‘My dad is Punjabi while mum is Nepalese!’ shared the Pacific Theological College’s Manager Maintenance and Properties.
‘I’m a mixed breed Indian, hailing from a very strict cultural background but working here at PTC has been an enriching cultural experience.’
‘There are many cultures here at PTC that have since amazed me. So diverse, different peoples,’ he said.
‘And even though I’m just an employee, I am welcomed into this cultural diversity. I can feel personal growth.’
Jasveer or Jas as he is popularly known around campus, joined PTC four years ago from a financial lending institute in Fiji.
What brought him to PTC was a finance officer opening with the Finance Department, specially dealing with student financial matters.
The journey down four years has been transforming. He’s acquired new perspectives on life, extended his family network, learnt new skills, and achieved many undreamt outcomes.
‘From the finance team to leading PTC’s maintenance team, I am deeply appreciative of the faith and trust and opportunity the Principal has vested in me and I am committed to this place that I have come to call home,’ he said.
Jasveer who is 36 years old changed quite a few significant narratives over the four years.
He moved from finance to maintenance and property management achieving the construction of the Vaka PhD study centre which is a newly crafted study space for students pursuing their doctoral degree. He also crucially coordinated the renovation of the Islander Missionaries Memorial Chapel and is now working on a brand-new Faculty house for the College.
Perhaps the most significant story he changed was a more personal one. He became a husband in December 2019.
As PTC sets the wheel turning to transform into a University as part of its new strategic outlook, more big goals lie ahead for Jasveer.
‘For the future I’m glad to be part of this college and to be part of the outlook of the strategic plan to become a University,’ he said.
‘I look at myself being part of it and achieving what’s there and being part of the committee to cost everything and don’t see myself going but to achieve the many challenges ahead.”
While the work is certainly motivating, Jasveer says for him the appeal of PTC is so much more than that.
‘The College is surely an extension of my family, my second family, I spend most of my hours here, eat together, work together,’ he said.
‘I don’t differentiate regardless of my cultural background and consider everyone here as family.’
‘I went to a Christian school my whole life as a student. But here working for one is totally different where we get to see how life is beyond what we can see with the naked eye.
‘It’s a deeper, emotional experience not just in terms of work but the value we gather from other indigenous people.’
‘I must say I am loving it here,’ he added.
‘PTC will always have a place in my heart and its worked wonders for me as well.’
Ends…