Youth leader #A2Z challenge

I call college as a Youngistaan as we find many youngsters there with great energy and enthusiasm. From the beginning of the year, we would volunteer in many events and others would actively participate in those. Even professors would have a youth like energy. There would be youth leader in the college who would decide the events and activities that has to be carried out in the college.

There would be elections conducted to decide the youth leader and voting would be with strict security. The tensions created in the college during this time was as if everyone were participating for the countries election. My friend had contested for the election and we used to go and talk on behalf of him to select him and that friend would treat us later in the canteen for supporting him. We would support him not because we wanted him to be elected but because we would be treated later. I hope many of us will have similar memories and have crossed the same lines.

Xerox notes #A2Z challenge

I have a great bonding with Xerox during my college. It was a tool that saved us in our crisis. We used to Xerox the text books instead of buying them and that too only during the exams or the internals we would Xerox the notes.

It was a real saviour when we had to appear for our lab exams as our class guys used to get the micro Xerox of all the programs and would help us also by sharing it. We had a micro processor lab which the entire class found it difficult to understand the program and execute it and the entire class was saved by this micro Xerox. Xerox was a powerful tool for everyone.

Work outs #A2Z challenge

Work out keeps us physically and mentally fit. During college life, we were involved in lot of activities and sports that kept us fit and active throughout, which I am missing now as I hardly find any time for myself even to excerise for 30 minutes.

We used to spend lot of time in the gym or in the play ground and equally we would eat a lot as we would feel hungry very often. I remember, I used to have 3 -4 chapati's and still I was fit. But now, I feel that I increase my weight just by smelling chapati as there are no work outs which are essential. I think, many of us have the same feeling.

Values #A2Z challenge

College and the hostel life teaches a lot of values in shaping a character of a person. Moral values, social and economic values will be inculcated if you are in a hostel because you tend to know that value of money, time, food, love and emotions as you will be away from your home sweet home. Hostel teaches a lot of these values in its own way and it might not be joyful at times.

I used feel home sick often and would expect things to happen as the way it was at my home. But, at the end college life taught me how to interact with people, how to negotiate things, my responsibilities and how to face challenges thrown at me which is valuable.

Unexpected moments #A2Z challenge

College life is all about accepting the unexpected. At the start of the college, we see every student as a stranger and looking at some will have a mindset that we don't get friends with each other but unexpectedly we get along only with that person very well. Similarly, exam papers and the results are also unexpected!

There are many incidents and one of them is I had prepared for Logic Designs paper with 5 out of 8 units. But most of the questions were asked from what I had not studied and that was unexpected but the result was expected that I just got 28 marks out of 100 marks.

Thrilling #A2Z challenge

Everyday of a college life is a thrilling experience. You never know what happens when or what you will encounter. Unlike school, which is planned and classes are carried out according to the time table, college is never like that. Though a time table is scheduled, classes always don't go according to that and their is always atleast one surprise lecture that happens and you are forced to sit in the class. 

It's thrilling even when you try to escape from your professors site and hide somewhere. It's thrilling when you do not submit your assignment but still manage to get good internal marks. And it's thrilling to eat the local food from the local vendors. You expose to so many things for the first time and each and every experience that interests you becomes thrilling.

Sustain #A2Z challenge

Once we are in college we learn to sustain numerous things. This is true atleast in my case. I have sustained the most difficult phase of my life. I have sustained all the hardships. I have sustained and moved on in so many matters.

Today I have sustaining ability and I give all the credits to my college life, my hostel life. There were days when all the pocket money would get over just few days after receiving it. Fear of asking again I have managed the entire month with the little money left and I learnt I can sustain any situation with proper planning. I have sustained the mental pressure, heartbreaks with friends by being strong. Today I see myself as a confident women who can sustain and handle any tough situation without losing hopes. And I am sure, most of you would relate to it that you have also learnt to tackle many tough situations from your college days.

Ragging #A2Z challenge

There is nothing wrong if I say that ragging is a part of student culture. Every senior wants to show their seniority first by ragging the juniors. Of course, ragging is not a good thing but still ragging is fun if it is not too personal, humiliating and abusing. And one should never cross the limits and keep it only for fun.

