Shrashti Jain is a B Com (Hons) student of Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University, who has been continuously involved in beyond the classroom activities.
Here, Shrashti is sharing her experience being a President of National Service Scheme (NSS SRCC). Her hard work has the potential to propel her ahead of the curve.
Go ahead and know what her 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.
My role as the President of the NSS unit of SRCC entailed managing the entire team and ensuring smooth functioning round the year. My responsibilities broadly included the following:
- Supervising the projects and activities in the due course
- Leading a team of executives and volunteers that was as huge as 350 people
- Managing the finances
- Acting as a representative of NSS SRCC to the third parties involved
What’s it like to juggle between leadership roles and academics? Pen down the challenges you faced.
I was at this post in 3rd year of my college which is already bundled with a lot of pressure to figure out the road ahead of college. For me, it was full of CAT preparation, placements, president role and to get decent grades in college exams. There was a lot to do that required a good amount of time and attention in both the leadership role and academics. Initially, I juggled a lot between managing my coaching classes, college and the role but I was quick to realize the need to prioritize my tasks and act accordingly, this way it helped me to optimize my time and make the best use of it.
On top of my personal commitments other than the role, I was faced with another challenge that my co-heads at NSS were also preparing for CAT which left me with few chances to delegate my work, and this was actually the time when I built better teamwork skills and we sorted the things in a way beneficial to 3 of us.
What are the top learnings, skills and values that you acquired here?
I consider the following things to be my best learnings:
- I am more adept at dealing with people
- I have gained better decision-making skills
- I learned important aspects of leadership practically through this
- Effectively working in teams and being more confident
- NSS also taught me to be more compassionate and responsible being and I do apply that in my personal capacity
Do you feel your current role fills you with pride and gratitude? Illustrate how the experience gained will help you going forward.
A leadership role like that of a President which is the topmost position in several student bodies definitely teaches you a lot due to the kind of work you engage in and the responsibilities it comes with. This position has given me a new experience and learning each day.
Whatever experiences I had at NSS will be crucial for me as leading a team and working in a team are some of the very prominent things in any field we go be it corporates or some other program. I was able to work on my weaknesses in my duration at this post which transformed me into a better team player. Being at this post it was important to make quick and reasonable decisions as the delay or the wrong decisions will have bearing on the entire unit and so this has taught me to be spontaneous and analytical at the same time which is a good attribute to carry forward.
As when we talk about leadership we have a whole team with us. How do you persuade others to accept your ideas/ways?
This is a very common phenomenon while working in teams as there is a variety of opinions involved during discussions, which often invite conflicts too. Talking about me, I have personally improved a lot on this as initially I am very much adamant with my ideas and opinions and used to any way figure out a way to let them be implemented but during the course of this role I realised the importance of taking others’ view into consideration and reaching a conclusion only after weighting an idea on the basis of its practicality.
My mantra to persuade others is always to look for the feasibility and the impact that my idea can create and then convince others through that.
What is your message to students, aspiring to the same or a similar role to do?
I would advise everyone who is aspiring to be in such roles to go forward and take up these opportunities as they are a really good way to build up your personality, you will gain a lot from these opportunities. Another thing that I would add is to take up these roles as they also serve as a good break from the regular academic stuff that we are engaged into and on top of that, you will take away with you a lot of fun-filled memories with you towards the end of college period.
How can we (Friends, Family, YI Fraternity) encourage young students such as yourself to engage with co-curricular or extra-curricular activities?
I think the encouragement to be a part of extracurricular activities comes from within when some particular field really interests you be in dance, music, social service and so on.
We at Young Influx would take this opportunity to thank Shrashti for taking a leap of faith and sharing her 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.
