After a long day's toil, when the farmer returns home to his bed, savours a piping hot meal and lays down to rest satisfied of the work he's put into his field, there is no feeling greater; it is said
When I joined this organization a little over 3 and a half years ago, it was on the cusp of breaking out into greatness. There were some really interesting and hardworking people leading and guiding all the Volunteers and I couldn't have possibly asked for a better team to work under.
Since then, we as an organization, a community, a family or just a bunch of friends goofing around have come leaps and bounds. From making noise all around the DaanUtsav Community to hosting 2 National Conferences, the only ones of it's kind around Giving and Social Change, from being a small club of 4 Volunteers passionate about bringing about a change to having a huge Community in 2 campuses with over 4000 Volunteers, from little projects every week bringing smiles across 20-30 faces to multiplying it thrice-fold in as less as the last 2 years, from pulling off huge events like the Marathon and Tarang, to being the backbone of MAHE in all it's endeavours, it's been one hell of a ride!
I've been fortunate enough to have been a volunteer, a college Coordinator, a project coordinator, a Media coordinator and then take up the role and responsibilities of the Student Ambassador representing the Organization as it's Student Face for a good part of my Manipal student life. I got to be front and centre when VSO Celebrated it's 10th Anniversary, a couple of years ago. I have had the opportunity to meet and interact with many change-makers doing amazing things across the length and breadth of the country, I have gotten to know many alumni who've shared amazing stories about VSO and it's formative years, and most importantly I've had the good fortune of making some of the best friends from amongst the Student and Faculty Volunteers of VSO.
The lessons learnt, the events organized, the fun had, the memories made, the jugaad and the innovation, the creativity and the joy, all that was put in and gotten out of this organization and all it's activities in the pursuit of service and spreading smiles has been a dream come true!
I still remember one of my first days volunteering when I was a Fresher, it was a time of indecisiveness and an incident that derailed my should have been career had hit me hard. I was in denial for a long time since then. It was that day, those conversations with Anup Sir, Nandish sir, Shreyas, Varun, Anuja, Vikash, Umang, Srilekha and the others that inspired and pushed me to trudge on, find a new passion and carve my own path in it.
In my own way, in my own time, in my own manner, I am to step into that uncharted path. A week removed from then, I look back at the 4 years that have led up to that day, and the countless stories that have whizzed past in the seemingly short while has me oscillating between emotions of grief and joy. A somber sadness because it will all be over in a few days, and a serene sense of satisfaction for the time that has been and the challenging future that awaits...
I thank you all for being part of the journey, in sickness and health; in moments of hapless desperation and joyful estacy. I thank you for the belief, trust and love.
Thank you for the life lessons, Abhishek Sir, Anitha Ma'am, Geeta Ma'am, Praveen Sir, Swathi Ma'am, Rakshith, Tarangini, Akshatha, Anish, Tillo, Omkar, Sunaya, Sunidhi, Vishal, Ananya, Aishwarya, Isheta, and everyone who I have had the fortune of meeting on this long and important journey!
This will sorely be missed and never forgotten.
Lots and lots of love.
I thank you all for being part of the journey, in sickness and health; in moments of hapless desperation and joyful estacy. I thank you for the belief, trust and love.
Thank you for the life lessons, Abhishek Sir, Anitha Ma'am, Geeta Ma'am, Praveen Sir, Swathi Ma'am, Rakshith, Tarangini, Akshatha, Anish, Tillo, Omkar, Sunaya, Sunidhi, Vishal, Ananya, Aishwarya, Isheta, and everyone who I have had the fortune of meeting on this long and important journey!
This will sorely be missed and never forgotten.
Lots and lots of love.