Scholar-Journalist of the Week: Christmas Carnival: A day worth remembering

“Celebrating Christmas at home with my family, buying colorful Christmas cakes, and visiting the church with my friends have always been a very happy memory for me. I have always loved this time of the year,” expresses Arya Thakur, student of Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), Dwarka.

When Arya was pursuing her graduation from Patna Women’s College she also organised Christmas events including Christmas skits, carols and so on. Thus she emphasises, “What better way to reminisce those memories than writing.”  Therefore, to keep those moments alive, celebrate and create new memories with her friends at AIMC, she decided to write an article on Christmas.

In her interview for the scholar-journalist of the week category, she explains further about her writing journey and her interests in the world of public relations.

What’s the inspiration to be a part of the PR & media field?

Don’t you think tailoring someone’s public image and ensuring that their goodwill is well-maintained is kind of cool? I was spellbound when I first heard that there is such a job that allows professionals to have this ability. 

I think the first time I came to know about the PR field was when I was in class 7 or 8.  It was during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when everybody was talking about the PR activities and campaigns done by the political parties and how they heavily influenced the results. PR is a really interesting field and it inspires me to be a part of this sector.

 What has been your learning from attending large-scale events organised in your institute? How are these events helping in shaping your career?

Attending large-scale events organised by my institute is an amazing opportunity that allows us to get exposure to the outer world.  It is also an excellent chance of socialising and having fun while learning.

We as students of Corporate Communication and Event Management not only have participated but, also have organised events including the We Care International Film Festival, Diwali Carnival, and Christmas Carnival. So, as a part of the organiser team, I can say that these events also are allowing us to work in a professional setup. It is helping in gaining first-hand professional experience while still being in college. It is also teaching us values like teamwork, commitment, punctuality, and many others which will help us in our future endeavors.

Share three tips to improve writing skill

Things that I always keep in mind while writing are:
· You don’t need beautiful flowery words to write well. Your writing should always have clarity so that others can understand.

·  Read a lot if you want to write well. Reading helps you in enhancing your vocabulary and grammar.

· Always proofread after you write. Check twice before submitting your work.

When did you start your writing journey? Which was your first piece?

Honestly, I don’t know when I started writing. I have a family full of writers. My grandfather was a terrific writer. He used to write in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Maithili. My best friends and cousins also write well. I also read a lot. From fiction to non-fiction and prose to poems, I read everything. So, I think because of this, writing came to me naturally. I can’t say I am a good writer yet. But I love writing.

My first piece of writing was an animal story. I loved to read children’s books like Champak, Nandan, and others. So, I wrote a story to send to get published in Champak. I wrote the story, decorated it, made the animals, stars and then gave it to my older cousin’s brother to send it to the post office.  God knows where that story went.

 What has been your personal learning experience from this writing journey?

I think writing for me has always been very therapeutic. I write when I don’t want the world to know my problems. I write when my emotional baggage becomes very heavy. Writing for me is a form of expression. I am an observer. So, I can tell the world my views through writing. It has also taught me patience, commitment and helped me in controlling my anger.

Do you wish to become a writer in the future?

I am not very certain about the future. But I would like to pursue a field where I can use my writing skills because I love writing.