Meet Nilmini Ratwatte, an elementary school teacher with a heart woven with threads of Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights. In the vibrant landscape of social media, she’s not just connected; she’s actively writing and advocating in these crucial areas.
Life’s journey is a winding path, and for Nilmini, it led to the fulfilling world of education. The dream to be a teacher took root early, sprouting into reality during high school when she seized an opportunity to teach Kindergarten at a daycare center. The excitement of that experience fueled her passion, dating back to a childhood dream at the tender age of three.
High school presented its challenges—fitting in socially, adapting to a new language, and building new friendships. Nilmini’s resilience shone as she embraced a demanding schedule, teaching Kindergarten during the early hours, attending school, and returning for the late afternoon shift, all while completing high school. It was a transformative period that shaped her work ethic and, ultimately, her decision to pursue teaching in university.
But life has its surprises, and a detour into the world of fashion during a summer job introduced Nilmini to a love that lingered. The experience in retail not only adorned her with the best clothing but also presented a managerial opportunity. Yet, her unwavering commitment to becoming a teacher prevailed, as she declined the offer to pursue her degree in Child Studies in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Nilmini’s story is a testament to the unpredictable yet beautifully aligned moments that shape our journeys. It’s about opening doors, adapting to change, and embracing the unique paths we carve for ourselves. Her philosophy resonates with the idea that we can’t control others’ perceptions, but we can always aspire to be our best selves—a guiding principle she carries with a smile through the exciting and hardworking tapestry of her life.
Resilience and Generosity
Nilmini often reflects on the journey she and others take to get to places in their lives—never easy, but worth the moments of reflection, conflicts, and effective communication strategies learned along the way. Astounding statistics reveal the challenges faced by women and children living in poverty, struggling to lift themselves out with small business ventures to encourage a positive mindset.
Nilmini’s journey in the province of Ontario, Canada, has been filled with ups and downs and adventures. Immigrating as a teenager from the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, Nilmini, born resilient, understood the importance of carving her own path to success in life’s journey. Invaluable lessons have shaped her into the person she is today, with a commitment to growth and change while holding onto her core self.
Giving back to the community became a fundamental part of Nilmini’s belief system and identity. Volunteering, organizing, and generously contributing to her community allowed her to align her actions with her goals. The journey has been eventful, marked by embracing diverse perspectives, finding resolutions to unexpected conflicts, and adopting the mantra of “Dance in the Rain instead of waiting for the storm to pass.”
This philosophy served as a consistent reminder for Nilmini, helping her maintain balance and appreciation for gratitude. She takes pride in achieving this equilibrium, making time for herself and her loved ones, and being there for everyone that matters in her life. The path Nilmini has forged reflects her commitment to collaboration, inclusiveness, and a deep understanding of equity for women in leadership roles, aiming for equal outcomes in various aspects of the world.
Consistent Leadership
Nilmini remains consistent regardless of her surroundings, embodying a reflective nature and dedicating herself wholeheartedly to her work. With a born leadership quality, she maintains a strong individual mindset while also being a receptive listener, understanding the visions of others and collaboratively steering projects towards success.
Passionate about her chosen work, Nilmini actively shares her ideas with others, contributing to positive changes and fostering a growth mindset. Her leadership style is characterized by unwavering positivity, always seeing the glass as refillable in any situation. Building strong relationships both within and outside the workplace, Nilmini’s leadership is marked by a commitment to inclusiveness, collaboration, and a shared vision for growth and success.
Landed for Success
Nilmini enthusiastically shares her most recent endeavor, working with “Landed for Success” to put Student Voices center stage through Student Success Talks. Before taking on any role, she engages in reflective thinking, considering how she can contribute to her portfolio and foster personal growth. Last summer, the call for “opportunities for students” ignited her excitement to explore the business world with the Landed for Success team.
In her role, Nilmini has the privilege to listen, observe, and witness the solutions that emerge. This hands-on approach allows her to establish a meaningful connection with the younger generation, understanding the impact of lessons one student at a time. Her passion, excitement, and motivation drive her to amplify student voices, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see how her lessons have been absorbed and adapted to create a phenomenal and positive impact on the world.
Journey of Growth and Connection
Nilmini steps into the shoes of someone reflecting on the complexities of education, acknowledging it as one of the most challenging roles where every child, family, curriculum, and life situation is unique. She resonates with the sentiment that to make strides, set high standards, and develop students to their best potential, one must have their heart invested in the students.
For Nilmini, growth in education, as in any other field, is a personal journey. She emphasizes the importance of individual choice as a voice, finding a mentor or “fementor” who resonates with and motivates you, and setting clear goals. In the realm of teaching, she believes in staying up-to-date while recognizing the uniqueness of each teacher’s skill set in managing student reflections, technology, and behavior in classrooms.
Teaching, for Nilmini, transcends the concept of personal growth—it’s about building unique and invaluable relationships. The heart of teaching lies in the connections formed with students, their families, and the community. Once this skill set of relationship-building is mastered, everything else falls into place. Nilmini passionately acknowledges that as teachers, they play a role in raising everyone else’s children as if they were their own.
Initiatives for Positive Change
Nilmini is driven to make positive changes in society, education, and the daily lives of people. Here are three areas she aims to improve:
- Equitable Access to Education and Skills Development: Provide more opportunities with funding, grants, and loans for individuals to pursue education, trades, or skill development on their own terms. Emphasize equity and social justice in access, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to be successful.
