As I walk
across college, I feel my steps move towards the gate with just a few steps
away from crossing line of fate. The day still plays fresh in my head, when I
saw 'H. R. COLLEGE' flashing on my computer screen, I jumped to joy with the
little butterflies in my stomach, waiting to discover a new world. The door
that was left to be unlocked came as fresh breeze of light to my life. Today,
as I look back, I see innocent school children walking into the gates of
college with dreams, ambitions and a life to be lived. A pondering smile forms
across my face leaving me dwelling on the memories and the life that ‘is’ with
the sudden realization that it will soon become a life that ‘was’.
The 5 years
have gone by in a jiffy. When I started off, I didn't know where this would
lead me, where I would lead myself, I only knew one thing; I wanted to paint a
beautiful picture in my reminiscence which would be read as COLLEGE. A breath
of relief washes over me; as I am relived I did so. Was college about getting
somewhere? Or was it about building yourself to be someone? With high dreams
and ambitions of being market ready individuals we all began our journey.
What is left
in the end is the realization that nothing said above matters. What questions
me is that, is it always about what you achieve? Maybe a few months back if I
was asked my answer would be yes. But I stand a different person today. A
person who has grown to realize, that you may be right but you can't always go
against the wrong. So what is it that is important? What is it that lasts? What
has impacting effect is not where you reached, but what you did right to get
there or not.
It is not
about who stood by you when you had everything, but who stood by you when you
had nothing, and this is the sole purpose of life. This is why I give so much
importance to college relationships, because 10 years down the line I might be
the richest person and may have the best people and have world class food. But
life's true achievement lies in the people who supported you when you were no
one. The best food is the one that is shared among 10 people It is these
college and school relations that one builds which are in the most pure and
true form, because they love and support you for who you are and not who you would
be.
I am blessed
to have these kinds of relations in my life. People who made me realize the
beauty of life, who now form part of a beautiful memory. I can't imagine a
dreaded day when I have to get up one morning and not go to college. When I
will no more have something senseless to laugh over. I will not have anyone to
pat my back and throw footwear at me for getting good marks. I will not have
anyone who will make sure that I ate on time. There won’t be people who will
abuse you only to make sure you are fine.
In a matter
of few months, life will change and all we’ll all have left is this beautiful
box of memories. As we take the last step, I look behind smiling at the gates
of college and my imagination paints the picture of watchman uncle insisting we
wear our identity cards and we slyly walk past, wishing and greeting people on
our way. The endless waiting for approvals, the fun-filled work, the day and
night efforts to pull off events, the covering up for each other, running
across the streets, sitting on the stairs(our khopcha) for hours together, the
random tea and coffee sessions; all left fading as we move away.
The world
outside seems an isolated place only to be decorated with memories of the life
you once had. What was life changing was the fact that I learnt to find my
smile in other people, because I know the people out there did the same. This
one is a dedication to all those beautiful people out there, who in a big or
small or any way walked across my college life and left your mark there. It’s a
deep heart-felt thank you for touching my life in ways more than one; you make
me who I am today. We all lived life to inspire each other so that we all grow
to be who we are today. We fell, life challenged us but in the end we picked
those broken pieces for each other and life moved on.
So never stop
dreaming, living and inspiring, because the book of life will show you
different chapters, but the most amazing one will be this unsaid, indirect and
unlabelled chapter called COLLEGE.
