Oh LEC! What have you done to me? 

Written by Ashuti Mathur, LEC 2022

It had been a long day. The discussions had been engaging, the reflections had been immersive and by the time the sessions ended, my mind was clouded with more questions and thoughts that I could not make sense of. 

It was dark and the few lights around were creating dancing shadows on the ground. There was a gentle breeze blowing and the palm trees near the gazebo were swaying in unison. This spot was the ‘adda’ of our chats, informal reading circles and book talks and what nots. Today I was sitting alone with my ukulele. All my life, I have turned to music for therapy. Whenever the world seems to overwhelm my senses, a quiet corner and music become my companions and I am ready to face life again. 

As I began to strum, hoping for some familiar tunes to find their way from my subconscious to my fingertips, the tune that came out was wholly unfamiliar. 

Three days of the LEC experience had been more impactful on me, than I had ever dared to imagine. It had made me laugh, it had made me uncomfortable, it had made me ask questions that I did not know were within me. I would not say it had changed me, but it was well on its way. “Oh! LEC…Oh LEC…what have you done to me.” The chords and words seemed to flow out on their own. I was too lost to notice the familiar shadows approaching me. “Wow! That sounds lovely! Play the rest of the song,” my very dear roommate, said. 

I looked up and said “There is no song. That’s all there is! These words reflect what a remarkable journey it had had been so far, for me. The song just came out for all the people who have been handholding us in our journey and who have been pushing us to think more. This is for them to know how thankful I am.” I said with a sheepish smile. You see, I have never been the one to take compliments gracefully and like always, descended into self-deprecating humour to get out of the situation. 

“Well then, you should write the rest of it, ‘cos it sounds great, and it resonates with I think all of us here.” “Do you want to do it together?” I asked. 

Over the next couple of days, we played around with words. We took cues from our discussions & activities. Few other course participants also joined us and we had so much fun composing it. Somewhere along the way, we decided to take the leap and play the song at the closing of our first Contact as a tribute to the extremely supportive & loving family of the LEC program. 

As I began to play, it dawned upon me that the week had been amazing, challenging, uncomfortable, fun, playful, informative all rolled into one (happy tears)!  The course had indeed opened a world of possibilities for me.

The only thing going through my mind as I sat there singing was – “Oh LEC…Oh LEC…what have you done to me! Oh LEC, THANK YOU!!! For having me. 

Song lyrics – 

Oh LEC 

What have you done to me 

 

Oh LEC 

The Bookworm is growing in me 

 

I read, I sleep, I read, I repeat,

I read, read, read, I read, I repeat

The book talk is growing on me 

Moodle’s taking a toll on me

What is happening to me?  

 

Oh LEC 

What have you done to me?

The ovalish, the circlish, the circlish, the ovalish, 

the fun and the energy,

The library is calling me,

Mentor Mentees, 

See you in February 

 

Oh LEC 

Thank you for having me 💜 

 

Oh LEC 

What have you done to me? 

What have you done to me!