How to survive college? Top 5 things I learnt.

 Where is Room 216?

That was my first question when I entered KMC. It was the only thing I kept repeating to myself, almost rehearsing the sentence over and over in my mind. “Hi” or “Hello” seemed like too much at the time. So the first thing I learnt here, on the very first day, was to ask questions directly - doing away with polite formalities, asking questions, and being a bit of a weirdo. Well, that weirdness is, after all, a hallmark of authenticity. Here I’d quote that useless joke: one should be the opposite of artificial intelligence - one should harbour genuine stupidity. In some remote corner, I found Room 216. I almost discovered it.

Now, this arduous journey to 216 is so much a part of my habit that I no longer think about where I have to go when I’m on the second floor. Something similar has happened with Rooms 6 and 14 - the classes where I learnt so much. Punctuality being the second most important lesson. I have so many embarrassing memories of being the last person to enter a class, 20 minutes late. I kept motivating myself that I was creating a distinct identity: the person who enters a bit late, running through corridors and metro stations - and so are my thoughts. College turned me into a runner. That’s the third thing I learnt in my three-year-long journey.

How did I overcome the fear of being around so many different people? Here’s the key: I didn’t overcome that fear. Honestly, I learnt to coexist comfortably with it, without burdening myself with the sole purpose of fixing everything “wrong” about me. That marks the fourth lesson.

Now, dear reader, the last thing I learnt in these three years was this: it was never about becoming an ideal, perfect version - the person I wrote about in my teenage journals. It was about being part of the process, becoming a living, vibrant version of myself. So, these are my not-so-wise words. And now that this journey is coming to an end, my heart is full of all the love and courage I imbibed during this time.

College was when all my bookish schoolgirl ideals were put to the test. I experimented with my truths and my ignorance. I only feel much more confident to be ignorant now - and to be somebody who can be everything and anything.

Asmita

June 2026