made sense.
  
  The biggest inspiration was one of my own teachers who never made me feel afraid of making mistakes. She taught me that learning isn't about being perfect; it's about being curious.
  
  That stayed with me. I wanted to become the kind of teacher who makes students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and trying again.
  
  For me, teaching is not just a profession it's a chance to be part of a student's journey and help them discover abilities they didn't know they had.

• How does your work help society?

  I believe every student who gains confidence gains a little more power to shape their future.
  
  When I teach , I'm not just teaching how to get past that class but I'm teaching students how to think critically, solve problems, stay patient when things get difficult, and believe in themselves.
  
  Many students come to me saying, "I'm bad at math." One of my goals is to help them replace that sentence with, "I can learn this."
  
  If I can help students become more confident, resilient, and curious learners, then I know I'm contributing to a stronger society.

• If you had to think of a role model for your work, who do you think of & why?

  I've always been inspired by strong women who broke barriers in education and science when society expected them not to.
  
  One of my biggest inspirations is Savitribai Phule. She fought tirelessly to ensure that education was accessible to everyone, especially girls, at a time when educating women was considered unacceptable.
  
  More broadly, I admire all the women in STEM who continue to break stereotypes and inspire future generations. As a mathematics teacher, I love showing students , especially young girls that they belong in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics if that's where their passion lies.
  
  These women remind me every day that education has the power to transform lives, and that one dedicated teacher can create a ripple effect that lasts for generations.

• Tell us about your hobbies outside teaching.

  When I'm not teaching, you'll usually find me doing something that still involves learning or creativity!
  
  I love reading, especially books about psychology, learning techniques, and personal growth. I'm fascinated by how different minds learn differently.
  
  I also enjoy traveling, exploring new cafés, listening to music during long walks, and spending time in nature. Some of my best teaching ideas have actually come to me while taking a walk!

• Do you have an anecdote to tell us about your student or professional life?

  One story that is very close to my heart involves my very first student.
  
  When I first started teaching, I worked with a homeschooled student who had significant gaps in foundational mathematics. Despite being eager to learn, the student struggled with basic addition and subtraction and often felt frustrated when faced with even simple calculations.
  
  I still remember our early lessons. We spent entire sessions using counters, drawings, number lines, and real-life examples just to build confidence with basic arithmetic. Progress was slow but instead of rushing through the syllabus, we focused on understanding. We celebrated every small victory ,solving a subtraction problem independently, mastering multiplication tables, or confidently answering a question without hesitation.
  
  Over the next two years, we worked consistently, step by step, building one concept upon another.
  
  Today, that same student is solving algebraic equations!
  
  That journey taught me one of the most important lessons of my career: progress isn't measured by how quickly a student learns, but by how far they grow when someone believes in them and refuses to give up.
  
  As teachers, we often celebrate grades and results, but for me, watching that transformation has been one of the proudest and most rewarding moments of my professional life.