The Moment: Student Teaching

As a student in the Teaching and Teacher Leadership Program, Akanksha Pabari, Ed.M.’25, spent the past school year out in the field, teaching at Somerville High School, less than three miles from Harvard. She says the hardest thing about teaching at the high school level is supporting students who constantly say to her: I can’t do chemistry. 

“Many come in with preconceived notions that chemistry is too difficult for them,” she says. “As a former student who struggled a great deal with chemistry, I can empathize. While it’s challenging to shift this mindset, my hope is to show students that they can succeed. I do my best to create an environment where students feel safe to make mistakes, ask questions, and learn together.” 

When asked what she loves about teaching high school, she doesn’t hesitate: the relationships with her students. “The conversations and small interactions I had with my high school teachers really impacted me. They were always my biggest cheerleaders and sources of support,” Pabari says. “I love that I have the chance to do the same for my students. As they’re growing into their own shoes and finding their voices, I am grateful I get to be part of that journey. I also really enjoy the fun I get to have with my students. Whether it’s our inside jokes or class games, my students always manage to make me smile.”