My Three Years with '3 A'

Having known this wonderful set of people both as class-rep and not, I feel (please forgive me for my seeming immodesty) fairly qualified to write an article on my classmates as I have seen them, through varied lenses and in a few of their many diverse avatars. However, I would like to grab this opportunity to talk, not so much about what the class is like- individually and as a whole, but to thank them for making me feel so special and wanted in my two years as their class rep.

 It is a widely acknowledged fact that a class rep’s job is a thankless one. I never really felt so, though, because every time somebody would commiserate with me in those words, their saying so would instantly become a way of thanking me without actually using those very words. I took on the job knowing what to expect out of it, but the fact that those of my classmates who could juggle multiple societies, fests, unions and other activities all at once, acknowledged my work and gave me so much credit for doing things when I didn’t honestly deserve it (I mean, if the teacher decides to cancel a class, what was my role in it other than conveying the message?), truly made it worth all the while, making me want to do my job even better from then on.

But what makes my class really extraordinary is in the way they choose to express their ‘gratitude’ to me. In our second year, after getting classes cancelled for a couple of days for the department trip, my class gave me a very sweet thank-you note, with a packet of Fun Flips; this gesture proved how special they are, more so when my friends from other departments saw it and expressed their amazement at “how sweet your class is!”, while grudgingly admitting how their class never did any such thing for their class rep. The culmination of all my work, however, appeared in the form of a beautiful kurti and a matching pair of earrings presented to me by my class for being, in their words, “an amazing class rep”!!

I ask you, which class would do that for someone who was merely doing what was expected of her, committing the usual mistakes and oversights, and make her feel so flattered, special and unique about doing what was really a very mundane job? Today, at the end of my three years here, I feel my class has given way more to me emotionally (in the form of ego boosts, a sense of a support system standing behind me and being so understanding and accommodating) than I could ever have given them materially (in the form of readings, class cancellations, messages etc). I hope you will excuse me if I sound too proud and boastful in this article, but in the attempt express how unique and special 3A is, I could not avoid a bit of self-praise either! 3A, I love you all, and shall always treasure my years with you. Thank You so much just for being your own unique, loving self, and my very best wishes to all of you for your future(s).

~ Enakshi Nandi