My First Day at College
There are some important days in everybody’s life. The first of anything impresses us the most. That is why we hardly ever forget our first love, our first success, our first friend. Likewise, we can not forget our first day at college, the day that symbolizes the transition period from one life, so to say, into another. It comes to my mind again and again with those alien but lively feelings, those impressions, and sights and sounds. The first day of my college life is such an important and memorable day that I always remember with joy.
It was the beginning of my dream to go to college and to pursue higher education. As soon as I stepped on the college campus, a strange feeling electrified me, as it were. This was the first time that I took in a full breath of freedom. The congregation of numerous unknown faces, however, bewildered me somewhat. But soon afterward, the thought that I was going to be one of them made me feel happy.
Canteen, common-room, discussion-room-all these marvelous things! I felt free as a lark; so much freedom I had never had before. Just then, almost spontaneously, I happened to visualize the narrow boundaries and inviolable restrictions of school life that held me tight within some limits. But now I felt, as it were, the real being of myself.
Some special features of the college, however, attracted me most. I found that we would not have to sit motionless in one classroom all through the periods. Each day there were two breaks, one of half an hour, and another, fifteen minutes. Moreover, all the classes were not to be held in one classroom only. We would have to change our classrooms two or three times a day. This mobility, no doubt, instilled into us students new refreshments and instigation. There were arrangements for various indoor games in each of those common rooms. The discussion room, to cite another example, was a very special attraction. We were supposed to sit in each of these rooms by small groups to discuss the tough subjects.
As to the classes, I was much thrilled by them. They seemed to be innovative to me. Because, in all the classes, student participation was highly encouraged. Not only that, but students’ opinions were also valued by the teachers.
The first day at college I was exposed to a new world-a world of freedom, of responsibility, of consciousness.
Another thing cannot be left unmentioned. The consciousness that I felt the very first day of my life at college gave rise to a sense of responsibility-responsibility especially of myself. I could understand that this is the time for me to build myself up.
The feeling and experience that I had the first day at college are well active in me even today. It is said that the first impression of anything lasts the longest. The day was so thrilling and memorable that I can still remember it clearly.
