Lavanya first became a teacher on the advice of her parents, but she soon gained confidence in her path and took her career into her own hands, relocating to Melbourne to study a Master of Education.
Lavanya started working as an English teacher in her hometown of Chandigarh, India, after her parents encouraged her to pursue a career in education. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, but her parents were convinced she would make a great teacher.
As it turned out, they were right:
“Over time, I developed a genuine passion for the profession,” she said.
“It wasn’t just the act of teaching that inspired me, but also the dynamics within schools — how teachers interact with one another, the culture of the staff room, and the overall environment that shapes both educators and learners.”
She had found her calling, and was ready to further develop her career in education with a masters.
When I was researching universities across Australia, the University of Melbourne stood out to me because of the range and quality of its electives.
Leadership and management subjects were the most compelling for Lavanya, and she ended up specialising in this area.
“I wanted to better understand how educational systems function and how school leaders can create positive, supportive, and effective learning communities.”
“I relocated to Melbourne specifically to study at the University of Melbourne, drawn by its strong academic reputation and global outlook.”
“The passion and dedication the tutors bring to their subjects” was what struck Lavanya after she started studying at Melbourne.
She found that her classmates – who brought a wealth of knowledge of their own – were equally engaged, resulting in “discussions [that] brought the coursework to life”.
“I learned almost as much from their insights, perspectives, and real-world experiences as I did from the formal curriculum. That kind of collaborative and respectful learning environment has been one of the most enriching aspects of my time at the Faculty.”
Lavanya felt that her studies prepared her well for her continued career in education, with timely and relevant subjects covering contemporary topics and issues facing educators today.
“One subject that really stood out to me during my time at the Faculty was the unit on AI in Education. It offered incredibly timely and practical insights into how artificial intelligence is shaping teaching, learning, and educational leadership.”
What I appreciated most was how current and applicable the content was — it addressed real-world challenges and opportunities that I encounter almost every day.
Lavanya now works at an EdTech company as a student adviser, helping learners achieve their goals, pursue further study, and find their own paths to success.
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