Written by Sonali Upadhyay
Dear Bookworm,
For the past 34 days you’ve been a home to me in more ways than I could imagine. They say, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” That was certainly true when I met you, you’ve transformed me over this course of a month and I’ll forever be grateful to you. As I’m ending my term with you, I’d like to thank you for accepting me for who I am and as well as broadening my horizon. You were patient and kind while challenging and understanding me at the same time.
You’ve taught me the importance of communication and that communication is more than just speaking your mind. I’ve worked with various personalities here and you’ve taught me that coordinating with others is less about making your voice heard and more about making sure everyone is participating and getting involved.
I know I can be a procrastinator at times, but being with you, has led me to evaluate my own weakness. While working with someone, I’ve learnt to do things well in advance to prevent an onslaught of anxiety. Even though it was difficult to have my own weakness exposed, it gave me a chance to improve upon them and also learn something from people who work differently than me.
Thanks to you, I’ve been provided with the most rewarding group experience. You’ve given me an opportunity to work towards a cause. Volunteering towards a cause requires a lot of time and planning but the reward is greater than any recognition or pat on the back I received. Being here has taught me that while one person can make a difference, an entire team can make a lasting impact. I can’t thank you enough for not only your members’ teamwork and support, but also for their vote of confidence in me. I always appreciate your ability to see how my talents can make a difference and you’ve made me a believer too! You make me feel more confident and capable, and for that I will always be grateful.
You’ve taught me to have patience and be more accepting. Accepting difference or any kind of change is hard because as a society we have become accustomed to the norms of everyday life, but now I’ve learnt to be naturally accepting of others, despite the differences, and this is one of the most important lessons I’ve learnt at Bookworm. I’ve learnt that patience is a virtue and when working with children it is something that you need loads of in order to get through the day. However their curiosity is beautiful and I’ve learnt to stop taking it for granted.
Lastly, you’ve taught me that I’m never too old to colour. Colouring allowed me to channel my emotions onto paper, whatever that may be. Kids, especially when they are younger, tend to colour out of the lines, and to me that’s the most magical part of it all. These lines are set on the paper so as to show where to colour and where not to. The kids don’t worry about the lines and colour to their heart’s desire. I’ve learned to colour outside of the lines and use my imagination to its fullest capacities. They have taught me to discover something new and follow my own path, wherever it may lead, thus exploring my boundaries. I thank you, Bookworm for this experience.
You’ve showed me how a team becomes family and I’m proud I was a part of your family.
Love,
Sonali.
