As a NSS alumni, I had a great experience and learned a lot with the Tamil Nadu State NSS Cell for the past six years, especially under the tenure of Dr. M. Senthil Kumar, State NSS Officer. My journey with the TN State NSS cell started in 2019, when I had the opportunity to represent my university as well as my college in the Republic Day NSS parade as a right marker in the troop. I am proud to say that we are the first batch to receive the same parade uniform as the National RDC. Also, I had the wonderful chance to interact with Dr. M. Senthil Kumar in a state-level NSS workshop on youth empowerment held at the National College, Trichy. The TN State NSS cell created an opportunity for me to interact with Dr. C. Samuel Chellaiah, the former Regional Director of NSS, in a state-level leadership training camp held at Pachaiyappas College, Chennai. As youngsters, we proposed a state-level adventure camp, and the NSS has approved it. In that event, I had the chance to act as one of the organizing committee members. Because of that performance, Dr. M. Senthil Kumar gave me a chance again to organize the state-level NSS coordinators orientation program at Yercaud Hills. And finally, for the first time, our state organized the state-level NSS youth festival under the initiation of Dr. M. Senthil Kumar. I was happy to be a part of the event, which was held at VIT, Chennai. And here, I would like to convey my wholehearted thanks to the Tamil Nadu State NSS Cell for initiating such kinds of new activities and to Prof. Dr. M. Senthil Kumar, State NSS Officer, for providing all of these opportunities, which helped a lot in the development of my personality.

I got an excellent opportunity to attend the NSS state level workshop on women’s development and empowerment (Puthumaipen)in Kodaikanal. It is a flagship programme to empower women. First of all I would like to thank Mr. Senthilkumar sir. Thank you sir for this opportunity.There we attended various seminars on distinguished topics, went for field trips and engaged in practical sessions regarding self defense. A woman has to mould herself into a new version of herself in order to attain equal status as men. Each and every session was useful and filled with new insights. A suggestion or a request that I would like to put forth is that more and more camps and workshops like these should be organized so that many more volunteers like me would get a chance to explore new things and themes.

Before talking about this, I would like to thank everyone for giving me this great opportunity. First and foremost, I thank the Tamil Nadu government for conducting the state youth festival. Thanks also to state NSS officer Dr. M. Senthil Kumar for organizing this festival. Special thanks to VIT University for providing us with special accommodations and food. And also, I would like to sincerely thank all the students who attended and the organization community for their support. It is the place where I realized my talents. It is the place where I developed my leadership skills. Students from all districts attended, providing an opportunity to interact with new people. Those were the moments that make me cringe even when I think about it now. I still remember crying on the final day. Once again I would like to thank the Government of Tamil Nadu for creating these beautiful moments.