Recalling College Life

College life was one of the most memorable chapters of my life. These years were full of new experiences, lessons, fun and personal growth. While there were challenges, they helped shape me into a more confident and capable person. I realise how far I have come not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well through my college experience.

Before joining college, I used to study mostly on my own. My learning environment was quiet and solitary. I did not make many friends, and I was used to focusing on my studies in isolation. I joined college later than my other friends. Entering college brought a big change in my life. Suddenly, I found myself in a classroom with people from different backgrounds and personalities. At first, I felt nervous in class. I was not used to being around so many people, and group work felt overwhelming. But as time passed, I slowly began to understand.

The college I joined was in Jawalakhel, which was an institution known for its discipline and strong academic standards. It was quite an expensive college, and I was well aware that my parents were making sacrifices to send me there. That made me even more determined to study hard and make the most of my time. The college had many teachers, each with their own teaching style. Every subject was taught by a different teacher, which was new to me. At home, I had always relied more on self-study. In college, I had to adjust to a variety of teaching methods, classroom rules, and expectations.

My first year was definitely the hardest. Everything was new: the students, the teachers, the subjects, and even the schedule. I was not used to talking much, and I was too shy to speak up in class. Whenever the teacher would ask a question and look around the class, my heart would race. I could not face the teacher so I used to look down. My hands used to shake, and I hoped they would not call my name. But I was the new student in the class so all the teachers called on me. It was a scary moment at first, but also a valuable learning experience. I realised that fear can only be overcome by facing it.

At the end of the first year, our college organised a tour to Mustang. It was one of my best trips ever. I had a lot of fun, there were beautiful big mountains, clear rivers and old temples. The weather was cold and enjoyable. We made a big fire, sang songs and danced.  The people in Mustang were very friendly and nice. I learned so many things about nature and culture. Climbing to the Mukthinath Temple was perfect. Beautiful view and long walks and snowy weather were great. 

Things changed a lot in the second year. I became more comfortable and more talkative in the college environment and started building genuine friendships. I did not make a lot of friends, but the ones I did were true and supportive. They stood by me, helped me in my studies, and made every day enjoyable. Together, we shared not only notes and knowledge but also laughter, snacks, and good memories. Sometimes they came to my house and we would work on the notes together, and sometimes I would go to their place. We would stay overnight.

Despite the friendly nature of most teachers, there was always a certain pressure in the air. The college was strict, and we had to follow the rules properly. Still, we had a lot of fun. I clearly remember the sound of our laughter echoing through the classrooms. Sometimes, the teachers scolded us for making noise or not paying attention, but we just couldn’t stop laughing. We knew we had to be disciplined, but we were also young teenagers, full of energy.

Our classes started early in the morning, which made it difficult to have a proper breakfast. The teachers used to give a lot of homework, so I used to sleep at 1 o'clock in the night. Most of us arrived at college half-asleep and on empty stomachs. During class, we would get hungry, and many of us secretly brought cookies or snacks to eat in the class. It may sound small, but those little cookie breaks made the mornings more bearable and even fun.

One thing I always made sure of was completing my homework. If we didn’t submit our homework on time, we had to go to the principal’s office. As punishment, we were made to run around the entire school ground for 40 minutes. And we had to stand facing the wall for a long time. That was no joke! It was a strong motivation to stay on top of our work. I learned to be responsible and organised, and that discipline has stayed with me. We couldn’t take our phones with us in classroom. We had to put our mobile phone in the office. If we took it by mistake then the teacher wouldn’t give it back.

Now that my early college journey is over, I feel proud of everything I have achieved and experienced. I had a lot of fun and took away the best memories from college life. College life wasn’t just about books and exams; it was about growing as a person, learning how to interact with others, and discovering who I am. I will always remember the early morning classes, the nervous presentations on different subjects, the group studies, the laughter, and even the p unishments. 

As I look ahead to the future, I feel more confident and prepared. College gave me more than just an education. It gave me memories, friendships, and life lessons we will carry with me forever.

(Anita is an IT student and writes on youth and technology.)