My name is Rithika Lanka. During the summer of 2023, I participated in the second session of the VT SEVA Summer Internship where I was able to meet new people and experience another world.
Reflecting on the internship, it was amazing to see the experiences that shaped the journey. The early yoga sessions started each day with an energetic start. The Saketha Rama temple visit deepened my understanding of history through the stories I heard about it when we visited all three floors of the temple.
Meeting the students at Allampally School and Beersaipeta School was a heartwarming encounter that will forever stay in my heart. It was so engaging teaching the students various subjects due to their eagerness to learn and how smart they are. It was also a life-changing experience to see the tundas and their way of living. I also enjoyed meeting different people such as an elderly lady aged 108 years. I also met a graduate student of the school who shared her progress and success story and felt very happy to see how we are making a small impact on these students.
Exploring JIMS and the science of homeopathy expanded my intellectual horizons, while going into Ayurvedic medicine added a layer of understanding about holistic healing. It was so interesting to see how psychology has an effect on medicine. As an aspiring doctor, it was so interesting to see these different types of remedies. The visit to the Statue of Equality and the 108 Divya Desams was also an amazing experience with being able to see the wonderful architecture and details put into all the idols and Sri Ramanuja Swamiji’s statue.
During the time at Netra Vidyalaya, I learned about different talents such as singing, playing the flute, coding, etc. these students have. It was so inspirational to see them as they all stand out in one way or another. These students use their visual challenge as inspiration rather than an excuse. The students show determination to reach their goals and put so much effort into reaching them. Giving the students of Nethra Vidyalaya laptops on the final day of the internship was a truly fulfilling experience with how happy they were and how much of an impact we are making on the educational aspects of these students' lives.
In summary, this internship has provided a web of experiences that have broadened my perspective. Each part of this journey has added to my understanding of life and changed my perspective on it. I learned so many new things that I know will stay with me for the rest of my life. It brought me out of my comfort zone with things such as meeting new people and trying new foods. Throughout this internship, the most important thing I learned was discipline, and I will forever remember the experiences I went through on this internship.
