Day 11: Moving towards the Big Day

One day to go. Preparations are in full swing here. Since the break of dawn, everyone is hard at work.  Tomorrow is a big day not only for the school but for honoring the donors and people who 10 years ago made this Sankul possible. It is because of these people that we have the opportunity and place to educate and expand the minds of these kids and allow teachers and students alike a home where they work together towards a greater goal. From preparing the campus, to cleaning, to getting the performances on stage for a final dress rehearsal everyone was busy throughout the day.

I was up early and made sure to get to breakfast for my last one with the kids. I knew tomorrow wasn't going to be like a normal day so I wanted to make sure I made my last real one the best. I had my last prayer time this morning, which I thought would be my second to last but the evening was so busy that prayer time was cancelled in a very rare occasion for the night.

I taught and overlooked the kids painting the external ornaments and ran back and forth helping where ever else I could. Later in the day, I helped Sofiya Didi and Ridhi Didi with giving out the girls their dresses for the performances and making sure they fit. At 5 pm, a final dress rehearsal run through was scheduled for all of our performances which included, four dances by the girls, one pyramid and talent act by the boys, and a music show, and a skating act by the boys. To say I'm excited to see them perform tomorrow is an understatement.

Teaching the boys how to repaint the exterior pieces and statues.

The girls waiting their turn during dress rehersals.

 At dinner I made my rounds before eating with the kids. I walked around on the boys side and sat with a few different groups on the girls side and just talked and laughed and joked with them trying to make my last few times with them the best possible and well spent.

Final Dinner!

When dinner concluded, I headed back to the hostel and went and hung out in every girls room or at least stuck my head in, so they felt like Didi came back to their rooms before I left tomorrow. Also selfishly so I could make sure I saw every single one of them before I went and that no one was left out. While the many of the younger kids were busy making sure the hostels were clean, many of the older kids and staff were still working late into the night. They were putting ribbons on each and every door on every building, doing rangoli at school and at the hostels, putting up flag banners, preparing the plates with all the Pooja ceremony necessities and putting them at each door and so on. 

Dorm rounds

 

 Once again I was going back and forth since I didn't want to miss anything and then I just I hung out with the kids and teachers and those are some of my favorite moments from my time here. Just sitting, getting to know them, laughing, talking. We are from different countries, different backgrounds, different towns, yet what we sometimes forget is we all have talent and ability and our own stories. Some of us are given the tools to unlock that potential but each of us has some talent or ability and it is up to those who can help to help remind the kids that they can do great things if they work hard and want to. And to also support and let the teachers and staff know that they are valued and that they are doing not only a great service to these kids but to humankind by educating others.

Everyone has a story, it's about taking the time to listen and get to know their story, and help propel them towards the story they want to continue to create. You all have been reading my stories and experiences but I just wanted to take a moment to remind people as tomorrow is a day to celebrate the school that it is really about the kids and the teachers that take care of them. These are kids that want to be farmers, Prime Ministers, engineers, doctors, mechanics, collectors, pilots etc. They each have dreams and hopes, and potential. I have stressed upon them that no career is lower than the other, especially when done with the right intentions and purposes. I have had kids tell me they want to be a farmer softly while their friends stand there saying doctors and engineers etc and my response has been that they are the most important people. They all look at me perplexed; if there aren't farmers to grow food, who is feeding you? Will there be mankind without food, will doctors and engineers matter? Because who will feed the doctors and engineers and will there be people to treat and help? The same kids who were quietly speaking now have the biggest beaming smiles, they were just told they were important, and the doctors and engineers just re-evaluated those who didn't want to be doctors and engineers. Yes doctors and engineers are very important but so are others! Each job and person is important, some jobs may be of more importance than others, but each one plays a necessary role in society. So next time you think that oh they are just this or that, think again and think what we are teaching our kids. Teachers in both the US and India and other countries have low pay grades and often are not as valued jobs in the eyes of society, but have you ever stopped to think that our society values engineers and doctors but who makes them engineers and doctors, who teaches them to be engineers and doctors or any other profession? Teachers.

So as we celebrate the school and the building and those who donated to make this incredible place happen, let's not just remember them but also those for who we created this place. A place where kids come to learn, grow, and develop. A place where they can study, they can play, and try new things and have limitless opportunities. A place where teachers and staff passionately and tirelessly work to help give these kids the best education possible. A place that was created of brick and stone but has built hope for kids and families and the future of our society. Let's acknowledge and thank those who made this place possible tomorrow and also thank those and acknowledge those who are working to make these kids dreams possible, the kids and staff. Without those donors this school would not be possible and without the kids and the teachers their goal would not be achieved; we bring it all together as one to keep pushing towards better futures for these kids and all kids that come through Shree Vijapura Vidhya Sankul. One does not work without the other, together however we have created hopes, dreams, opportunities, and a school that has endless possibilities for students.

- Aekta