A TRULY MAGICAL PLACE

Around this time last year, most people my age were in a dilemma. It was the time to choose their career paths. With so many different engineering and medical colleges to choose from, one could say they were spoilt for choice. People all around me were discussing their cut-off marks, placements in different colleges, entrance exams, basically the kind of things that would make your head whirl just thinking about it. Of course, they expected me to do the same. But no, my mind was made up. I was not going to spend another four years of my life learning things I had absolutely no interest in. My road was the one lined with Shakespeare, Marlowe and other great people, the one which did not have a ready-made job waiting at the end of it. Yes, I wanted to study English literature. The only question was where.

My sights were set on one of the best institutions in the city. With recommendation letters and attempted meetings with the Principal, I couldn’t say that I didn’t try my best. Alas! All those efforts were in vain. Apparently, being a catholic meant more to them than having an interest for the subject. I then turned to the only other place in the city which had a reputation as good as, if not better, than this one, and I was granted a place with little hesitation. And there I was, on the first day of college, alone and vulnerable, walking through the gates into a huge place with no idea what to expect. The first three days were intimidating. We freshmen had to attend orientation programs in the main auditorium. The sheer size of the crowd was terrifying. All around me, I saw people in groups talking, joking and having fun. In the midst of it all, sat this individual, alone and apprehensive, wondering if all those stories one hears about ragging and the like were true. The first visit to my class didn’t help matters. We were addressed by the Head of the department, being told what was expected of us during our brief stint with him. On the long journey back home, all that I thought about was how I was going to fit in.

All my fears proved baseless when I returned after the weekend, when our classes started. We had wonderful professors who made us feel right at home, and my fellow students weren’t half bad either. At the end of the day, I found myself with a few friends, and a strange excitement about attending classes for the days to come, a feeling which was quite alien to me. As the days went by, I found out what “living the dream” meant. The huge campus, the greenery, the classes, the people, everything was wonderful in this place. After three months, I found myself thanking my stars for bringing me to this place. I made some truly incredible friends and shared amazing moments with them, feeling right at home whenever I’m around them.

Fast forward one year, as I’m typing this into my computer, I find myself wishing that time would pass a bit slower. They say time flies when you’re in college. I didn’t realize it would fly this quickly. It seems only yesterday that I was walking through those gates, all alone and scared. Now, the only feeling that greets me at the sight of those same gates is a feeling of simple happiness. Who says magic doesn’t exist? I look around me, and I see magic in the trees, the bushes, the various animals, the people, the buildings…everything is magical here. For a wonderful year that has gone by much too quickly, I thank you, MCC.