Like every junior, I too was a subject to ragging but in a funny way. No seniors crossed their limits of ragging and neither did we cross our limits with our junior. Certain ragging incidents still put a broad smile on my lips if I think of it. We were made to sing a nursery rhyme and dance while singing. We were asked to speak about ourselves for 5 minutes and after every sentence we were supposed to say "my seniors our great". And there were many more funny ragging incidents that I faced and enjoyed.

Ragging in a healthy way has helped in bonding with seniors and other friends. The relationships became stronger. College days became easier with the guidance of seniors.

Quarrels #A2Z challenge

Quarrels are very common in college. Though it looks like a horror show during that time, it sounds very silly now when we think of it. Like anyone, I also had quite a few quarrels with my friends, roommates, bestfreinds. All the silly fights and arugments over a silly thing would leave us broken for days together.

I remember having a bad fight  during my first year of engineering with a girl who was one of my good friend once upon a time. I, along with my two other friends had such a big argument with the girl that we did not sleep the whole night. The only silly reason for having a fight was that girl was attention seeker and she was upset that we had been for a movie without her. We were frustrated with her behaviour since beginning and removed all our irritation on the day we fought. Our fights reached the ears of our principal and the next day, we were sent a letter to meet him at the office only to be patched up. Though we pretended to be nice before him, we did not talk to one another for four years. Only in the final year gathering, we left all our ego's and spoke to each other. Such is the silly quarrels that I still remember.

Placement drive #A2Z challenge

This is the day which every student eagerly waits for. Everyone wants to get placed in the top company with a very good package. Before placements started in our college, we were given training on aptitude, a syllabus from the beginning was brushed up and we were guided on our presentation skills.

On the day of placements, everyone dress in their best formals and reach college with the hopes of grabbing a job. There is nervousness in every student yet there will be excitement that very soon everyone will be independent. The thought of earning my own money and becoming independent always made me feel like grabbing a job as early as possible. But getting an offer letter was not as easy as I thought. I had faced my own roller coaster ride. Attended interviews of few companies that came to the college. Got rejected by some and I did not accept a offer letter of some for my own reasons. And finally, I realized the happiness of finding a right job when I got placed in my dream company with the salary I had expected. My happiness knew no bounds.

During this period of placement drive and job hunting, I realized how desperate I was to grab a job, I experienced the pain of rejection, I came to know how waiting for something for quite a long time feels like, and also realised what true happiness is. After everything, most of us were flying with true colors. We were eager to finish our exams and wanted to join the office soon. Wanted to experience the happiness of receiving the first pay check and buying gifts for everyone at home. It was an amazing feeling of mixed emotions.

Network #A2Z college

College plays a very important role in building our network and making our network strong. Having a strong connection with other students of a college and other colleges are very important so as to learn various things. It also plays a very important role during interviews.

If there are any inter college fest organised, we make friends with many students coming from different colleges. They in turn invite us for their colleges during any event. With this, we build our confidence and do not hesitate to take part in various activities.

When a fest was organised in our college, I took part in paper presentation. I got an opportunity to make many good friends from other colleges. Through those friends, I got to know about various others events organised in different parts of our state and was also invited to their college. I happily took part. I could see my confidence and presentation skills getting improved. With this new friends our network started building and we made more and more friends and got close to some like minded people as well. We started hanging out together, going out for movies, dinner. In fact, this even helped us in finding a job as everyone of us would be informed about opening if any one person came to know about any.
Having a strong network is very essential which can be easily achieved in college life.

Mass bunk #A2Z challenge

When we enter college, missing classes are normal. For some people it becomes a habit and some don't like to miss even a single class. And there are others who don't attend even a single class but somehow manage to maintain a good score. I have seen some of the faces only during exams and then learnt that they were my classmates too.

But, at times there would be situation were entire class decides to miss a lecture and mass bunk. That is the best any student can ask for as no one will be caught the next day. And if at all questioned, the varied reasons coming from all the students would really be very funny. I very well remember when I was in college, sometimes, our lecturer itself would tell everyone that the class is cancelled and would ask us to be out of our prinicles or the hod's sight so that no one gets caught. It would be double the fun when entire class won't appear for the lecture.

Library #A2Z challenge

For me library was all about books, books and only books until when I realized it was something more than that. We used library just to escape from our professors and hid there. A girl and a boy would use library to see each other. It was more of silent fun and sign languages than reading. We used library for some serious studies only during exams. The set up in the library, the silence maintained there would always make me feel very drowsy.

