Know Our Team- A Metamorphosis
Know Our Team is a series that attempts to bring to you the stories of our team, share our experiences, why we do what we do and special moments that have left an indelible mark in each of our lives.
Aarushee Shukla is the Youth Outreach Officer at Safecity. Currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Economics from Hansraj college, University of Delhi, she is a feminist at heart taking small but strong steps to demolish the institution of patriarchy. She revels in debating on the concept of gender equality and women empowerment and aspires to strengthen the social fabric of society. Her associations with United Nations, Child Rights and You, Jagori have immensely helped her in building a pragmatic approach. Long distance cycling, swimming, learning new music instruments are her hobbies.
Know Our Team- A Metamorphosis
“And the sun will shine brightly, all swelled up with pride and glory,
The stars will dance to the music of calm breeze,
And the silver dust of moon will guide us through the marching band”- Aarushee Shukla
Rebel.
The faintest memory that I have of my childhood is of me constantly questioning everything around me. The seven year old me was somehow old enough to critically analyse the loopholes in the social construction of our society. And that’s how it all started.
From having a huge fandom in school to being the apple of every teacher’s eye, from constantly trying to live up to my parent’s expectations to secretly snuggling to my bed every night crying my heart out, introspecting. But it did not end there and things started to change (though not for the better!). I had to change schools and I lost all my friends and eventually transitioned into a lonely soul trying to find a place in this world. By the time I was sixteen I had gained much experience and as Shakespeare says, ‘Sweet are the uses of adversity’. I had become stronger and ready to face life!
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me”- Ayn Rand
The one thing which had nurtured, grown and developed inside me, in those sixteen years, was my indomitable will and determination to be the harbinger of change.
Introspection.
The habit of questioning is extremely important. It takes us one step closer to fetching a solution for it. The day a person realises that problems and solutions are the two phases of a same coin; the world will become a happier place to live in! Introspection has helped me in realising my potential and finding suitable solutions to my problems.
‘Why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up’
Hope.
Back when I was sixteen, I could gauge the serious defects in the societal setup and had made up my mind to mend those loopholes. I tried (and am still trying) endlessly to engage with different organisations and work with like-minded people to get one step closer to my goal. And then Safecity happened! I have seen myself evolve into a confident young lady in the past one and a half years and undoubtedly I owe it all to Safecity. I started as a volunteer and gradually carved a niche in the group of extremely talented and inspiring people. Safecity has been very close to my heart for the past two years because it has happily accepted me with all my imperfections and above all it’s providing an amazing platform for rebels like me to channelize my rage for productive endeavours!
“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever. The goal is to create something that will”- Chuck Palahniuk
