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I was elected as the Vice President of the College for the academic year 19-20. According to what I had believed that my only duty was to assist the president all through, but with time I realised that the most important job for me was to keep the team together besides the natural duties of the students' union of course.
From taking care and managing the members to taking care of all the work that needed to be done, took all my time during my tenure. The responsibilities pegged to our positions are not small, to be honest, but the College did make sure that we were given the space to make mistakes and recover from them.
From taking care of the general student problems to preparing the annual fest, we gave it our all; trying to be innovative and keeping in mind the existing traditions, we made sure that everything that students looked forward to the entire year, happened.
2. How did you rise up to your position and how can a student aspiring the same, approach it?
To be honest, for the first year of my College, I had rarely dreamt of being a part of the students' body. Still, at the beginning of my second year, so many things went wrong at College, and I remember telling my friends that we should form a society or something to assist the management in creating a better learning environment. They, in return, asked me to join the students' body because, why not?
I believe if a person decides onto making a change, there is always a way. You don't have to be a good-at-everything kid but a person who wants to make a change and ready to take charge for it. And this way I made it to the students'union of Bharati College.
3. What's it like to juggle between a leadership role and normal college life?
It was rather difficult. The odd semester had two major Union events and at both of them combined, I barely spent an hour with my friends. So yeah, responsibilities, if you are honestly committed to them, don't leave space for a normal social life or College life but you get to expand your network, so it's a good barter once in a while.
4. What have been some of your biggest challenges and learnings from what you do?
My biggest takeaway was that whatever position of responsibility it is, balance is very important because fests, parties, trips - everything happened but amidst all this, I think I gave a very little importance and time to my friends which cost me a bit too much because the pandemic occurred and now all I think of is the time I lost with them. Also, you learn how to deal with difficult people and trust me; they aren't very good for your mental health.
5. Do you enjoy the kind of influence you hold at such a young age?
It's something to enjoy, for sure but it's not all glitter. DU politics is not black and white, it's definitely not all rosy. Friends turn foes, they change colours, you have to be very careful who to trust so it's not something someone can clearly enjoy especially when you are only there to work for a definite cause; practically it's quite difficult.
But scars aside, it's good for your self-esteem, confidence like you do enjoy it when you are popular, people listen to you, your words have weight, and you know something on the inside before the entire College does, can help change situations, do interviews, make decisions for 3500 people, fest perks, and your parents get to brag too.
6. How do your parent's look at you participating in extracurricular activities?
Well, they were on top of the world because it was a first for me and for them as well. A shy girl getting a position with actual responsibility in a College of DU was a huge thing. They have been very supportive, even when I joined the Bhangra society in the 1st year, they were happier than me, so I think it's all good.
Interview by - Ananya Gosain
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