SOCH'08!!!

Today is 29^th December 2008…a nice Monday morning…nice because I’m sitting at home, courtesy Christmas Vacations….but something nicer than these 2 week long vacations happened exactly 24 days back…on 5^th and 6^th….SoCh’08!!

I’d term SOCH as the pride of the students of the commerce department….our love for it made us probably work as hard as we have worked for it this year…

Coming into Loyola Academy last year, none of us had any idea of SOCH…we never expected anything of this sort. As far as last year’s SOCH goes[SOCH’07], since we were the 1^st year students, we din’t really have much of a role. The reason for that is the amazing group of super seniors we had…a group who handled each and every thing and saw to it that we won’t really be burdened with any work as such. I only remember moving around chairs and tables last year and believe me, it made me really happy...it made us all very happy to be a part of something as huge as it, even if we made negligible contribution!!

Entering into 2^nd year, the first thing we were looking at was SOCH’08, yes SOCH this

Year would mean more involvement from us, and we were looking forward to it.

But things din’t seem to be going our way as the happening of SOCH’08 looked bleak.

We were really desperate to have it and evidently we pushed hard against it, and eventually it was decided that , SOCH’08 will be on!!!!

Now that SOCH was on, we had to get things started, 1^st things 1^st, conducting SOCH aint no child’s play and the sooner we realize that , the sooner we’ll start working.

Realization came in as soon as it could, and we started working for it. The dates for the fest was decided as Dec 5^th and 6^th…so that meant we had the whole of October and November to work for it.

But, how could things be so easy for us, even though the whole of October was holidays, it came with a prefix “Preperation”…

Yes, these month long holidays were followed by the most dreadful exams, the semester end!

That meant we had to work during the first half of the month and cram during the rest.

So, October was probably the “make or break” for SOCH…and I can now say proudly, we MADE it!!

Going back to October, we decided to start working from day 1 of the vacation, and we did just that.

Going around for sponsorship could be very painful. Specially when the Sun is beating down and people don’t seem interested.

Anyways, we worked till the 23^rd of October, collected as much money as we could, and noted down on the people we need to get back to.

The semester end exams came by and were seriously very dreadful. At one point of time, we just waited for it to end and it eventually did.

With just a 2 day break, the next semester started and it was November 12^th already.

Time literally flew. .and probably flew in a Concorde!!!

4 weeks to go for THE day! And we were still short of the sufficient cash we’d need to set up the event.

Just when I thought things were going on track, controversies came by. But we managed to put them off for the time being. All in the interest of SOCH!!!

Since we were tight budgeted this time, the Rock Concert got scrapped and none of us were really happy with that. But then we had to move on and get other things on track.

The last two weeks before SOCH, went for publicity. We went around inviting colleges and sticking posters in hang outs.

Most importantly, during all this while when we were out for sponsorship, another group of students, worked on Street plays.

Days till December 4^th just raced by and sitting in college on the eve of the big event, we could smile and say with enough conviction.. WE DID IT!!

And after 48 hours of us saying that, we feel happier….infact happiest…because …WE REALLY DID IT..!!!

SOCH’08 was indeed a hit, an enormous one and being absolutely frank, 2 months prior to this event, we did not anticipate it...We knew we’d manage to make it happen..but thought we’d just sail through..But eventually we managed to cruise through and that makes each and every individual, who gave in his and her best for SOCH, really very happy and content…Thanks to this event, Life at Loyola seems rocking!! :) :)

***P.S :::

According to me, this fest would surely not have been possible if it wasn’t for that amazing group of juniors…Those juniors who came in and responded so well to what exactly we were expecting from them.

I remember this conversation I had with Ankur, where we spoke about how a lot would depend on the juniors who come in and take up the responsibility.

I think, on behalf of my batch, I can happily say, We are proud of them…

And most importantly, the amazing group that constituted the Street Plays, headed by Mary, was probably the Soul of SOCH'08....they carried off something they had never before...and surprisingly did it with style and panache and dealt with ultra sensitive topics with the utmost ease.....Good Job People...Great going!!

With the success of SOCH’08…we are now seasoned fest organizers..hehe... and SOCH’09 is going to be the biggest ever fest and we are already under way :) :)***