My First day at College
"What peace hours, I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!"
Sweet memories are a life force which enliven man and stimulate him on to advance. They are also like sweet smelling flowers strewn on the thorny path of life. They transform life into a bloomy garden full of roses and hawthorn. So in the store house of my memories, enriched with many pearls and pebbles, the first day at college holds a very conspicuous position. It is marked with nervousness, excitement and fears. It will haunt me for years to come, therefore it is said:
If there are dreams to sell,
Merry and sad to tell,
Which ones will you buy?
The word college itself is very romantic for the young school going students. So they are anxious to enter this vast and magical word of education which promises more liberty than that of school and greater chances of progress. Hearing the words" No knowledge without college" they are spellbound and yearn to enter the college as soon as possible. Moreover, college polishes the personality of a student manifold teaching him manners and etiquettes. That's why it is well said:
"College is a place of light of liberty and learning."
Being fed up with the suffocating atmosphere of the school where students are driven with sticks like animals, I had also been dreaming of independent, enhancing and charming life of the college since my school days because my cousins would often say:
"life in college is more a fun than serious effort to get education. Moreover, college is a place of making friends and chalking out programmes to go to the pictures and picnics."
So I am constrained to say:
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die
Life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."
At last, the result of the matriculation examination was declared and I came out with flying colours. I decide to seek admission to the government college, the biggest college in the area. So I submitted admission forms. After ten days, I was informed that I had been granted admission. I went to the college to deposit dues. I was nervous and afraid. Surprisingly enough, many of students organization were welcoming the new comers and guiding them very kindly and compassionately. I was very happy and satisfied. Our classes were to start on 7thseptember. I was feelings proud of being collegiate. The following words began to reverberate in my ears:
"College is like a fountain of knowledge and the students are there to drink."
On September 7, I got up early in the morning, established prayers, took a hearty bath and got ready for the college. Meanwhile, my mother prepared breakfast. I took breakfast hurriedly and came to the bus station where many other class fellow had also gathered. We formed a group and started to the college because we wanted to defend ourselves against the first year foolery. When we reached the main gate, a group of senior students was waiting for us as it often happens:
"Senior always approach the juniors with an air superiority."
Firstly, they greeted us and then raised the slogan "Long live!, First Year Fools." We got suddenly nervous. However, we decide to act together to avoid their practical jokes. Some of the senior students in a much larger group approached us with an air of superiority and made us subdue instantly. They made us stand in a row and march. They ordered us to sing ridiculous songs and do monkey pranks. My ego did not allow me to do so but being helpless before such a host of ruffians, I had to surrender because I knew:
"Obedience is the mother of success."
Moreover:
"He that cannot obey, cannot command."
After getting rid of them, I moved to the notice board to note the timetable. Our first period was that of English. It was to be held in room twelve. I did not know where the room was. Catching sight of an innocent, gentle looking student, I approached him and requested him to guide me about the room. He escorted me to a room. No sooner did I enter the room than there was a roar of cheer and laughter. It man of short stature tried to separate us but I had got so furious that I slapped his face which was unwise as it is wisely said:
"Anger is a short madness."
All the boys dispersed in no time. Only two of us were there on the scene. Many professors reached there in an instant. I was captured taken to the office of the Principle and was charged with being rude. The fellow whom I had slapped was also occupying a chair. It came out that he was not a student. He was a visitor. I felt ashamed of my mistake and apologized to him. He took pity on me and pardoned me, then I realized the fact:
"Anger begins with folly ends with repentance."
Now all of us were asked to assemble in the hall where the Principal delivered a moral lecture and advised us not to take party politics rather to pay full attention to studies to achieve our goals. Afterwards, a professor guided us about the timetable and we went to the classrooms realizing the fact:
"College is a place where pebbles are polished and diamonds dimmed."
When the professor came, all the boys stood up to greet him. Firstly, he introduced himself and then began to take roll call. Different boys answered the roll in different ridiculous manners. Some were saying "Yes Please." Many others were crying, "Lubback."A few were answering "Hazir Jannab." But the professor did not mind it. He did not teach us but only advised us about our future life. He stressed us to misuse the liberty but to make full use of the opportunity to develop our person😋😋😋😋😕😕😕😕😕😕😋😋😋😋alities at college by quoting a Chinese proverb:
"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself."
Is this way all the professors spoke on the importance of education and discipline. They highlighted the value of the subjects they were to teach. They talked to us in a friendly manner quite differently from the school teachers. We were much impressed by their attitude and behaviour. In the end another professor advised us to put in our best efforts to achieve our goals, telling us the college rules and regulations. He advised us to forget the strict school punishment and discipline. He further advised us to exert all our energies to equip ourselves with knowledge. He explained to us the words of Edward Evert:
"Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army."
When all the classes were over we started back to our homes. We were again caught by the seniors who were ready to pounce upon us as their legitimated prey.
"420" Beat me if you can." " First Year Fool." "Please hit me!"
They boxed pinched and kicked us. They sprinkled liquid of different colours on us. They tore our clothes, snatched our pens and notebooks and teased us as much as they could. We bore all this patiently because we knew:
"Every black cloud has a silver lining."
Thus, my first day at college came to an end with a new ray of hope for the next day leaving behind unforgettable memories as is said:
"All the really valuable things you own are the things you cannot photograph."
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