A Most Valiant Leader

Disclaimer: This is NOT my post. This is a beautiful letter written by my study abroad director, Sucharita Mukherjee, who has unexpectedly and quickly become one of my most beloved mentors and friends. She seldom expresses herself in such a manner, which makes this letter even more precious and highly treasured. I could never have lasted in India without her fearless guidance. Of course, signed with her signature, "Best, Sucharita". 

Dear Students,

As we stand on the edge of the very last (official) moments of the semester several thoughts fill my mind. I know, I have a terrible habit of wafting from idea to idea while I talk (yes Adam I know I do this..trying to get over it though :)) and so I decided to write may be one last group email to you before the semester ends.

My first thought is that of gratitude. As I read your heartfelt thoughts and reflections in a wonderful green book you presented to me, I realize this book will be one of the treasures I will always hold close to my heart. While accepting your gratefulness, I must however express my own. Thank you students, for a wonderful semester. 

The semester began with lots of trepidation- the fear of being biased towards my motherland India, knowing that I am one of her most die hard fans; the fear of being counted as a deserter or a privileged escapee to the land of plenty, the US, the fear of not being able to manage a group of fifteen students and give them the best possible experience realizing this is perhaps the only one many of them will have in India and last but not the least, the fear of balancing the personal with the professional, a distinction many had warned me, gets considerably blurred while directing a study abroad program and last but not the least, the fear of my own introvert shy personality. 

However, the more time I spent with you, the less fearsome the fears appeared. And yes, while you groaned and felt burdened by your fantastic journals at times, I gained so much from reading your views, understanding your troubles and confusions and sharing in your elation. I saw some my own immigrant confusions in your experiences and with joy watched each of you flower into even more wonderful people than you were to begin with as you sorted things out. You have given me a fresh ability to be confident in my own choice- I could not have chosen a better group to be my first. I fear I will never get another one so good.

As I read your final journals, I sense your attachment to this country you have made so much your own. Unfortunately many in India, sickened by corrupt politicians and lack of economic development in many quarters, seek escape to more comfortable and transparent settings of the West. Your stories are one of fresh hope, reasons to care, reasons to love this great land. My own life experiences have given me the liberal freedom to be neither Indian nor American and yet both. But I was born into privilege and continue to live in it. In your own reflections, I see the same strains of guilt, passion and hopelessness....which ironically are the only starting points for doing something big. Please do not quieten that heart. You have given me fresh hope to rekindle my own service ideas.

I realize I am getting a tad carried away! Let me end by saying that before this trip I was almost 100 percent sure that I wanted my daughter to grow up in India. Watching you, learning about each of you, understanding your free spirit has made me question whether that freedom is truly attainable in this wonderful diverse incredibly complicated land, which offers so much to learn but whose very complications seem to be stifling creativity through feeding a self seeking political environment? 

Signing off with something I will always remember about each of you:

Kate- Your chips, your songs and your passion for education and children.

Nicole- Your worries and tensions but your incredible thoughtfulness about others.

Rita- Your playfulness, your wonderful games and your sincere heart and eagerness to help.

Kelsey K-Your dislike medicine and doctors (:)) your commitment to environmental education and your ability to be calm while you suffered illness in a foreign land.

Rachel Z- Your wonderful sarcasm (and I really thought I was sarcastic :)) and your sincere dedication to learning new things and making them part of yourself.

Becca- Your grumpiness when you are not happy ("can we please go home NOW") and your clean and loving heart which is so full of appreciation and which can find joy in the smallest of things.

Erik- Your love of goat and chicken sacrifices and your extreme friendliness and openness to strangers (whether it was my parents, my uncles or my friend Nilendu, everyone instantly liked you).

Adam- Your pranks and jokes, your heart of gold and your ability to connect all the dots in learning (if you know what I mean!).

Stephanie- Your loud hearty laugh and your leadership keeping everyone's interests in mind.

Kelsey T- Your wonderful art, your wonderful smile, your zeal and your ability to dream and see something good all the time.

Courtney- Your ability to be just what I thought you would be like- calm, collected, balanced, positive. 

Drew- Your passion for learning, your seriousness and dedication and focus.

Tiffany- Your attitude full of positivity, liveliness and eagerness to learn and interpret complex ideas, connect the dots and form a whole picture.

Brenna- Your deceptive appearance of timidity hiding a load of determination, ideas and views....you know exactly what you want and how to get it :)

Wowwww....that was a long email.....and I wrote all of that without pausing once!

See you all tomorrow....

Best,

Sucharita