- Support for Families and Children: Fund public services to ensure programming for before and after-school child care for all ages, enabling families to sustain themselves with working hours. Advocate for subsidized funding for child care to make it equity and social justice-driven, recognizing the importance of supporting families in their daily lives.
- Global Connectivity through Technology: Connect the world through technology by providing equitable access to computer hubs, internet, and devices.
Approach technology initiatives with a social justice mindset to bridge gaps and create a more connected and accessible world.
Nilmini recognizes the challenge of understanding equity but emphasizes its effectiveness in addressing classism, poverty, and discrimination. In education, she advocates for an equitable distribution of resources, considering aspects like school supplies, internet access, devices, and more. She believes that removing financial barriers is crucial to ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
Promoting social justice education is an emotional investment, requiring a willingness to learn. Nilmini encourages creating a climate in schools and communities that accepts and believes in achieving social justice as the norm. She suggests practical actions, such as non-perishable food drives, to understand and contribute to the needs of local communities, fostering a sense of service and understanding among students and teachers alike.
Finding Strength in Diversity
Nilmini’s family is a diverse and vibrant tapestry of unique ideas, values, and personalities, serving as a constant inspiration for seeking positive sounding boards before embarking on any plan of action. The happiest part of her daily routine is returning home and expressing gratitude for the wonderful people she has brought into her life. Gratitude becomes a crucial element in her downtime, providing moments of reflection.
The strength lies in the support and challenges from friends and family. They serve as cheerleaders but also as constructive critics, allowing Nilmini to lead confidently even in the absence of support. This ability stems from building strong yet resilient relationships that empower her. Challenging relationships have taught her to develop thick skin and trust her intuition when bringing people into her life.
For Nilmini, friendships go beyond mere connections—they are the family that has evolved over the years. These relationships are marked by strength, resilience, and the ability to be there during both the good and challenging moments. Whether sharing tears, conversations over a movie, or a comforting cup of tea, these friends have seen the real Nilmini and supported her journey, celebrating successes and cherishing the shared experiences that shape their paths in life.
Embracing Opportunities in Educational Technology
Nilmini recognizes that technology has been the most significant change in the educational landscape, impacting teachers, educational systems, and schools. While it has brought numerous advancements, the challenges arise from varying levels of support among stakeholders, including federations, school boards, parent councils, students, community businesses, elected trustees, educational workers, and political leaders in education.
The primary challenge, according to Nilmini, lies in the needed mindset change rather than the technical aspects of incorporating technology into education. Overcoming this challenge involves not just learning how to use technology but also ensuring that students and parents see the positive outcomes it can bring.
Despite the challenges, Nilmini focuses on the possibilities that technology offers, particularly in connecting schools globally. The ability to use platforms like Zoom and Teams, remote learning, and accessing educational resources from home brings a smile to her face. She sees the potential for technology to eliminate obstacles by providing every child, student, and young adult with access, allowing the younger generation to lead with a globally connected mindset.
Nilmini emphasizes the importance of garnering support from businesses, as their involvement can play a crucial role in ensuring that technology becomes a tool for empowerment, helping the younger generation navigate and contribute to a more connected and technologically advanced world.
Advocating for Education Worldwide
Nilmini expresses tremendous enthusiasm about working with the Landed for Success Team, aiming to take Student Success Talks worldwide. Her first envisioned stop is her birth country, Sri Lanka, where she hopes to inspire girls and women to establish themselves, make a difference, and achieve financial independence. Her initial goal involves encouraging collaboration among males to support this cause.
Beyond this, Nilmini aspires to lead an organization that actively seeks and implements meaningful change, focusing on improving the lives of children globally by providing access to education. While she acknowledges the importance of setting smart goals, she prefers a less structured approach, allowing for guidance from others and embracing a “Road less traveled.”
Looking ahead, Nilmini envisions goals like working with UNESCO, engaging in diplomacy, and contributing to politics, particularly leading Sri Lanka. She also expresses a passion for collaborating with businesses to promote equity principles and potentially representing Canada on an international stage.
Nilmini’s long-term aspirations include leadership roles in organizations such as UN Human Rights, UN Women, and contributing to the United Nations Global Goals. She emphasizes that her skill set will be put to use to make positive changes, taking one step at a time in her journey. She recognizes that there is ample time in the span of a lifetime and appreciates the gift of time, emphasizing the importance of experiencing each step in the journey rather than rushing toward a destination. Nilmini’s philosophy involves opening doors one at a time, gaining valuable experiences, and leading organizations while cherishing the journey along the way.
Passion, Authenticity, and Inclusion
Nilmini shares valuable advice for those interested in her areas of expertise and passion:
- Follow Your Passion with Pragmatism: Pursue your passion in life and work, but also ensure that the market is hiring and positions are available for you to apply to, especially as you work on teacher certification.
- Learn, Aspire, and Be Yourself: Follow your unique path, continuously learn, and aspire to be authentic to yourself. Embrace your individuality and let it guide your journey.
- Embrace the Journey, Not Just the Destination: Understand that the journey itself is an experience, and every moment, including meeting people, laughing, and expressing gratitude, contributes to its worth. Appreciate all the moments in between, as they make the journey meaningful.
- Be Brave in Inviting Inclusion: As future education workers, be courageous in promoting inclusion. Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s Day by leading as teachers and aspiring to be equity-minded to achieve equality in the Women’s Rights Movement.
Nilmini encourages a holistic approach to one’s professional and personal journey, emphasizing the importance of aligning passion with practicality, staying true to oneself, and cherishing every moment along the way.
