The Proof of the Theory of Metamorphosis of Undergraduates from Au to Solanum Tuberosum in the Metaphorical Sense through the…
It’s impressive how college can transform a human being faster than a superhero’s costume and powers. In just a matter of months, you go from being a book-loving, nerdy student to a rebellious, carefree individual who cares about nothing except having fun. It’s almost like a magical spell has been cast on you, turning you into a completely different person. But as the excitement and novelty of college life wear off, you may find that the habits and routines you cherished about yourself slowly start to slip away.
It seems like a long-lost memory when I used to wake up bright and early. Nowadays, I set two alarms, one for the person I want to be and one for the person I actually am. Turns out that I don’t really know who I am because I wake up missing both.
Despite watching tons of motivational videos, the only thing I end up applying in my life is when I convince myself to not open my eyes by saying, “Eight hours of sleep is necessary for good health.” I don’t know where the hell I heard this line, but it’s the only moment of the day when I seem to care about my health.
Talking about health, it’s been months since I last went thought about going for a morning walk. It isn’t my fault; after all, a morning walk without a morning wouldn’t make sense, would it? I’m not very good at counting ever since I gave the JEE, but I can count more fingers on my hands than the number of mornings I’ve been privileged to experience in KGP.
Forget the morning walk; even waking up for breakfast seems impossible lately. It’s the holy grail given to those worthy of its consumption. The Mjolnir of meals for the Thors amongst the KGPians.
An adage as old as time, “95% of the world’s problems can be solved by waking up early and having breakfast.” Feeling sleepy? Low grades? Russia invading Ukraine? Wake up early and have breakfast”. Since I’m perpetually sleepy and my grades aren’t the highest — I’ve come to the sore conclusion that Instagram reels from 10 AM — 12 PM, in fact, do not count as breakfast. Or they’re part of the remaining 5%. I don’t know.
You know what they say, college is all about expanding your horizons. But who knew that expanding your horizon also meant expanding your daily commute? I mean, a 2 km bicycle ride doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you’re a half-awake man, that 2 KM can feel like a never-ending journey. Let’s be honest, a 2 KM bicycle ride to college isn’t going to turn you into an Olympic athlete, nor might the ride give you a six-pack. What it will give you, however, is a healthy dose of self-reflection and maybe even a few good stories to tell.
As you rush into the Nalanda, gasping for breath and feeling guilty about being late, you can’t help but notice that everyone seems surprisingly calm, despite being late. It’s almost as if they are all seasoned professionals in the art of being tardy.
Walking into the classroom, you can see a wise-looking figure onstage. He is a highly educated individual with a seemingly infinite amount of patience who passes on valuable knowledge to students who are often asleep. Generally, people call him ‘professor’. People can say he doesn’t give a shit about students being late, but I think he is just being kind. He is as kind as a dentist offering candy to children before pulling out their teeth.
Moving towards the benches, you can see a mixed crowd. You can see some overly active faces on the front benches nodding their heads when the professor utters anything. It’s almost as if to them, the professor’s words are the secrets to cure cancer, reverse global warming, and maybe even do what breakfast couldn’t do and stop the Russia-Ukraine war. You can also see some half-dead faces of seemingly lifeless corpses, dragged forcefully by some force of nature to the classroom for the sake of attendance. But surprisingly, like two sides of the same coin, these faces will also be the most cheerful and active once the class ends.
Speaking of my studying habit, there was a time when I used to take studying seriously, but those days are long behind me now. The times of punctilious studying and well-organized notes are over. Now, as the exam time approaches, my brain seems to go into a frenzy, with the bulk of studying taking place the night before the exam. But, it’s not like I’m a procrastinator. I intentionally wait until the last minute because then I’ll be older, and therefore wiser.
The plan of DepC is a long-lost dream that faded from reality the moment I gave the mid-semester examinations in my first semester. The aim is now to solve an optimization problem: Putting in the least effort required to pass the exams.
As the sun sets, the college campus turns into a whole new world. The campus transforms from a quiet and peaceful place to a lively and bustling hub of activity. You can see people roaming all over the campus. It’s the time when peeps set their sails to explore their interest and the campus.
You can see many students rushing to their respective societies. Joining a college society is like jumping into a mirage of opportunities and drowning in the oasis of responsibilities. You thought you were signing up for a relaxing social outlet, but little did you know that you were locked into a full-time job. From training workshops to brainstorming sessions, the work never ends. But, no matter how much work has pissed you off, at least you can flex to your friends that you are working on your skills and not just wasting your time. Despite the hard work, being a part of such a group is like being a part of a big, unusual family.
During the weekends, the ‘night-out’ becomes one of the hottest topics on campus.
Your social media will be plagued with night-out stories during the entire weekend. These stories are not posted for KGPians but instead, for those friends and relatives who have seen you rubbing your ass on the study table for more than 9 hours a day, for two long years, so they can see how much you’re enjoying yourself now.
As the clock strikes a time much later than it should, and the craziness of the night comes to an end, I can’t help but think about how much I have changed. My priorities are all over the place and my habits have taken a turn for the worse. But despite it all, I can’t help but laugh at the journey I have been on. College has been a wild ride so far, full of ups and downs, and I’m excited to see what new adventures and bad habits this journey will bring.