Agamya Guttal, 10th Grade
Chinmaya has been a constant in my life since I first stepped foot in the transformative space Haridwar offers in first grade. It started as a weekly ritual initiated by my parents to attend every Sunday. But as I grew older, and my lessons transformed from the elaborate stories that are the foundation of Hinduism to classes with lively debate about our place in society and our duty to aid our world, my perspective was altered. Chinmaya began to be a place of intellectual thinking and acts of service that allowed me a brief break from my hectic schedule. I have been involved with many of Chinmaya’s youth service initiatives. I have led summer camps, participated in tree plantings, cooked for homeless shelters, and worked at Holi stalls. As much as these activities have been acts of service toward others, they have shaped me and taught me the significance of selflessness and devotion to God. I have had the privilege of leading road clean-up for Chinmaya’s Adopted Roadway for the past two years and it has provided me with skills of management and leadership. It also allowed me to witness the little acts of service that are also the most important aspects of understanding what service means to the community. Picking up trash along 173rd has shown me the joy of caring for our community and such a utilized road in my city. It has also demonstrated to me the power of the community Chinmaya offers. I have had the pleasure of meeting fellow Chinmaya members and getting to hear their story and create connections through our love for Chinmaya. A road clean-up event we organized with my 10th grade class showed me how valuable this group of classmates is to me. Chinmaya truly brings people together while spreading the message of service to our society and God.
