Watching planes fly above her small, seaside town in India, Pre-AP Biology teacher Suvidha Samant always wanted to be on one.

Her father always reassured her that one day, she would fly off to fulfill her dreams.

Over 10 years later, while packing her bag for the U.S., her father tapped her on the shoulder.

“Do you remember how you always wanted to fly?”

In 2008, Samant flew for the first time to the U.S. in order to obtain her masters degree in biological science at Wichita State University. Her memory of landing in America was something she’ll “never forget.”

“When it was time to land, I heard the pilot announce for everyone to remain seated,” Samant said. “Hearing that announcement, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to land in the land of my dreams, where I’m going to fulfill what I actually wanted.’ Then, when it was time for touchdown, I was actually in the restroom because all the emotions were coming through at once.”

Although her dream to come to America was finally coming true, homesickness quickly brought her back to reality. Her first few moments in the U.S. became overwhelming as her mind stayed stuck on home.

“When I first came [to the U.S.], everything seemed like it was from the books,” Samant said. “But I was missing the music, the familiarity in the language and all the home-cooked food.”

Growing up in India, Samant never learned how to cook, and she had never lived apart from her parents. When she came to America, Samant was forced to navigate things on her own.

“I don’t know how I survived,” Samant said. “My initial few years of my journey in the U.S. was learning how to cook, learning to make the little things. A little lentil soup, maybe a little rice. I didn’t know anything. It was tough.”

At first, she still felt out of place, but Samant quickly realized she was surrounded by support.

“I had people cheering for me,” Samant said. “I had people around me. My professor that I was doing my research under was very supportive and encouraging.”

Beyond academics, Samant found comfort in surrounding herself with other Indian students.

“I used to go and meet with people from my country wherever I saw them hanging around,” Samant said. “It was a good welcome. It’s hard on the weekends, because you’re all by yourself in your dormitory. It can drive you crazy if you don’t have anything to do. They used to call me over the weekend, and I used to go hang out and sing with them.”

After living by herself in the U.S. for a year, Samant returned home for summer vacation. Upon her return, she realized that America wasn’t that much different than India.

“For the first six months of being in the U.S., I thought I was in another place,” Samant said. “But after a year, this felt like home. I had supportive people around me and all their encouragement. At no point did I feel like I do not belong over here.”

Samant had planned to obtain her masters in America in order to eventually research microbiological cures. But getting a Ph.D. came as an unexpected addition to her plans.

“My dad’s a pharmacist, and my mother was a nurse, so they were in the medical field,” Samant said. “Biology was always there. I wanted to be a doctor, but I wasn’t sure if I could take the pain and suffering. So I thought, maybe being in the forefront was not me. Maybe I just wanted to be somebody who can find a cure and do the research part instead of being on the field. I looked up the options and I said, ‘Okay, I can do a Ph.D., do my research and kind of try in that field.’”

As a Ph.D. student at Texas State University, she became a teacher’s assistant and discovered a newfound passion for teaching.

“I did a little bit of teaching in India, and when I came over here, I was doing it at the university,” Samant said. “I was a [teacher’s assistant], and that’s when I was working with kids in their freshman and sophomore year of college. When I was doing the labs and teaching, there was a little moment of happiness when everybody was like, ‘Oh, we got this. We got that right.’ That’s when I thought that maybe this is what I want to do.”

Although Samant began by teaching students in their freshman and sophomore years of college, she quickly realized her real passion was in teaching high school.

“I did a little bit of teaching as a TA but then I thought, ‘I want to go down to high school teaching,’” Samant said. “I feel that in high school, the kids are more open. They have some thoughts about what they want to do, but they still are not there yet, and they probably need some guidance. They’re more open to hearing their options and what’s out there.”

Samant immediately began looking into teaching jobs. Her experiences as a substitute teacher cemented her passion for teaching high school.

“I started with [substitute teaching],” Samant said. “I just wanted to see, like, ‘What are the options? How do I get in? What should I be doing towards it?’”

In the classroom, Samant still found herself drawn to science.

“Even when I was a substitute, I used to usually take up science classes,” Samant said. “I used to quiz them and review with them. I mean, I was blessed that way. Students didn’t mind. Students were interested.”

Samant’s first job as a high school teacher was at Energy Institute High School. She spent one year teaching environmental engineering before applying to work at Bellaire.

“When I came [to Bellaire], I saw that the students are more open,” Samant said. “They are more friendly. They do not shy away from sharing what they have to share. They’re respectful, they’re mindful. Then I said, ‘Okay, this is what I wanted,’ because I thought [high school students] want to absorb as much information, knowledge and insight as they can get. When I came here, the students proved me right.”

Samant is currently in her third year of teaching Pre-AP Biology at Bellaire. Former students still continue to visit her.

“I’m always touched when students just come in randomly, even if they have nothing to do on this floor, just to say hi,” Samant said. “That’s something that always keeps me going, that at least students will remember you after you’ve taught them for a year. I mean, I have kids who come in and want to do a TikTok with me. I’m happy that they’re not shying [away] from sharing what they would like to do.”

Samant finds that being a teacher isn’t just about teaching, but about learning.

“When you’re teaching, even that one student who says, ‘Aha, I got it,’ or ‘Oh, that makes sense now’ really helped me,” Samant said. “I always tell my students ‘It’s not only you guys who are getting to learn from the teacher, it’s me who gets to learn from each one of you.’”

Sophomore and former student Laura Du recalls being initially surprised by Samant. Du found that Samant made it “easier to learn” than her previous teachers.

“My teachers [have been] really boring and quiet,” Du said. “[Their classes] were like attending a boring lecture. But [Samant] has a loud voice. She actually makes sense and makes the class interesting. I thought that was a very different change, but for the better.”

For Du, Samant lifts up her students rather than discourages them when they struggle to obtain information in class.

“When you make mistakes, she doesn’t get judgmental like some teachers,” Du said. “It definitely helps a lot of students.”

AP Biology teacher Sonia Charbonneau works with Samant, and the two often share ideas. Charbonneau calls Samant one of her “favorites at Bellaire” due to her knowledge and care.

“Her interactions with students show kindness and respect,” Charbonneau said. “Sometimes teachers are a little bit hard. What I always see from Dr. Samant is genuineness and kindness, and I admire that.”

Beyond the classroom, Samant’s care and consistency is reflected in her own journey. Samant thinks her journey from India to the U.S. has been “a smooth ride,” with few obstacles there to stop her.

“Everything just worked out,” Samant said. “I guess the universe just helped me manifest whatever I wanted to become. I [remember] that little girl who said ‘I want to fly. When will I fly?’ It just feels like this is my home. Everything seems just like a dream, but now it’s a reality.”