Back to college after a decade
AS I stepped onto the familiar grounds of my alma mater after 10 long years, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. It’s incredible how time flies. For years, I harboured the desire to return there. And when the opportunity knocked on my door — the dean asked me to visit the college as a keynote speaker — the mere idea brought back old memories in a flash: the ‘junkyard’ where we spent hours talking about life, our white-and-blue uniform (coolest on the campus, of course), the ‘baby cafeteria’ that could offer only samosas and chai to help us beat the winter blues, and the fun assignments that kept us occupied the year round. These sights and sounds, anchored deep in my heart, came up before the mind’s eye — things that were long forgotten.
The big day dawned with me experiencing pre-visit jitters, yet it also sparked a joy that I hadn’t felt in years. At daybreak, I noticed it had begun drizzling and this, I knew, would limit my campus-exploring options.
Walking through the college gates felt like stepping back in time. The campus looked both familiar and strange. I could almost hear the echoes of my younger self — rushing to the classroom, cramming for exams and sharing countless moments with friends. Each corner had a story, a lesson learnt and a friendship forged.
Seeing students walking around in groups, sharing a laugh without the slightest idea about how precious these moments were — this left me dewy-eyed.
On entering my department building, I saw the vibrant hallways, filled with laughter and chatter of students — reverberating with memories of my own time here. It was surreal to revisit the place that shaped so much of who I am today. I was warmly welcomed by the dean and teachers: Seeing what I had earned — my teachers’ respect — filled me with great pride and joy.
Reflecting on my time there, I realised how much I had grown since those days. The professors who challenged me to think out of the box and pushed me out of my comfort zone were instrumental in shaping my career path.
The best part about going back to college was renewing my connections with friends and mentors. Over lunch, we shared stories about where life had taken us in 10 years. We laughed until our sides hurt as we reminisced about hilarious moments from our days on the campus. The college had changed much since my time, thanks to new technologies and innovative programmes.
It was time to take my leave, a decade after the last time — a bittersweet feeling. While I was excited about what lay ahead, I knew my college would always hold a special place in my heart. Driving out of the gates, I made a promise to myself — no matter what, no matter where I am, I would always come back to the place that prepared me to take on the world.
