Saurabh Singh was a B.A. (Hons) History student of Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi, who had been continuously involved in beyond the classroom activities.
Here, Saurabh is sharing his experience, being involved in the Music Society, History Department, Photography Society and National Service Scheme (NSS). His hard work has the potential to propel him ahead of the curve.
Go ahead and know what his story has to offer so that you can easily find a path of self-growth. Young Influxers go ahead and upgrade yourself!!!
What was your role? Briefly list the responsibilities associated with it.
I was a Lead Vocalist in my college’s music Society, General Secretary and Management in my college’s History Department, Lead Photographer in Photography Society, a short film Actor and a volunteer at NSS.
What’s it like to juggle between leadership roles and academics? Pen down the challenges you faced.
Well, in my experiences, I never knew that I could do music, acting, photography or I’d become a published author/writer. I have completed my school, from a place, where nothing was being provided to let one explore what he has been blessed with. In 2014 I’ve completed my intermediate and then back in 2015, I came to Delhi University to pursue Hons in History. It was departmental fresher’s party when my seniors told me to perform anything I like. I don’t know why but I thought to perform a song at that time. The post-party appreciation was overwhelming and I received a lot of good wishes. They thought that I was already involved in music but the truth is that before that Instance I never knew I could sing. That gave me an energy boost and luckily I made it clear through the audition part that was two days right after the party. And I started my little career in music as a lead vocalist. well, it’s all where everything had started.
Anyways, it has always been different and difficult to manage my academics and leadership programs. I remember when I was appointed as a General Secretary of my department back in my college days. Handling my music society thing and then my academics was really hard. In the very beginning, I used to miss my classes and rarely had given internals because if I would not have done that then my music society had disowned me. I remember very well when my professors used to tell me that they won’t provide me with any single marks in my internals. I used to tell them that whatever I am doing, I am doing for my college, I am doing to represent it at a good level and more than that I am doing it for my own experiences. Life is all about a bundle that comes with some sort of experiences associated with certain times and like that, I could have never missed whatever I was doing, be it the class or my music thing. It was the very first time to explore what I have been blessed with. I tried to make all of my professors understand this basic thing but at first, they all denied it. Yeah, I remember how just one of my closest professor had helped me a lot to manage my stuff back in my college days. But the rest of my professors were really pissed off. I had tried my best to attend my lectures and the workshops and jamming sessions both at the same time
But I failed and I was really worried about that. But one day, back in 2016, when my professors saw me performing good, they understood that how hard have I been doing to achieve where I was at that time, on the stage, along with my Indian Classical Choir mates. They understood very well and they allowed me to pursue whatever I wanted along with academics. That was the time I felt really blessed and all of my hard works were paid off.
Well, slowly and slowly, I started contributing to NSS and then with the help of one of my juniors, I made a short video that represented the Food-Wastage. I received a lot of recognition from my college. I was nominated for one of the best meritorious students and was awarded a certificate of proficiency. The best part happened, back in 2017, it was something that was surreal and that happens with most of the college-youths. Yeah, you got it right, it was something that made me a writer and whatever I am doing, whatever I have come just become of HER. I became a published writer and author, the challenges were not less. It was a high time when everything had started challenging me. It was the time when I had lost someone in my family and because of that, I had to leave my music and other societies. My father was really unable to bear up my all expenses but in the end, I had nothing to do but to find a part-time job. So I did but I never left whatever I have been good with. Well, I have a lot to tell you guys about but being a writer, sometimes I feel the dearth when it comes to TYPE-WHAT. I am pretty sure that I would be able to inspire a lot of people out there.
Did you also get a chance to connect with any other activity while working on this post?
Ahh, yeah, I mean, I have represented my college at National Level then I had volunteered at Youth Ki Awaaz apart from being in college’s societies, where I got a chance to connect with a lot of people having different kind of professions and experiences. Meeting them was something that really had changed my life and the perception of How I see around.
What are the top learnings, skills and values that you acquired here?
Umm, I guess using the word “Acquired” would not be a good pick. Whatever I have achieved, I have earned that like others. I’ve become a freelance musician with all my hard work and sacrifices which I had made back in my college days. I started Photography and excelled in it to some extent by learning from here and there, through my friends and then from social media. The part of acting and being a writer was something that I never knew I could do until I gave it a try.
