The Art of Man-making: ‘Your intent to help people matters more than how much you give’

Vanshika Sharma, a BTech student pursuing Computer Science at Apeejay Institute of Management and Engineering Technical Campus (AIMETC), says helping others is just a way of life for her. A recipient of the coveted Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values, the young student tells us what the award means to her.

Excerpts:

What, according to you, makes you a worthy recipient?

I was in my first year of college when I was introduced to this award. At that time, I did not know much about how prestigious it was. Gradually, I got to know about Apeejay’s founder chairman Dr Stya Paul and the history of the institution. My teachers guided me and told me more about the award. As an extrovert, I take an active interest in all kinds of activities. I joined several initiatives in college and participated in various events. During weekends, our college took us to orphanages and old age homes where we talked to the people and donated books, food, clothes, etc.

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I had been doing all of this in school too. So, it was in fact a part of my daily life. I feel fortunate that my teachers recognised my potential and zeal and thought me to be worthy of this award.

What does this award mean to you?

I was speechless and in tears when I got to know I won the award. It feels great when you get appreciated for your work, even if on a small scale. But the Dr Stya Paul Award was a grand acknowledgment of my efforts. Helping people was always a normal way of life for me. When your little gestures bring a smile to someone’s face, that is rewarding enough. But an award like this makes you feel even more motivated to continue doing good work and helping society in whatever way possible.

Can you recall any instances where you might have helped someone?

Close to our government quarter in Himachal Pradesh was a migrant family who had come to work. I saw their children playing all day and kept wondering why they were not at school. Later, I got to know schools could not admit them for lack of the required documents. I spoke to my father, a government official, and asked him to help the family. He, along with some neighbours, contacted the village Pradhan and finally got the children enrolled in just 10 days. We provided them with colouring books and other stationery. I would also recite poems to them, which they tried to copy. It was a wonderful feeling to see them learn. I was in class XII at the time.

So, you must have learnt about sharing and caring since childhood…

As a simple middle-class family, my brother and I naturally shared everything. My father always told me to help people and make others happy—more than how much you are giving, it is your intent that matters.  My mother always taught us to share everything with others. So, the value of sharing and helping others was inculcated right at the beginning.

Who is your role model?

I believe while you can take motivation and inspiration from others, you will have to make your own journey and commit your mistakes to learn about life. Having said that, I look up to my elder brother and consider him my role model for shaping his career and life on his own. He tells me to work hard without depending on others, which helps instill self-belief and makes me stronger.