But the best use I made from library was using text books. We borrowed text books from there and renewed it timely after the last date and saved some money given to buy the books. And there are times we were fined for not returning the book on time and the way we escaped from giving them any fine. Library was like a peaceful and silent adda for many students.

Kingdom of knowledge #A2Z challenge

Amidst all the fun and craziness in the college life, what every student earn is knowledge. Knowledge that is carried throughout one's life. Knowledge about subject, knowledge about various other aspects and there is nothing wrong in calling college as a kingdom of knowledge.

Being in college, one learns how to communicate in a better way, how to present things in a interesting way, how to be a responsible person. Of course, all these knowledge is gained from childhood, no doubt, but being in college we get more exposure and the circle increases and so does the opportunities.
Knowledge is not just being strong technically but how to efficiently use it which is groomed in a college. We are guided on a career path that is best and running in the industry. We are helped and taught which career best suits us based on our interest and we are guided accordingly. Without all these, it would be difficult for anyone to chose a right path.

Juniors #A2Z challenge

It was a treat for seniors when they spot juniors in the campus. Seniors always demanded to be treated like god and these juniors followed all that was instructed obediently. When freshers entered the college, a fresher party would be organised were every junior was made to do things that were demanded. There was no opposition either. Ragging was a part of junior-senior relationship.

Even in the hostel, as I entered as a junior we were supposed to have food only after seniors, watch tv only if no seniors were watching. We were given to write notes or assignments from our seniors that had to be completed by them and we could not deny that but we made sure to scribble it in such a way that nobody understood what was written.They were many rules made by seniors.

Amidst all these, there was also a very good bonding between us. We were guided on studies, assignments, projects. We could sense their affection and love and all that teasing part was just fun which gradually everyone started enjoying and which also stopped gradually. At times when we were home sick, we confronted our seniors who made us feel comfortable by helping us come out it. Oh! Such a wonderful times it was.

Internals #A2Z challenge

Internals were the next thing next to exams that troubled students a lot, in fact, every month. Students trying hard to get average marks was a big deal that time. I remember we had something called blue books in which we were supposed to give our tests and the same book would be used every month. Some of our classmates who stayed in hostel would leave the book empty and then at night they would collect the books from a attender and fill in the answers. Of course, they bribed the attender the same and I know this was not right what they were doing but there was no way to stop it either.

Looking the syllabus and portion and analysing what to study and what to skip became a routine during internals. Here, students did not attempt to score high marks but just the average because most of them were confident of getting good marks in the external exams. Everyone sat in groups and discussed what would be important topic and just read that. We tried to analyse how the professor is and how he will set the paper. At the end of internals, everyone would even try to be nice to lecturers thinking that would fetch some good marks which was never the case though.

The only best thing about internals were, it would just be for about 1 hour and the rest of the day was free so we did not have to attend any classes.

Hostel life #A2Z challenge

Staying in a hostel has helped me in many ways. I have learnt so many things. I still remember the day when my mom dropped me to the hostel for the first time and left the place. I wept uncontrollably. That was the first time I was staying away from my parents and being attached to my dad I did not know how I will survive without him. I was scared if I will make any good friends there and if there will be people to take care of me. But, as time passed I made some good friends and trust me they were like a family away from family.

During the days when I fell sick, my friends took care of me with utmost care and never made me feel homesick. Anyone who have stayed in hostel can always connect to how wonderful that life is. Maggie and bread always come as a rescue when you don't want to have the hostel food.

Being in a hostel has made me a strong independent woman. I have learnt to organise things in a better way, I have learnt to manage financial matters efficiently. I have learnt the value of relationships. Today, I am glad for I chose to stay in hostel for having learnt so many lessons and for carrying so many good moments today.

Gathering #A2Z challenge

Gathering is the most awaited day of every student in their college life. Those late night events, fun week before the main gathering day and all the cultural activities keep the students very busy and the college very colourful.

Gathering is the day where friends from different class enjoy the event together. Students and lecturers come together during this day without any differentiation among them. Professors take part in the games organised with great spirit. Events, games and other activities are planned from weeks togther and we get to see some hidden talents of many students and the lecturers. Overall, gathering is enjoyed by everyone with great spirit.

