The deathly silence hangs like moisture in the air. Its' presence, not felt but in-evidently there. The solitude scintillates a spark somewhere deep within, piercing through my transparency, my flesh, my skin. And the world around me lights up by this minuscule spark
radiating in all glory, with an ironical clarity. Things i thought were not meant to be were now lost in the non existent shadows of my previous self.
University
life is the time when each one of us is technically a grown up but still a
small step away from becoming financially independent and having a lot of
responsibilities. It is an adept combination of fun filled school life and the
more disciplined work life, quite nicely sandwiched between the two.
Nanyang Technological University is much more than just a university to me. It
is my identity, my home, where I entered driven by my ambition and dreams, met
with a lot of pitfalls, learnt to cope with it and move forward without looking
back. Now, in my third year, when I reflect back, a lot of memories flash past.
The initial denial phase of homesickness, then starting to adapt myself to the
new lifestyle, lacking the seriousness and having a more playful attitude to my
new found freedom, a consequential lousy GPA, all together marked my first
year. Second year unleashed itself thrusting on my face the importance of ECA,
yes, extra-curricular activities in capitals. The first few weeks of
‘squatting’ and feeling similar to an illegal immigrant, the more specialized
curriculum, the futile attempts in being cool and not nerdy, falling in love,
tasting the first ripples of being in a relationship, immersing in culinary
experiments, working harder and more seriously but still not enough, and before
I knew it I landed up in third year. With all this experience, I have finally
mastered what not to do in NTU, and trust me, it is quite an achievement.
Every small experience, however insignificant has something to convey,
something to teach. Most of the learning
actually happens outside the classroom. Being in Aerospace engineering, one of
the more challenging courses in NTU, self-study is extremely essential. To look
up into reference books to clarify foggy concepts taught in class, to be
regular in assignments, to never attempt without understanding, to always ask
why, to always take a step further brings us a step closer to setting everything straight,
something which I haven’t paid too much attention to all through schooling. And
that which matters the most, is to never give up. As a person, NTU has made me
a tougher nut to crack in the emotional angle and a more level headed person
who takes everything that comes their way as it is, giving me a more neutral
perspective rather than swinging between extremes of joy and sadness.
I gradually trudge towards the day I get a B.Eng. sitting heavily and proudly
after my name, it reminds me that it will not be just a degree, but four years’
worth of reminiscences, the sweat and turmoil, all etched into those two initials.
