A Life Changing Journey

Teringwar Jangvei Lamkang
2016-2018 batch

I have heard people say that you can plan your life as much as you wish, but life has a way of surprising you with unexpected things that will make you happier than you originally had planned. All my life, I aspired to become a physician. As a kid, I was so fascinated by the white coat adorned with stethoscope that every such appearance seemed angelic to my eyes, and I wanted to look like one. But little did I know that I would tread a different path and that my calling would be different from what I planned.

“Home away from home” is what I would define my alma mater. What attracted me the first time I entered the college campus was the beautiful cordial ambiance that soothed my weary feeling. On the first day of my first scholastic year, I entered the hall where the Life Skills Training was scheduled to start in a few minutes. My heart beat fast and sweat glands overworked as I saw the crowd in front of me: my batch mates.

Since then my life has been like a race, moving swiftly towards the finishing line. The international & national seminars, workshops, guest lectures and numerous other academic programs organized by the Department of Social Work structured and built my confidence while giving me an exposure to various new concepts and issues not only as an attendee, but also as a member of the organizing team and further expanding the opportunities to explore myself.

Concurrent field works every Tuesdays and Wednesdays was a huge exposure to the lowly side of Bangalore which is otherwise known for its lifestyle of comfort. The visits to various slums, villages, hospitals, police stations, observation home and other places as a part of my field work molded me to understand the true essence of Social Work.

The Rural Camp at Siddanahalli, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city was a challenging event for the entire class. Ten days in an unknown, remote place was a dare that everyone was bound to except. Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.” We struggled, scuffled and tumbled but ultimately overcame every hurdle that stood in our way as one. The chapter which initially was thought to be impossible left an everlasting imprint of nostalgia on our lives.

The class trip to the ‘City of Pearls’, Hyderabad was another event where fun was unlimited besides the educational visits to a hospital, factory and an NGO. This trip revealed the bubbly inner child hidden inside each one of us. Now if I pass through this city or talk about it, what fill my mind are the beautiful priceless moments that I lived and created.

The visions and dreams that I now have would never have been the way they are; had it not been for my amazing teachers. “A teacher’s purpose is not to create students in his own image but to develop students who can create their own image,” and that’s exactly what I and my classmates were trained to be for the past two years. The tireless efforts and dedication of my teachers has helped me shape my own image and I am now proud to be an independent individual with a passion for perfection and room for growth. Despite being the smallest of all the other departments, the Department of Social Work has always stood out as one of a kind and the tribute goes to the team of enthusiastic students and devoted teachers lead by Dr. Jonas Richard our head and strength.

Never can I ever forget the days when a lunch box was a life saver. The jokes that made me laugh like I’d collapse any moment, the quick rounds to canteen during the short breaks, and the struggles to break drowsy yawns especially after lunch. Fighting sleepless assignment nights could never have been possible without those whom I call Friends. Their support through every thick and thin is what kept me going.

The phase that I thought would take me ages to complete just flew past me in the blink of an eye. I wish I could turn back time, not to change anything but to live them again just the way it was. This phase, this journey, this experience turned my life around. Never in my life did I think I would climb my ladder this way, the shy small town girl from the North East Indian hills that I was. One of my teachers always said, “Make something out of this course and the course will make something out of you.” I get that now! Words are not enough for all that my teachers and the college have done for me. I am eternally thankful for everything and I am ever grateful to the Almighty that Kristu Jayanti College happened to me!