Zooni Dash - Rourkela, Odisha

 

I am Zooni Dash from Rourkela, Odisha. I came in touch with IofC and its ideas in 2004 while I was in my 12th standard. After my Masters in 2010 in Sociology from Kolkata, I went to Delhi to find work but realized that I didn't want to live just for Sundays. What I really wanted in life was to grow as a human being, spread happiness and help people change and I found a way to do it. I have been living in Asia Plateau for five years now and am presently a part of a program called Initiates of change for Life. When I discovered IofC as a 16 year old, I already had something to put right in my life which was not right.

 

I feel empowered and blessed. One thing that I needed to correct was me having cheated in exams; I used to thinkt that I would fail if I did not copy. The fact was that I found the course to be very difficult and theoretical. When I ealuated my life against the four values of PHUL, I got the courage to write to my professors and apologize. The head of my department wrote back to me saying that these small mistakes help a person become better. Accepting that the course was theoretical, I started an applied sociology course. This experience has given me the courage to stand up and accept my faults. My correction resulted in unexpected benefits to others.

The one thing I like the most about IofC is the practice of listening to my inner voice. It's been an enriching experience, helping me evolve as a person. I wanted to grow as a human being, reach out to more people and make this world a happier place with whatever little I could do. At AP, I could do all this.

The importance of Quiet Time has been reinforced in me. I can now connect and listen to my inner voice with much more ease. I have more courage to correct my mistakes; it isn't a big struggle anymore. I have learnt to be patient, tolerant and more understanding. Living among people from different communities and countries and yet forming the kind of bond we have today is something I will treasure throughout my life. I have more confidence to face an audience when I am on stage, to face the world, to stand up against injustice and to face and accept myself because I know that I am the one I most deceive at times.

I am deeply indebted to our youth team and the youth conference; here I realized what makes the conference a success. We are told not to come with a personal agenda, that we need to focus on the conference and the participants and this has really helped me. Servant leadership is a really powerful tool that I learnt.

In IofC, I realized that the Cross signifies cutting the ego. Also the Cross means thinking beyond myself, that is, thinking about others before I think about myself. This has really touched me and it is something I want to achieve and live.

The issue I am most concerned about today is the lack of compassion. I believe that most of our problems are manifestations of this issue. I am doing my bit to offer compassion from my heart; I hope you will join me someday.

Love and prayers,
Zooni

Stories of Change

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