Caren Mascarenhas 22PYEN12 (V BA PYEN)
As my final year began a few months back, it dawned upon me that I stand at the threshold of my final few months at Kristu Jayanti College. As I enter college every morning, I reflect upon every step I take and recall a first-semester me, an introvert, filled with so much nervous energy and many questions that lingered in my mind, such as, "Will I fit in here?" "Will this be a place full of opportunities?" and the list goes on. As days turned into semesters passing by, I started discovering my answers as well.
The first year was a roller-coaster when adjusting to class schedules, meeting new people, running around for attendance, and eventually discovering new corners of the campus. These very same corners have become a haven for me.
Whether it is the comforting morning ritual of heading to Maggie Point, where Uncle greets me with a cheerful "Good morning" as he serves his soothing chai, or standing there at Green Park with a flutter of anticipation, hoping my friends would show up on time so we could walk to our morning lectures together—I realize now how much these small, shared moments genuinely mean. When I walk past these places, the memories attached to them unfold in my mind like a cherished album.
As a student, I entered these hallways with uncertainty and ambivalence; however, while chasing never-ending deadlines, panicking over presentations, and pulling all-nighters for exams, this college contributed to shaping my ideologies and helping me find clarity. Though it may seem like students are bound by rules and limitations, as a writer, the college has given me the freedom to explore, grow, and cater to my curious mind.
I remember one of the first places I visited was the administrative block library, utterly awestruck by towering shelves and the comfortable silence, which helped me reconnect with my inner thoughts. At that moment, I knew this place would be a permanent fixture in the coming years at Kristu Jayanti College. As a writer, these visits to the library used to be quite overwhelming in the beginning. With minimal experience in unleashing my true potential, everything seemed intimidating. However, these visits have become one of reflection and a form of meditation. This place helped me pen down countless assignments and many emotions. It has helped me navigate my journey as a writer.
I want to share a turning point in my student life when I was first introduced to the Poet's League. A judgment-free space that not only let me freely express my writings but also gave me the opportunity and honor to meet aspiring poets such as myself. Gathering at Chavara Square, where the breeze of the majestic trees often embraces one, I met a community that encouraged vulnerability. A platform that one only sometimes gets to experience as a student. Initially, my voice trembled, and I stuttered through every word, but the enthusiastic nods and comforting smiles from everyone gave me the confidence to grab the mic and pour my heart out. Beyond that, I love how we all took this as an opportunity to learn from one another, dwell on each other's work, and create room for various perspectives. It also made me someone who was no longer scared to ask questions, challenge different thought processes, and contribute my ideas.
Now that I am in my final year, I am becoming increasingly aware of how quickly time passes. Every conversation, whether it's shared laughter or a passionate dispute, feels like it is ending. Growth does not often need isolation but rather a collaboration of shared experiences. A sense of nostalgia has begun to spread around places like the turf, where we have our club activities, ethnic day celebrations, or just a typical day of hanging out with friends, or the quadrangle of the main block, where we got to see many historic days being celebrated in just a 10-minute break. In the urgency of seeing what life has in store for me in the future, I'll also be leaving behind a part of me here. While this place has made me experience a wide range of emotions, I know that once I step outside the building and beyond the walls, I'll look back with pride and gratitude. On my last day here, I wish to chant the college song proudly, thank all my professors, and walk out the gate with life lessons, friendships, and memories I will treasure forever.