In all, I am a freelance musician, a photographer, a published author/writer. I recently got to know that I can do calligraphy as well. So these all are the blessings that I have been blessed with and cherished on time to earn them.
Do you feel your current role fills you with pride and gratitude? Illustrate how the experience gained will help you going forward.
Yes, definitely. Whatever I have earned so far consists of all the sacrifices I have made and all kind of hard work which I had put down. Being a writer, I never wanted popularity and fame instead I have only wished for the readers to read and feel what they have been avoiding so far. They read my pieces they tell me my mistakes and where I can do good. That always fills me with pride and gratitude.
To move on in your life, forward, you gotta accept yourself at first. Acceptance is something that requires a lot of energy. But you can not just opt to accept, not just like that. You gotta accept your flaws, your bad and good deeds and things, your behaviour and all other traits but before that cherish them. Before you accept them be thankful to yourself by travelling so far in your life. Thank yourself because you have seen a lot and still breathing, thank yourself even if you are about to experience one of the best or worse things ever.
You will learn this process, time by time, day by day, infractions. You will learn this process when you will feel alone even after being in the crowd and then you will start accepting yourself.
Once you do this, you start feeling this energy that you will be moving on, further, in your life Well, that is what I have done so far and still doing. There are bad things about me which I have been trying and learning to accept and in between these process, I managed to experience a lot. So yeah, I feel proud and grateful to myself, for whatsoever I have been through. And surely they are going to help me to move forward.
As when we talk about leadership we have a whole team with us. How do you persuade others to accept your ideas/ways?
We, as a human, are totally connected to each other in a way, where hope and feel the emotions and the vibes, right? As like that the first is that you gotta be true to yourself at first then to others. My team has always been experienced enough to catch what I have been wanted from them. It was all about a simple and small hope that connected us and made everything possible. Even if we failed then it means I was failed too. I never forced them to accept what Ideas I had. I heard them at first and then presented what could more get done with their ideas without ignoring theirs.
What is your message to students, aspiring to the same or a similar role to do?
Nothing much, Just believe in whatever you doing. If not you and not them are able to see your qualities believe in the Universe. Universe has a plan for each and every one. Before you achieve what you have aimed for, you gotta fall and put a lot of sacrifices. Sometimes the failures and the sacrifices would make you feel like it was never worth doing all but that would be the high-time where you gotta be the strongest person ever. Your sacrifices will be paid off. Just believe in yourself and in your team. Things will come up in their own way.
How can we (Friends, Family, YI Fraternity) encourage young students such as yourself to engage with co-curricular or extra-curricular activities?
Don’t tell them to look inside themselves. Tell them to accept the way they have been always. Tell them to be the best version of themselves. Once they do that they will get to know what to do. Tell them to believe in themselves but before all these things, make them feel appreciated. Appreciate them because they are willing to try.
Sometimes it takes a lot of courage, for the teacher and for the learner, both, at the same level and same time but it is all meant to happen.
If you want to encourage someone, tell them how YOU are Blessed to have them in your life. Let them feel appreciated in themselves at first. Encouragement will come from their own depth. Otherwise, you try whatever you want to encourage, if they don’t feel appreciated towards themselves, you can’t help them in any way.
Anything else would you like to say to the YI learners who’ll be reading your experience?
Umm, I would love I could talk to the person to person and tell them about what I have been through so far. But I guess it’s all for now. But yeah, here is a small message:
“Belief in yourself and if you are reading it then I want to let you know that I am really glad, preciously glad to have you as my reader. I don’t know you personally but I know my words are making a small smile-knot with your heart that connects mine. I am really glad to have you and see you trying your best. I know you feel bad, you feel upset, broken, numb, nuance, sometimes, but it is what life is all about. The best part is that you are still breathing and trying to smile by reading all these things. Sending you all the love and wishes you need to pursue. I am always here. Take Care”
We at Young Influx would take this opportunity to thank Saurabh for taking a leap of faith and sharing his impeccable story. We are humbled and grateful, your efforts mean a lot for the youth seeking growth and development.
And hello, dear readers, we welcome you to explore the platform with an open mind. Help yourself gain the most out of the experiences and opportunities listed here.
And before you bid us adieu, we would like you to know that you can read more such student stories here.
