Nalini Gangadhar

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE?
I love that I’m more carefree, unapologetic, and a little bold sometimes. Being an empty nester gives you time to pursue your old hobbies again, reinvent yourself, and make time for self-care. I don’t want to say I love having an empty nest, but I like that we have time to stop, smell the roses, and do things in a little more relaxed manner rather than run, run, run when the children are younger.

WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU STRONGER?
Growing up, we struggled financially, and seeing relatives mobilize and help us ensure our family’s success was the impetus for me to pay it forward. We can give somebody money, but they will spend it. But if you help them with education or food, that has a lasting impact. If you educate one person, then that entire family prospers, and that person will make sure their children appreciate the value of it, too.
Experiencing family hardships made me want to impact people in the same ways it impacted me. My husband is a surgeon. He gave back by giving the gift of vision and healing. I am giving back by mobilizing and making a difference.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
At the beginning of the pandemic, I wanted to do something more and give back. When the world was shut down, we were part of an organization in my hometown in India called Building Block Schools. My family was sponsoring the education of a couple of girls, and I wanted to teach them while schools were closed. I started a free online virtual tutorial program (Educate to Empower) to help tutor the underprivileged students in that school system. I thought it would be a COVID experiment, but it took off. It started with me, one teacher teaching 2 hours a day to one student, and now it’s a movement with over 290 students being tutored from 5th to 10th grade. Voluntary teachers worldwide teach these children all kinds of subjects: English, Kannada, Hindi, math, science, and social studies.
My husband used to read stories, and my children taught English.

That’s my most significant achievement. Even though I’m at home, I can make an impact. Little did I know I created a grassroots movement where people told their friends, and at one point, from word of mouth, we have 120 teachers today.

I saw all those children this past December when I went to India. I had a wonderful time with them; they put on a program with all kinds of entertainment. Instead of seeing them on screen, I finally got to see them in person and hug them.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?
Last Christmas, my husband and I visited Singapore for a few days and made it to Bali to celebrate his friend’s 60th birthday. I ended the trip by visiting India and meeting my entire family, all my relatives, my college girlfriends, and then the Building Block students. That was the most extravagant thing that I did, covering three countries.
It’ll be memorable forever; I hadn’t seen my family and relatives in five years, since pre-Covid, it was very special.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
All material things can be replaced. Even though I’m not a professional artist, I would run with my artwork and passport first if there was a fire or anything.
You can replace everything, but what I created when I was young is still special.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
I never make a bucket list; I live vicariously through my husband. Whatever he wants to do, I do. I visit places with my husband and visit museums because he knows I love them. But there was one thing I always wanted to do, which was to ride a camel. When we were in Abu Dhabi, we were going for a camel ride, but it was a very dusty, windy day. We ended up having to cancel it. Then I thought, maybe one day I will ride an elephant, and I did ride an elephant at a sanctuary in Bali. I ticked that off.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?
When my adult children visit me, that makes me happy. My oldest lives in San Francisco, and my youngest lives in Chicago.
Now that I’m in midlife, I have time to stop and smell the roses. I appreciate the little things in life, do something for myself, and meet with girlfriends. I give back to the community and volunteer. I sleep more, exercise more, and laugh more with my friends.
I will never be a master gardener, but I like growing herbs and arranging flowers.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I would tell my younger self to be more confident, take risks, be empowered with female mentors, and not be nervous about making mistakes. It’s OK to fall and get up and try things.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
I would tell younger women to be assertive, seek out positive friends, engage in their community, and vote.

WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?
I’m most proud of the fact that giving excites me. I had two uncles and aunts who were responsible for the education of my brother, sister, and me when my dad had financial constraints.
I always think that somebody invested in me and that I should be giving back; I love helping other people. That’s why I volunteered with Humankind ministries and joined Rotary. It’s all about making your community stronger and giving back. Rotary engages on an international level. Giving back is the trait I am most proud of. I’ve learned how to collaborate with others and give back in bigger ways, and it doesn’t always have to be money; it could be your time or your talent; there are different forms of giving back.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVORITE QUOTE?
My favorite quotes are from Mahatma Gandhi. He says that ‘poverty is the worst form of violence’ and that ‘be the change you wish to see in the world.’
It’s great to make such a big impact on many families with Educate to Empower. I had this vision of teaching online for one child, and then the founder of Building Block School asked to add more students. I got involved with my Sunday school, friends in Wichita, and the international students at WSU, and they all started and helped out with this program. It then grew proportionally. You don’t have to invent something, but you can join a movement and collaborate to make an impact. That’s why I’m part of Humankind Ministries; one person can only do so much, but joining the right organizations can be more impactful. My dad was a Lions Club member, and I saw my parents doing things like that in India.
During COVID, we taught classes from 8 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m., but when schools reopened, we couldn’t teach all day, so we taught 2 hours before and 2 hours after school.

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?
No drama Mamas. Just enjoy and celebrate each other. And be there for each other because we’ve all seen our children grow up together. Now, as adults, make sure everybody’s thriving, and if not, if somebody needs to hold somebody’s hand, that’s OK. Just celebrate each other and help each other because everybody has ups and downs in life.

HOW DID YOU CHANGE OVER THE YEARS?
Working with the larger community gives you an understanding of its needs. You learn from other leaders in the organization and learn to take chances. It’s OK to agree to disagree as long as there’s a big vision and everybody follows it.
Over the years, I have observed people and learned to take risks, and with age and maturity, I have gained confidence.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I’m very vocal and have gotten bolder, but I would love more patience. I have abundant patience for my students, but I’m not the same at home. I want to be more patient and learn not to react immediately.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS?
I wish future generations a peaceful world with abundant opportunities. The younger generation is mindful, believes in work-life balance, and is all about giving back to their communities. Pay it forward, create a nicer world, accept all, and be engaged in your community.

WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY AT THIS AGE?
Time spent with my adult children brings me the most joy at this age. I get excited whenever my adult children are home; I get to set four instead of two plates. And now we have a son, and I get to put five plates. Something else that excites me is that I’ll live vicariously through other people’s children because I’m a teacher and math coach. So my children and other people willing to share their children with me because. It keeps me young, quality time spent with children; they will be our future.

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?
My superpower is mobilizing and energizing people. Everybody can donate something by giving time or nonmonetary things that other people still value, which makes them feel empowered and allows them to impact others, too.
My students and girlfriends are all so sweet. I share anything I want to do in my WhatsApp groups, and somebody always comes in and helps out.

DO YOU LIKE BEING 40+?
As your children age and leave home, you’re reinventing yourself. It feels like a fresh start. It’s cool to be 40-plus.

WHEN IN YOUR LIFE, SO FAR, HAVE YOU FELT MOST CONFIDENT, AND WHY?
After I turned 50, I felt most confident; I had more experiences in life and more meaningful interactions with organizations and community members. I felt a sense of self-worth that I could also be someone and make an impact. Some people mature early, some later; I’m a late bloomer.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
It all comes with confidence; I didn’t feel less confident as a younger woman. But now I’ve gotten older, I love to dress up and wear nice clothes and jewelry, which is the exact opposite of what I used to be before I was 35. Every day is a gift. Why not enjoy today? Why is it for tomorrow? You never know what the future holds.
As a breast cancer survivor, I want to say live for today and make the best of it.