Today the new class committee held its first ever meeting, and I was so honored to be present as the new commissary in charge of studies, along with Amy, our new monitor; Vivian, a veteran class cadre who always animates the class; Yan, a second-time commissary in charge of organization who has gone to great pains these days in planning and organizing the graduation trip; Miggy, commissary in charge of sports; Maria, League branch secretary, and Eva, commissary in charge of subsistence. Our discussion centred around the prospective graduation trip, and although we couldn’t come to any substantial consensus as to where and when to go, we did agree that first, this was gonna be a decision for the whole class to make; that second, we were gonna provide a host of itineraries and let the class vote; and that third, we did not want to be perceived as dictative, arbitrary or irresolute. I also made a report to the monitor on what I considered to be the priorities of my work this coming term: the due payment for all the textbooks, our internship, TEM-8 preparation, and how to create a sort of positive atmosphere around the class that can be conducive to our studies. The monitor listened attentively, nodded, and took notes as she debriefed each committee member on his or her projected work.

    The meeting was not draggy, and the conversation we had throughout was cordial and constructive. We drank coke as we talked, and were appreciative of this chance to serve the class. That felt good, I thought, for I could see some coherence in this new team of class cadres of widely different temperaments, some experienced, some passionate, some calm and thoughtful, and some quick to learn and willing to listen. I felt all the more proud just to be part of it and to contribute my little efforts to the great cause of making our class a better one. This idea of service is noble, but in a very practical sense, I think the word “service” connotes something much larger and greater than the plain tenure of a post may denote. For instance, the mere fact that I am now a class cadre means a great deal to me personally, and can be nothing less than an opportunity to get myself out of the parochial circle of concerns that typifies the modern lifestyle of a college student. Unlike the vacuous nature of self-pleasing indulgence, this notion of doing something for others , if properly understood, can highly motivate a person in a way that mere utilitarianism and privatism never can, for it gives the person ,whose mind is thus set, a sense of connection to others, a feeling that at the end of the day, we do not live just because we want to live, nor simply because we have to, but because we understand that in this interconnected world, we do not live alone like lonely islands, and therefore cannot choose but to interact with one another and to find the epiphany of life in the lengthy complex process of socialization and in the formings of acquaintance, friendship, partnership, relationship, etc. Facts have shown that those who live in connection with others are far more likely to live a happy and meaningful life than those who for whatever reasons there are, seclude themselves from the outside world. And in this regard, to serve a collective body, such as the class is, is not degrading or menial any more than it is a show of ego and vanity, but it leads one to better understand and appreciate his life.

    I find that kind of mentality to be very helpful in adjusting to my new job, which is mainly about handling the various affairs of studies ,assigned by teachers and the school administration, that may have a bearing on the interests of each and every one of my classmates. I think it a very exciting and challenging job and have nothing but ready acceptance for the highly visible and bustling nature of it. In fact I have learned my due lessons these days: going frequently to the teacher’s office, asking various questions on behalf of others, texting and calling some of my classmates to inform them of the official replies, posting notices onto the class’s QQ group and making recourse to Fetion to make sure that these important messages reach each and every one of those whom I serve…Just yesterday, I had to go to the Triangle City alone to see if the new textbooks had arrived. It turned out that they had, and being alone, I had to carry them onto a minibus all by myself and came back in it to Heyuan, where I got off and called Kevin and Ross, who helped me carry these books to the girls’ dormitory. After these few days in the job, I think I have understood and taken with all due awe the awesome weight of being a commissary in charge of studies. You have to work hard, I keep telling myself, because this is what you have signed up for. Yes, this is what I have anticipated when I first decided to run for this position so many months ago, and I will not shirk my responsibilities, or complain when the job seems laborious and displeasing. I am ready to do whatever it takes to fulfil my duties and live up to the expectation of those who trust and support me. After all, is this not part of what comes with maturity?