Pen poised in my hand, I take a glimpse into the past one year of my life… a fresh faced first year, hitherto fiercely sheltered by a pampering family and steadfast friends takes a tentative step into a new world , a world which until now she had encountered only in Karan Johar and Farah Khan movies- the world of college . College was an enigma, as mentioned and it was with a lot of uncertainty and yet, with bubbling excitement, that she entered its hallowed portals - not knowing what to expect, what to hope for, but nevertheless with a feeling of foreboding clutching the pit of her stomach-the perennial pessimist.
Yet, I adjusted and adjusted well, so much so that now it seems to me as if it was nothing short of destiny which landed me here in this particular college and city, that there was God’s hand guiding me at every step for the previous two years in high school so that even when I stumbled, made mistakes and got frustrated with life in general, there was always something which gave me hope and made me want to give my failures a second chance of turning into successes.
My views broadened, I came to know there are things quite as important as studies on the elusive path to success, discovered a new treasure of friends and acquaintances even as I left my beloved family and unforgettable school pals behind, embraced my new found independence, discovered what hostel life was actually like (my only association with it till then being the St. Clare’s and the Mallory Towers series!) and got hold of my courage and learned to travel around a strange yet fascinating city on my own as I stepped outside the safe and trusted boundaries of my much yearned for hometown. I discovered new passions, realized what the fast life means and most importantly learned to appreciate the individuality of each human being as I struggled to create my own space among the whirlwind of unbelievable talent with which Delhi, in general and my college, in particular, was brimming with. In short, in the short span of one year, life taught me and at times forced me to learn lessons of courage, patience and fortitude as I faced my weaknesses, discovered my strengths and above all verified an adage I read somewhere which said that there is more to life than the number of breaths you take.
But hardly had the dust settled on these experiences that first year with a dogged surety already started drawing to an end, and as I prepare to take a step forward into the half lit world of second year, the shadows of the lessons learned in first year will inevitably reveal their presence to me from time to time, aiding me in the process of discovering (and rediscovering) myself and what exact purpose am I supposed to fulfill in this mystery known as life. At this crossroad, where I have just bid farewell to the most enchanting year of my life till now even as I fix my vision on the looming yet fascinating odyssey which second year without doubt promises to be, I cannot help but wonder about the new lessons- academic and otherwise- and masked opportunities that second year will inevitably be bringing in its wake. Different people obviously are bound to say different things about what this new chapter I am about to write will be like, some relying upon their own bittersweet experiences, yet others on word of mouth, but in the end it is my story, and as its sole author I am the one who will have to fill up the upcoming pages. It will once again be a time to shoulder new responsibilities, transcend more boundaries, forge new relationships, take the next few steps towards transforming dreams into realities and above all, discover new ones….
KNOW YOUR FRIEND FROM DU
Jayshrita Bhagabati is a second year economics honours student of Shri Ram College of Commerce. She is an imaginative young girl who prefers to have her head in the clouds most of the time. She shares an equally strong fascination for horror movies, travelling and reading all sorts of novels (assuming that they are not too philosophical!).
