For my senior year-in-review, I have written a simple poem to my parents because what better way to reflect than writing to those who've made everything possible!
Dear Maa and Paa,
Do you remember?
When I got my acceptance offer from UC?
When we went shopping for new travelling bags?
When I alone pushed my luggage cart through the crowds in the airport?
When you did not stop waving until you had the very last glimpse of me?
When I first called you from America & told you I was safe?
When I experienced my first snow?
When I asked you how to cook, or do laundry or be a responsible adult?
These were the times when your little girl took to the world by herself
Sometimes stumbled, sometimes confused, sometimes nervous
But she got up every time, looked in the mirror to self-motivate & kept moving forward.
Of course, none of that would be possible without your belief, support & love.
Do you also remember?
When my 1st achievement was getting into the University Honors Program?
When I got my first job as a peer tutor?
When I called to tell you about my first co-op offer from Kroger Co.?
When I became a Student Government Leader?
When I became an Honors Ambassador?
When my supervisor at work made me believe I have a golden touch?
When I had found my second family in my co-op team?
These were the times when your eldest kid found her love
To help others & be selfless,
To step out of her comfort zone and challenge herself,
To go above and beyond her ‘job description’,
And to learn from others and give back.
Of course, none of that would be possible without your belief, support & love.
Do you also remember?
When I had truly changed from the 5 day Accelerating Racial Justice Program?
When I became a more aware, responsible & empathetic leader?
When I joined the Programs & Activities Council?
And helped entertain the bearcats through amazing events & a fun concert?
When I became the Professional Chair of my pledge class of AKPsi?
And organized my 1st creative, business professional event?
When I got my first 4.0?
When I became a Lindner Ambassador?
When I encouraged other international students,
To get out there, grab new opportunities & pursue their dreams?
When I loved (still love) advocating for student rights & interests in SG?
When I had to leave Kroger to gain new professional experiences & better myself?
These were the times when your big girl made new relationships,
Of friendship and brotherhood and mentorship.
She found her love for learning and doing and giving.
She took risks, spoke in front of big crowds, felt the adrenaline rush & took initiatives in classrooms & outside.
Of course, none of that would be possible without your belief, support & love.
But of course, you remember?
When I became the Chair of Student Rights & Interests Committee in SG?
When I gave back to my wonderful business school by helping recruit new talent?
When I got my first business card?
When I first participated in a study abroad,
to the beautiful country of Chile while living abroad?
When I began planning the next stage in life?
The part after college, when people apparently ‘adult’ finally.
Well, its been 3 and a half years now,
And I still remember sitting by the boarding gate at the airport in India,
And thinking ‘wow, this is happening! I am going to live my dream of studying abroad!’
My main aim was to never look back and regret not doing enough in college.
I wanted to get the most out of my college experience and I have!
I have discovered myself here,
My passion, my strengths, my weaknesses, my interests.
As you know, it always hasn’t been merry and easy.
I have faced many failures & challenges.
There were times when juggling an 18 credit hour schedule since freshman year,
Working part-time & being a student leader wasn’t easy but very stressful.
There were times when instead of going to meetings,
I was tempted to go out & enjoy like my other friends.
There were and still are times of uncertainties,
When I don’t know where I’ll go next and that scares me.
But you’ve always said, Maa & Paa,
“Give in your 100% & leave the rest to God”
And that “whatever good - small or big - I’ve done, will help me later in life”
And that “all the experiences I have had at UC have polished me into a brighter gem”
And that “never stop trying, learning & believing because there is so much more to do”.
And that has made all the difference!
So, when I say ‘none of that would be possible without your belief, support & love’, I mean it.
Yours only,
Tarushi
Dear Maa and Paa,
Do you remember?
When I got my acceptance offer from UC?
When we went shopping for new travelling bags?
When I alone pushed my luggage cart through the crowds in the airport?
When you did not stop waving until you had the very last glimpse of me?
When I first called you from America & told you I was safe?
When I experienced my first snow?
When I asked you how to cook, or do laundry or be a responsible adult?
These were the times when your little girl took to the world by herself
Sometimes stumbled, sometimes confused, sometimes nervous
But she got up every time, looked in the mirror to self-motivate & kept moving forward.
Of course, none of that would be possible without your belief, support & love.
Do you also remember?
When my 1st achievement was getting into the University Honors Program?
When I got my first job as a peer tutor?
When I called to tell you about my first co-op offer from Kroger Co.?
When I became a Student Government Leader?
When I became an Honors Ambassador?
When my supervisor at work made me believe I have a golden touch?
When I had found my second family in my co-op team?
These were the times when your eldest kid found her love
To help others & be selfless,
To step out of her comfort zone and challenge herself,
To go above and beyond her ‘job description’,
And to learn from others and give back.
Of course, none of that would be possible without your belief, support & love.
Do you also remember?
When I had truly changed from the 5 day Accelerating Racial Justice Program?
When I became a more aware, responsible & empathetic leader?
When I joined the Programs & Activities Council?
And helped entertain the bearcats through amazing events & a fun concert?
When I became the Professional Chair of my pledge class of AKPsi?
And organized my 1st creative, business professional event?
When I got my first 4.0?
When I became a Lindner Ambassador?
When I encouraged other international students,
To get out there, grab new opportunities & pursue their dreams?
When I loved (still love) advocating for student rights & interests in SG?
When I had to leave Kroger to gain new professional experiences & better myself?
These were the times when your big girl made new relationships,
Of friendship and brotherhood and mentorship.
She found her love for learning and doing and giving.
She took risks, spoke in front of big crowds, felt the adrenaline rush & took initiatives in classrooms & outside.
Of course, none of that would be possible without your belief, support & love.
But of course, you remember?
When I became the Chair of Student Rights & Interests Committee in SG?
When I gave back to my wonderful business school by helping recruit new talent?
When I got my first business card?
When I first participated in a study abroad,
to the beautiful country of Chile while living abroad?
When I began planning the next stage in life?
The part after college, when people apparently ‘adult’ finally.
Well, its been 3 and a half years now,
And I still remember sitting by the boarding gate at the airport in India,
And thinking ‘wow, this is happening! I am going to live my dream of studying abroad!’
My main aim was to never look back and regret not doing enough in college.
I wanted to get the most out of my college experience and I have!
I have discovered myself here,
My passion, my strengths, my weaknesses, my interests.
As you know, it always hasn’t been merry and easy.
I have faced many failures & challenges.
There were times when juggling an 18 credit hour schedule since freshman year,
Working part-time & being a student leader wasn’t easy but very stressful.
There were times when instead of going to meetings,
I was tempted to go out & enjoy like my other friends.
There were and still are times of uncertainties,
When I don’t know where I’ll go next and that scares me.
But you’ve always said, Maa & Paa,
“Give in your 100% & leave the rest to God”
And that “whatever good - small or big - I’ve done, will help me later in life”
And that “all the experiences I have had at UC have polished me into a brighter gem”
And that “never stop trying, learning & believing because there is so much more to do”.
And that has made all the difference!
So, when I say ‘none of that would be possible without your belief, support & love’, I mean it.
Yours only,
Tarushi