Adding
It All Up
Dr. Ashok Chauhan
founder president of Amity University, Prof. Balvinder Shukla (acting) vice
chancellor, members of the faculty, parents and my dear graduates, I would like
to thank all of you for being a part of the convocation ceremony.
So here we are. We’re
leaving college. The question is where from here? Some students know the
answer. Many of us claim to know exactly the next step to take, whether that step is an internship, a full-time job,
or joining his/her father’s business. Others, like me, will tell you we have no
idea. The big thing about the college is that we learn about our self. No
matter whatever we decide, most of us will agree that Amity was a perfect place
to foster our minds and bodies in this critical learning phase.
I’m a
totally different person than I was coming in as a freshman four years ago. I
hope I’m also a better one. I was moulded by my environment, by all my peers
who are sitting here and watching me. I couldn’t have accomplished so much here
without all of you. It was all of you who were my competition a very tough competition by the way, yet my backbone, my inspiration to work harder. It was
all of you who made me the person I am today.
One
thing that motivated me here throughout these four years was struggle. It was the
second time that I left my home to do something different. I left home first
for only nine days but leaving home for four years frightened me day in day
out. Also the alienated feeling I had when I stepped in this University even on
home soil had an greater effect. This led to many verbal as well as physical fights
in first year of my college. At times I went home purposely to calm my mind. By
the time I reached second year I managed to overcome some of this feeling but
as you know home is home. No matter where you go the final place to go will
be your home. There were up’s and down’s in third and fourth year but now I
realised that it was something for my own good.
Struggle taught me things about myself that I could have
learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more
discipline than I had suspected. The knowledge that I gained from these
setbacks helped me to climb one step up in my ability to survive. You will
never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both
have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it
is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification I ever
earned.
One
advice I want to give you all is that not to feel regret of what you have done
in the past because I have done a lot really stupid things like pulling the
fire alarm in third year for which I was nearly suspended and was teased afterwards
every time a fire alarm was raised, going to places of which I didn’t imagine
ever to go there in my life, boarding the train without ticket in which Amity
also played a big role etc. And now at this stage those things don’t bother me
because what matters me that when I look back and imagine those things I feel glad that I have done those kind of stuffs.
Stepping
into the world outside college will be like stepping onto a bus say around 9:30
am, the journey will be slow, it’s going to be crowded and above all more
competitive. This degree that I have in my hand is nothing compared to all the
memories that Amity has given, and I am sure you all feel the same. So thank
you Amity for giving me opportunity to be part of this great University and
these four years will surely occupy a decent space in my heart and will
motivate me to do things for the greater good.
Thank
you and God bless you all.
That was very nicely put, Shukla. I liked the bit about struggle.
ReplyDeleteI very nice and well formed article Shukla. I can relate to a lot of things you have written. Best of luck for the times ahead :)
ReplyDeleteYou are one of the most genuine person I have ever seen. The Fire Alarm scene was magical :p. Best of luck for your future :)
ReplyDelete