My USec Story

Website Operations
9 hours ago
2 min read

By Riya Rajesh, ExUSec - McGAN’s Ooty School of Architecture (Z620)

When I was asked to write an article narrating my USec story, I was overwhelmed with countless memories and wasn’t sure how to fit all my thoughts into just four paragraphs!

I had heard of this huge inter-college fest called the NASA Convention even before joining college, and it had me intrigued. I expected it to be like a regular college fest — but I was completely wrong. It wasn’t until I was elected as the Unit Designee of my college and found myself amidst the ongoing pantomime of NASA India that I truly understood what it meant.

At first, being the (second) bottom-most ring of the ladder felt confusing. I had no grasp of the protocols or duties. Every day presented a new challenge — from filling out Forms A, B, C, D, and so on, to obtaining ‘on-duty’ leave, bribing friends to stay back and help, and of course, the ultimate challenge: collecting the funds!

So what is it like being a Unit Designee? I often compare the experience to being a local bus conductor. I know, it sounds insane — but think about it. The conductor has to deal with all kinds of passengers — grumpy ones, confused ones, stubborn ones — while giving out tickets, collecting money, handling change, helping the driver, and answering everyone’s questions! The driver, in this analogy, represents the Unit Secretary. They are responsible for navigating through all the chaos, overcoming blocks and red signals, and getting everyone to the destination on time — which is exactly what a USec does when trying to get trophies completed despite all the obstacles that come up.

Apart from this rickety bus ride, being the Unit Secretary gave me immense returns in the form of memories, friends, and knowledge. Throughout my tenure, I have seen people grow as individuals. I have seen passion and perseverance at their peak. I have experienced both joy and challenges, and I have learned that hard work truly pays off.

In the end, this roller coaster ride was worth every moment, every struggle, and every victory.