Day 12: The big day is here, Karyakram and my last day.

The big day has arrived, literally and figuratively. Literally because the day of the Karyakram is here and figuratively because it was my big day the one I wasn't looking forward to, the day I had to leave.

It was a late night for everyone yesterday and an early morning today. Some of the kids and teachers were up by 4 am to help with the final preparations. Everyone had to be ready and at school by 6:30 am (for the rest of the kids and teachers). Everyone had a place and a job assigned, some were part of the swagat (welcoming) committee, some were a part of the bojanale (dining) committee, the school building etc.

Mom, Dad, and I were at school by 7 am and by then people had also began to trickle on to campus. With the schedule beginning at 8 am, everyone was working hard to be where they needed to be with everything ready. The first thing on the schedule was the ribbon cutting and pooja of each classroom, building, and area. At 10 am the first stage program began. It included introduction speeches, our girls dancing to Chennai Express' Kashmir Main, Tu Kanyakumari, a monologue done by a girl from Upleta, a pyramid act by our boys, another dance by our girls, and one more dance by a group of girls from another school. Everyone did such a great job. I ended up giving a short speech too; Jayesh Uncle asked me if I would that morning and I had said yes. I tried to keep it short and sweet, plus I didn't want to mess up because I know my Gujarati isn't as good as it used to be (I realized that after coming here, they speak full pure gujarati). But the nerves I had going up on stage melted away because it's pretty easy to talk about the amazing time I had and the kids and teachers who I've become so close with.

The girls' dancing to Kashmir Main, Tu Kanyakumari.

Pyramid act by the boys, this is just one of the amazing structures done by them.

The girls' classical dance.

After eating lunch with the Didis, I headed to school with Binal Didi and Jinkal Didi and a few others to relieve the Bhais and Didis there, so they could go get lunch while we stayed there for the open house; we showed people how the smartboards worked and what their uses were. This way visitors got to see the school and what things we offered, while kids also got to show their parents and families what they use and do at school.

Binal Didi showing how the Smartboard works at school.

Around 2:20 I headed back towards the main stage since the second program was starting at 2:30, but Manisha Masi found me and pulled me back with her to school to make me chai. Manisha Masi is amazing, I haven't told you much about her and some others but I will in the next few posts. I had fun joking around with Mayur Bhai, Ramesh Bhai, and Anub Bhai, and making them ask in English to get their chai. Unfortunately I missed our boys skating performance and the girls Hunna Hunna Rajasthani dance but I know that they did spectacular jobs. I made it back in time to join a few of the didis and bhais with the kids to catch the end of the entertainment programs including the girls' Swagat dance. The rest of the program consisted of honoring and acknowledging the donors who made this school possible and those who have continued to donate. Without these original donors and the continuing donors, none of this would be possible.

Me with Sofiya Didi and the Swagat Dance girls  after their performance.  Me with Sofiya Didi and the Swagat Dance girls  after their performance.

Honoring the donors. Honoring the donors.

That lasted until about 6, but I headed out a little before that to start my goodbyes. I tried to find as many kids as possible and made them promise to study hard, play hard, have fun, study with passion, and do things they love while trying new things and the girls to go play outside. I ended each goodbye with making them say "I promise, Didi".

Saying goodbye to the kids

I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty difficult to say goodbye to the kids especially when they would get all sad. They would swarm me sometimes and sometimes it was only one or two at a time. None the less, it didn't get any easier with more practice.

And I'm not one to show emotions easily, especially in public but somehow my big didis all get me to. A few tears may or may not have appeared when saying to goodbye to the didis. I tried hard to hold it together, but if I see someone else cry, I'm a goner too.

With Shraddha Didi, Sneha Didi, and Ramesh Bhai. With Shraddha Didi, Sneha Didi, and Ramesh Bhai.

Leaving was probably one of the hardest things. Thank god, it was dark outside because I know I wasn't too happy and I didn't want people to see. Kevin Bhai, Dr. Padhiyar, Ajay Bhai, and Sarju Bhai saw us off while the rest of the school and people were still continuing on while the day was starting to come to an end around 7:30 pm. Leaving, I couldn't help but feel like I was leaving my little brothers and sisters and big brothers and sisters and that Shree Vijapura Vidhya Sankul had become my home too. I was leaving a piece of my heart there and while I had my moments and memories with me, it just didn't seem like enough.

Leaving my Sidsar home.

While I am bummed I had to leave, I want to end this post on some highlights of my last day.

• Everyone had put so much time and effort into today that it went so smoothly, made me so happy and over 4000 people came to see it all. But what kept the biggest, goofiest grin on my face all day were the kids performing so beautifully and all the kids working hard throughout the day, along with each and everyone of the kids and teachers hardwork paying off. The day was a success but I could not be prouder of the students and staff.

I don't know what it would have been like to not been a part of the preparations and to just watch, but I do know that I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

• Today's celebration also meant that the kids' parents could visit them. The kids had been so excited especially since yesterday. Today kids had been pulling me left and right to meet their parents to make sure I met them and to make sure they met "their Aekta Didi". I was honored. I even had parents come up to me without their kids and ask if I was "Aekta Didi" and just talk to me about how excited their kids were and how they loved having me there. They even came up and asked if they could take a picture with me and their son or daughter. I have never felt more honored or amazed in my life. I knew the kids loved having me there but today I realized how we can impact others. But I don't think the parents truly understand how much their kids impacted me and changed my life. I'm thankful for each and every one of them.

Also, while this is my last official daily post, I will still be posting a few more blogs in the coming days, so check back for few more! Thank you for following and supporting my experience!

- Aekta