Sharing Our Inner Weather: Check-ins and Check-outs at Paro

The moment I stepped into Paro College of Education, I was prepared to learn pedagogy, curriculum and all the responsibilities that accompanied being a prospective teacher. What I could not have imagined was a practice so natural and so profound that it would transform the way I understand emotional well-being, not just in class rooms, but in life itself. This is called “Sharing of Inner Weather” a daily check-in and check-out which has been a cornerstone of our life here at the college.

At the start of each module session, our tutors begin with a simple yet powerful question, “How are you feeling today?” As the class ends, they ask again, “How are you leaving the room?” These brief, open-ended check-ins carry significant weight. They create space for reflection, allowing us to pause amidst the rush of student life and acknowledge emotions we often overlook or push aside.

At first, I found this practice weird and not a preferred comfort. One must be courageous and bold enough to say what is going on inside him or her. Damn! 32 faces in a class, scared to be criticized and laughed at. Yet, a realization hit me – in high schools, we were barely questioned about how we felt. There, it was all about homework, studying for exams and staying in discipline. Emotional check-ins did not occur at all during the day. But at Paro College, the emphasis on emotional and mental well-being surprised me and was comforting to me.

As a college student, I have come to understand, just how much feelings we go through each day. One moment I am sure of myself and filled with energy, and then the next moment, I am stressed or unsure. It is normal that our moods change on the spot like weather depending on workload, homesickness, social pressures or even outdoor environment. Thus, when our tutors get time to allow us talking freely of what we feel, it allows space for us to breathe.

“I feel sunny today.” “There’s a storm in my head.” or “I’m in a fog.”  are some of the metaphors my friends use to describe their mood. Others share more directly: “I’m tired,” “I’m excited for the presentation,” or “I’m happy about the coming weekends.”  Even though not regularly, simply acknowledging these feelings out loud sometimes helps ease the burden. Other times, our instructors or peers give us good strategies or understanding support. It is most critical that we are heard and are visible. And we are not alone in this.

This practice has also strengthened our sense of community. When a classmate shares, “I’m feeling low today,” it invites empathy and understanding. It’s a reminder that behind every bright smile, there may be unseen struggles, that the person beside us might be hurting, just like we sometimes are. Over time, these honest moments of sharing have drawn us closer. We’ve become more compassionate, more supportive, and more deeply connected.

To me, “sharing of inner weather” has also changed my teaching style. It’s made me see that teaching is not just about information or classroom management. It’s about relationships. It’s about investing in students not as students only but as people. If I can tune in to my own emotions and learn about others’ emotional needs, I can become a better teacher, one who creates a safe, embracing and nurturing environment for every child.

This is also the kind of habit that has bred self-awareness and self-regulation. By noting how we are feeling at the start and end of each session, we begin to pick up on patterns. Knowing it meant that I could make better choices for my body and mind. These small acknowledgments have helped me build healthier habits and be in charge of my own emotions.

In the hurly burly, competitive world of today, emotional intelligence is the last thing on one’s mind. At Paro College, however, one is gently reminded that education is not only about the head but about the heart, too. “Sharing our inner weather” has gone from being a ritual to a witness to the fact that well-being matters, that feelings matter, and that learning can only happen when we are safe, loved, and heard.

To anyone who is entering into this noble profession, don’t underestimate the power of a simple check-in. Sometimes having the power to say “How are you today?” can turn one’s day or even life. There is something special in this habit that makes us feel at ease and begin the day with negative energy within us released.

In general, for me this simple habit of checking on students mental state has been inspiring. It’s something that I will carry with me into my own future classroom, not just as a technique, but as an attitude. After all, emotional well-being is not something that we should be holding within ourselves, it’s perfectly acceptable to inform the nice people in our lives how we feel and allow them to assist and direct us because we are all here grooming, learning and maturing to become a good person in the future.