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1. Tell us more about your role and responsibility at your college?
I'm pursuing B.Com(H) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, currently in my 2nd year of graduation. When I first entered the college, I didn't know what to expect and how to go about doing things. Therefore, I decided to go with the flow. Soon after, I got into The Dramatics Society, SRCC and spent an entire year understanding Nukkad (Street theatre) and social issues that have been crippling our society since times immemorial.
My experience with nukkad has instilled in me a sense of responsibility about our society and how, we, in our own capacity, as students, can bring about a material change in the way certain issues are viewed and treated. Apart from this, I'm the Corporate Communications Head of Vittshala, the financial literacy cell of SRCC. We aim at dissipation of financial literacy among masses. Contrary to common beliefs, financial illiteracy is a social issue that India is facing right now.
From a grade IV worker to a college student to a person earning handsome salary, nobody's untouched. The best thing is, we work at ground level to solve common people's problems with whatever knowledge we have. Coincidentally, the topic of our production in Nukkad was also "Financial Illiteracy". So yes, this topic is close to my heart and I look forward to working towards the cause in future as well.
2. How can we encourage more young students such as yourself to take up leadership role?
In my opinion, the purpose of college life is to explore yourself and your surroundings as much as you can, a chance that most of us didn't get during school. By exploring, I mean developing an insight into matters around you, looking at them through a mature lens and form your own worldview based on that. One way of exploring is to take initiative.
Taking initiative, taking Position of Responsibilities, the experience you gain from your efforts not only gives you visible scope of growth but also introduces you to unknown aspects of your own personality. Always keep in mind, even if you don't get a position, keep growing and never stop working on yourself.
3. What have been your biggest challenges and learning from what you do?
College life is the beginning of a new journey and beginnings can be rough sometimes, for they require us to step out of our safe haven, to leave our old ways of life and put in efforts to adjust with everything new that it brings with itself. It's like we're no longer in the bubble of protection and guidance of our parents, teachers and old friends. It takes away our sense of security that always existed but we never acknowledged.
A challenge that I faced and I guess most of the people face is fine-tuning oneself to survive and more importantly, stay happy and satisfied in the new environment.
There were times when I felt lost and I guess it's normal to feel that way but I learnt that we must never lose faith in ourselves, in our capabilities and that we must hold on to our true selves if we want to stand out from the crowd. It's easy losing yourself to insecurities but very difficult to build yourself again all by yourself. You have to have strength of mind to take on challenges and emerge as a fighter, if not necessary a winner.
4.What's your message to encourage students to do internships and attend conferences?
As a person who feels immensely for the society and all issues surrounding it, I want to contribute my part in helping solve the problems that are troubling our country , our world today. I want to lend a helping hand to all those who are not privileged enough. I see myself working in the public sector, either in administration or in development. I think the fact that motivates me to work for that is the happiness, contentment and gratefulness that comes with it and for me, a satisfied soul is more important than money or any materialistic pleasure for that matter.
I believe that what I've done till now, what I'm currently doing and what I plan on doing will give me a long term vision and a more holistic approach towards everything in life. I'm still exploring all my options, trying to make use of opportunities that are coming my way to become a better version of myself today, in my strive to become the best version someday.
- Yagya Khera
Interviewed by- Priyanshi Arora
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