University – a major reality check!

If I sum up my life at the University so far, I would say it has been a roller-coaster ride.  

But was the struggle worth it? YES! 

Talking about university life for many would be about academics, extracurricular activities, and friends; however, when I look back at my journey so far, all I can think of are the life lessons it taught me. It’s not wrong to say that more than academics, University was more of a reality check. 

Joining the lectures online for an entire year, our batch didn’t get to meet each other for so long. Therefore, it’s safe to say the first year went comparatively smoothly. Then came the on-site lectures, getting up early to catch the bus, running to the canteen to get a good spot to have lunch, and all the hassle of on-site lectures.  

Certain mornings, the Greens and Yellows (study areas – for those who don’t know) were swooned by some juicy gossip that would eventually get forgotten when something new came up. Well, not going to lie; there WILL BE days where you are involved, at least in a tiny part of the gossip, and you will be just sitting there learning things about yourself that even you didn’t know. Then on some other days, you might also see the very people that talked behind your back come running to you asking whether we can have a study session together. That’s how complicated things are at the University. Understanding the purpose of life is definitely much easier than understanding the motives of the person next to you. 

However, amidst all this chaos, there is always a way out; a true friendship that will stick with you through it all, a mentor who will give you solid advice, or a hideout among the university buildings that would make you feel safe. And if you are lucky to find any of these as an undergraduate, make sure to hold on to them tight.  

In my case, I found a good bunch of friends (after several failed attempts), an aspiring lecturer who always believes in me, and a comfortable corner in the library to go to whenever I needed a distraction. Although I’m still trying to adapt to certain aspects of the University, in the back of my mind, I trust myself to get there. I have made my fair share of mistakes, but through it all came a newfound hope that things would get better. 

When I first decided to write this article, I wanted to tell a detailed account along with my perspective on all that happened and explain how I felt going through the struggles. However, while thinking of how to start, I realized that doing so doesn’t matter; the only person that should be conscious of my side of the story is me. If you can accept your side of the story, well, you got it covered. Simply, as long as you have you, you’ve got everything you need.  

I’d like to end my reflections on university life by throwing in some random Taylor Swift lyrics as a source of comfort those who may need it as they live through university: