The immense satisfaction associated with working for others has driven me to community service. I am not trying to beat my own drums but only sharing the reasons for spending hours behind something that does not have a monetary return.
It was the year 1999 and I was in Grade 11. Among numerous student organizations in my high school, there was one called the Education Club. While my close friends chose to join the Debating Club and the Reading Club, I suddenly became eager to join the Education Club, which I heard worked toward educating underprivileged children of the neighborhood. Joining the Education Club was one of those decisions for which I would always thank myself later in my life. I can never forget the love and laughter of the small children I taught for some one-and-a-half years. Every Wednesday was like a pleasure day; almost every Wednesday I would get something from my little students. On many occasions I received flowers, guavas and green mangoes from my students, many of whose parents could not even feed them three meals daily. The gifts brought me tears, the love made my heart grow stronger and bigger.
In my college years, it was this pursuit of unconditional love that had me join North South University's social services club. Yes, I not only learnt to understand the suffering of others but also to control my desires and demands of daily life. Living a simple life became a mantra to happiness. And trust me, this mantra is infallible.
There was a gap of about 3 years in the middle. In these 3 years, I joined the corporate world and worked hard to raise the money that my parents spent on my education. I believed that I needed to use the knowledge I earned in college. I could not be actively involved in community services, but in my own way I tried to contribute. As a corporate communications officer of Grameenphone, I wrote on the corporate social responsibility projects of the company, sought support of the employees, who were willing to help those affected by a bitter winter, a raging tropical storm or a devastating flood. I regularly posted articles on the company’s intranet site. Among scores of articles that I developed for Grameenphone, it was these articles that I probably wrote with much more eagerness and urgency.
Time flew. In 2008, I decided to tie the knot and come to the United States to pursue higher studies. In a new country and among new people, I felt lost at the beginning. The first year went by, trying to make sense of the country I was in and to get over the homesickness. Last year August, I realized once more that I needed to give back something to the community I was living in. As a resident of St. Cloud, I felt I owed something to its people. I was studying on a full scholarship; I was working as a Teaching Assistant at my university. I was thankful for all this and I felt I should give back something to the people of this city.
My first choice was the U.S. Salvation Army. But while filling out their application form, I figured that it would be difficult for me to go there during the harsh Minnesotan winter. I would have to walk from the bus stop to reach the center, which I suspected could be difficult and dangerous at times. I have not yet become used to the cold winter of midwest. So, I emailed the second organization that was on my list – it was a senior care center called the Talahi Senior Campus. I downloaded their volunteer application form; completed it and one day went to drop it off. After the necessary interview and background check, I started working there under the supervision of a sweet young lady called Amy. I helped Amy maintain her volunteer records, prepare new volunteer information packets, enter monthly hours of each volunteer into the system, etc. On some occasions, I went to the mall with the residents of the senior care center and helped them with their shopping. I never pushed a wheelchair before. While pushing a wheelchair for a resident of Talahi, I figured that it was difficult. I wondered how much more difficult it was for the woman who was sitting in that chair – she could not even walk by herself.
On one occasion, I made popcorn for the residents of Talahi and their guests. I never made popcorn in my life before. I ended up getting blisters in my hand. But did I care? I really did not. But my blisters scared the Talahi employees, two of whom ran to get ice and burn relief spray to help my hand feel good. I enjoyed working at Talahi, for it brought me an immense mental satisfaction – a kind of satisfaction that I seldom found in doing other things.
I worked at Talahi till the last day of my graduation in May 2010. I came across some nice and kind people while working there, which I believed was a much better gift than dollars and cents. What is better than people’s love and kindness? Not all the monies in the world can get you the love that is not meant for you.
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