It was 27th July, 2009. I filled my admission form and was waiting for my turn in a long queue to finish a day-long hectic procedure. I could see my father was very happy. He was warning me in his loud voice now and then to be alert and keep my certificates, application form, photographs etc ready. The Administration block was full with freshers, parents, and seniors running around. Various student political groups set up their help desks trying to interact with as many juniors as possible. I still remember the tents under which I eagerly and proudly waited to become the student of the prestigious University- University of Hyderabad.
I was a 17-year old girl bubbling with new spirit and enthusiasm. I was very excited and very much anxious having stepped into a completely new and different world. Looking around, I found girls and boys moving very freely, talking to each other, laughing at each others jokes, shaking their hands. I saw guys and girls smoking together, I saw girls in loose hair, jeans, guys in shorts, guys with long hair, girls with short hair (though not very unusual). I heard people in the tents speaking different languages and trying to guess where they are from was the most exciting part for me. Some said they are Bengalis, some Keralites, Tamilians, Assamese, Mizos, Nagas, Many North Indians, and of course a lot of Andhrites too. I saw SFI, ABVP and ASA banners everywhere. I ate in Gops and students' canteen. Xeroxed my documents in shopcom, ordered a bicycle in Lingampally on the same day. I met lot of seniors and my dad introduced me to SFI cadres and gave my phone number to them. I met some of my classmates, took a room in the hostel.
Those feelings as a young teenager just stepping out of a very protected and conservative zone into a modern and dynamic zone are not so easily expressable. Happy, tensed, anxious, confident, amazed: It is a mixed bag of several emotions. For the first time in my life, I felt proud of myself and saw a reason in studying well. Exposed to what we call a 'Cultural shock', I stood courageously and confidently being determined to figure my way to success.
Time just passed so quickly that I took no notice of me growing five years older here itself. I am 22 years old now. It is 20th February, 2014. I joined when HCU is a part of Andhra Pradesh and about to leave HCU when it is a part of Telangana state. Things have dramatically changed. From political scenario to economic conditions and everything. Me too. I grew up from being a minor to a major, from an intermediate teenager to a Post-Graduate adult. I believe Change is inevitable. But I see that it is in our hands to direct the Change. HCU is a milestone in my life.
