Grand Challenges Impact Lab

March 7, 2023

Full Circle

gcil

School
Today, Rachel and I gave a practice presentation of our project idea to the GCIL group and then finished wrapping up the work we needed to complete for Parikrma. With this representing the end of a large chunk of the work Rachel and I needed to do here, I felt a giant piece of the great weight on my shoulders getting lifted off. After nearly ten weeks in Bangalore, our program is finally nearing its end. All the friends I have made here, the lessons that I have learned during my time here, and the entirety of the life that I have lived here for these past few months will be something that will last within the bounds of my memories for the rest of my life.

That being said, a mixture of emotions have been swirling inside my brain these past few weeks. I came onto this trip knowing from the very beginning that my primary goal here was to learn. I was not here to try and force something tangible to happen with the GCIL project. However, as the final date gets closer and closer, I have been left feeling disappointed with the reality that this project idea may be out of my hands once I return to the US.

However, Professor Julian then proceeded to give an honest talk on the priorities of this trip and why there is value in focusing on the process. In many ways, people often focus too much on how they can make something work and not enough on why they should make it work. The talk served as a good reminder to me of the priorities that I had coming into this trip, as well as the enthusiasm I had to be a part of this program.

If I had to pick one element of this program that warmed my heart the most and reminded me that I was definitely doing something impactful on this trip, it would be working with the children of Parikrma. The kids are so precious and full of love that I can’t even begin to express my desire to help these children grow and become the best version of themselves that they can possibly be. I have nothing but the utmost respect for what Parikrma is doing and what Shukla’s vision for Parikrma and the Oxygen project are.

Even with all the hurdles we’ve experienced during this program, as well as the sleepless nights I’ve had to endure (especially this past week), I anticipate that I will be leaving Bangalore with a feeling of contentment for the things that I learned and the memories that I made. I already have ideas on how I can apply what I have learned here to tackle problems back in the US, and I am excited to see what the next chapter of my life will hold.

By Aditya