I have had the privilege to study at 3 different, amazing universities in India. Well, in fact, I am still pursuing a doctoral degree from the third. But, the love and acceptance with which Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, aka DU, transformed me remains an unparalleled experience in my life.
Every organisation I have walked into has changed me in more ways than one. But the reason DU stands out in my life story is because DU is the only place that taught me better with kindness. And, that is why, because of the Maitreyi College aura, because of the DU essence, I still believe in the power of kindness. I can still choose to believe that people can be transformed for the better with acceptance. I know for a fact that people can evolve from the most terrible parts of themselves when loved the right way. If you’ve ever been a part of DU, you’ll know that the university has this amazing culture of simply letting people be themselves, without judgement, without shame. You are not forcibly put into a box and then expected to live within the bounds forever. You are encouraged to explore, to grow as a person by embracing your varied interests without a set deadline for deciding your life path. Yet, amidst all this, discipline and sincerity remain non-negotiables. It is probably this culture of practical life lessons that inspired us to nurture connections that last a lifetime. It was indeed three of the best years of my life, thus far.
This kind acceptance is what makes the time we got to spent in Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, one of the most treasured glimmers of life.
Yes, the over-generalisation of the statement might be a blind spot here. Equally true is the fact that incidences of compassion failing to support a person through changing for the better is the anomaly of human behavioural science, and not the norm.
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