Friends forever #A2Z challenge

The best part of college life is we make friends who stay with us forever. Of course, we will have childhood friends in our lives but making new set of friends in college is something different. We get close with only whose frequency levels match with ours. And only after entering my college, I have got best friends in my life whom I can rely upon at any time.

Without friends college life would have been very dry and boring. There wouldn't be any gossips, bitching about our enemies, laughing at silly jokes, code languages that only you and your friend understand and overall there wouldn't be any fun at all. Friends stood by me through my up's and down's and still they stand by me. Thanks to my college for I have a wonderful friends for life. Even today, I have never ending conversations with friends though we talk almost everyday and the stories doesn't seem to end at all.

Exams #A2Z challenge

Exams! A word that every student hate and a word that every lecturer loves.
How nice would it be, right, to go to college without all these exams? But, these exams always came to ruin a student.

Those last-minute preparations, night out, group studies, studying only the important topics all these are a part of college life. Not to forget, staying awake late nights only to sip a cup of tea with friends, having maggie in the middle of the night while studying. Exam times were more of other activities than studying.

Though students thought exams to ruin their lives, it did build a colourful future for a student. Though exam gave us tensions, it did create some beautiful time.

#SayYesToTheWorld and create beautiful memories

I always love to travel and I am ready for it at any time. In fact, at the end of my every trip, I start making plans for the next trip. Travelling has helped me discover a new me. Travelling has helped me grow as a person. Travelling has changed the way I look at certain things. Though I have not been a world traveller till now, finding new destinations within a country has made me realise how beautiful our country is, how rich our culture is and loving our people are. Going to different places makes you broad-minded and I truly agree with that. You learn so many things.

With travelling, I have been benefited in various ways and have also learnt so many things.

1. Being an introvert I always hesitated to communicate with people and would shy away. But, travelling made me more open today and helped me in making many new friends.
2. Travelling has helped me gain knowledge on our culture, history, language.
3. I have become a strong and confident woman.
4. I learnt how to adjust and how to come out of my comfort zone and try new things.
5. Having taken adventurous activities with my trip, I discovered I can also do things that once I thought I couldn't.
6. Got to taste various cuisines and took back the recipes of few.
7. Met like-minded people and learnt many things from them.
8. Have got lessons from bad experiences.

#SayYesToTheWorld to know your true potential and spirit. Say yes to travel and see how beautiful the world is, how fun travelling is. Travel and make some wonderful memories that you can cherish throughout your life. Travel to relax your mind and soul.

Dating #A2Z challenge

Dating is a part of college life and a part of a teenager. Secretly seeing someone, having a crush on a senior, falling in love, dressing up just for that special someone to look attractive is all very common.

You bunk classes just to meet your love, you wait for days to go on a movie date or a dinner date. When there is love, there is also break up. And how can one forget crying over a broken heart, friends trying to cheer you up?

The funny thing I remember about this love, break-up relationships are, your friend's support your love and when the person breaks your heart, they start cursing your guy. Also not to forget, the dramas you do to gain sympathy and support from your love and you understand how cooperative your friends are in executing the drama.

Classroom #A2Z challenge

When I think of a classroom, not just a professor and students, blackboard and benches come to my mind but also chit chats during the class hours refresh my memories. Emptying the tiffin boxes sitting on the last bench, texting a friend over the phone and at times, getting caught from the lecturer all that comes to my mind. Sometimes, this small fun that we do during a class makes even the boring class interesting and keeps us away from drowsing.

I remember going late to every 1st class in the morning and pushing each other to enter the class first. Most of us hiding from professor sitting on back benches to avoid getting questioned, submitting an assignment at the last moment with the entire class having a same copied content. How I wish I can go back to college life one more time and have all the fun again.

When I look back I have so many memories and I feel happy that I enjoyed my college life. And all these fun and enjoyment I had in college did not stop me from achieving what I need. I feel toppers and studious people might have memories of only studying and completing assignments unlike last benches and other cool guys who have carried so many memories.

Birthday celebrations #A2Z challenge

From midnight phone calls and birthday wishes to cakes and the birthday bumps,  everything remains fresh in my mind.

Staying awake until 12 to see who wishes first, waiting for a phone call from near and dear ones and expecting a gift on a birthday makes college life memorable.
I remember saving up the pocket money months before birthday just to treat friends with all our favourite food in our favourite restaurant.

I now realise, the little pocket money that we got from our parents have created so many memories and happiness which our salary now cannot do.