The Call of Our Alma Mater (Part 2)

The purpose of wisdom or education is often fundamentally construed as a mere process for personal enlightenment and success. Yet, its actual aim is that we become accountable for our responsibility for contributing to the world we are a part of. Whether through volunteering, donations or advocacy, there are plenty of opportunities for all of us to help our world, including our college and students, grow and flourish.

Our impact on our Alma Mater can begin through sharing the learning we have gained as part of our education process. We can promote life learnings in current students by exploring the areas of knowledge or opportunities they could benefit from our association. Not surprisingly, an Alma Mater and its faculty members always possess the innate desire and hope that all who have walked through its illustrious corridors and classrooms make our world a better and kinder place by being the best version we can be. As past college students, none of us needs to wait to be asked by our college management to speak to the students. The initiative can come from our side. Discussing with faculty members further the areas of improvement on the campus is a step toward determining if the students receive the educational experiences they deserve. Many changes have occurred in the last few decades relating to learning, life, lifestyle choices and even how education is perceived. Yet, some fundamental factors that promote joy and progress in life remain the same. Our Alma Mater remains a symbol of those timeless factors contributing to the beauty of life and helping us become who we are today.

My college years reiterated my love for studying human behaviour and English Literature. I also learnt several not-so-pleasant lessons that helped me in my personal development journey, one of which was to stop running from challenges (that I had developed as a habit since my early school days!) Those years taught me that we overcome challenges by facing them rather than running away from them. That period also awoke me to the immense significance of gratitude and thankfulness to a degree I never thought possible. Having been able to reside in one of the oldest government hostels for women close to my college, I was fortunate and privileged to meet students from varied cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds and with different physical health issues and challenges, like partial or complete blindness.

What I had always admired about the wholly and partially blind students in my hostel was that while most came from impoverished backgrounds, they projected humility, compassion, wisdom, and maturity far beyond their youthful years. Defying the challenges their lack of visibility brought about in their daily life, they never stopped inspiring me with their cheerfulness and songs (most of them had magical melodious voices). They would always walk in a group, holding each other's hands, chattering and laughing about their day and problems, with no traces of self-pity or dismay about their predicament. Seeing their pleasant disposition, I used to feel ashamed of myself when I even thought of missing home. Observing them instilled in me the value of viewing each day with much more appreciation; after all, these inspiring students made it through each day with tenacity, determination and resourcefulness despite their physical challenges. Having come from a comfortable, cocooned existence in Dubai since my early childhood, thanks to my college years, my hostel years helped me discover many people's resilience despite their seemingly impossible challenges.

One of my harrowing social learning experiences was when I was made aware of the necessity of mindfulness in my spontaneous display of respect and regard. I had noticed with dismay how one of the security guards during my degree first year had always been politely but curtly responded to by many of the students. With a feeling of righteousness and compassion for the man, I started consciously treating him with the respect I gave generously to all on my college campus. Seeing my efforts, my classmates repeatedly warned me to be careful. Still, I disregarded their views and believed he was indeed a hard-working deserving college employee who had been unfairly denied respect.

Soon enough, I awoke one day rudely to why they had warned me. My attempt to show respect and courtesy was horrifyingly misinterpreted. One day I received a response that was shocking and humiliating. His crude behaviour significantly questioned my na?ve belief (for the first time in my life) in the goodness of human behaviour. I asked myself, "Why was my politeness responded with crude and ungentlemanly behaviour?" It was impossible for me during that time of my life to accept that it is not just the importance of our conduct that we need to be aware of but also the consciousness of environmental and individual factors that need to be appropriately considered when we show the courtesy we do to others.

College relationships all bring in their unique, insightful comprehension of human behaviour. However, the friendships made during my college years have a freshness that never fades with the years. My recent trip to Trivandrum included meeting up with my friends from college, and what an afternoon that was! Suddenly, the years had ebbed away, as we started talking and laughing. Lo! We were transported back to a time when we were on the threshold of early adulthood – the merciless yet entertaining teasing and the reminiscences reminded me how much those college years meant to me. In fact, during my visit to my teacher's home, she told her family about the playfulness I had displayed during my college years. It was a fact but an amusing memory today for not just her but all those who knew me during those years – especially for me. I often recollect the hilarious incidents I had experienced and laugh with my children at my idiosyncrasies of those years!

My recent visit to my Alma Mater, 'The Government College for Women', in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, India), helped me discover many nostalgic memories of my emergence to adulthood. It was a gentle reminder to keep in touch with my college, the faculty members, the alumni group and the beautiful friendships I had enjoyed on campus and outside my college. Most of all, it reminded me to periodically connect to the vibrant city that had unhesitantly welcomed me with open arms almost thirty years ago – a city that awakened me to face the myriad realities of life through unforgettable, inspiring experiences.

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