Finding ‘ME’ by myself
20th July 2019 … the most beautiful morning that I had felt in these 20 years. Leaning against the balcony railing, I surrendered to the sight of the trees and the caress of the air.
No… the sun shone its usual yellow, and the trees remained faithfully green. Yet, something electric crackled in the air — a hum of freedom, a swell of pride, and a dawning awareness of self, as if Ahana met herself for the first time. With each breath, she embraced the conviction that she would finally live as her true self, unburdened by covers or masks, free from judgment. This was me, true me…, unfiltered and real.
It was my first morning at IIT Roorkee: dream of many, now my reality. This prestigious campus, my home for the next four years, felt almost unbelievable. No more bedtime rules! I can stay up exploring the campus under the starry sky, feeling a million miles away from early school mornings. Forget rigid schedules — I get to choose how I spend my days, whether it’s learning that awesome new sport I’ve always wanted to try, joining in on late-night movie marathons with friends, or diving deep into any subject that sparks my curiosity. And the best part? There’s no pressure to be the top student anymore. Here, it’s all about learning for the love of it and discovering who I truly am. At last, I feel brave enough to be myself, no more holding back. I’m not just bookish anymore, I’m open to anything!
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You won’t believe what I did first thing that day! I took a nice long bath, then headed straight to the temple. Sounds wacky, right? Yeah, not exactly my usual routine. But something just told me I needed to start fresh, ward off any bad vibes before diving into this new chapter. Anyways, it’s no harm in being bit superstitious for the things, who truly care.
This place is bursting with sights to see and things to do. Whether you want to learn like crazy, explore your talents, or hang out with friends, IIT Roorkee has it all. There are three huge lecture halls for all your academic needs. Then there’s SAC, the student activity center, which is basically like a club headquarters. You’ll find the best coders, dancers, musicians, and all sorts of other cool people hanging out there.
On the other hand, MAC, the multi-activity center, is more for performances and gossip (in a good way!). You’ll see folks practicing for events, celebrating birthdays, or just chilling out.
Need a break from lectures? Head to the student club! Grab your friends and play some foosball or pool before your next class. Feeling creative? The tinkering lab is packed with the latest tech, perfect for bringing your ideas to life.
Want to play something? it has assigned ground or hall for every sport.
And last but not least, there are the “tapris” and canteens, basically small food stores and cafeterias. They’re open 24/7, so you can grab a bite and chat with friends anytime you want.
As I explore it more, I realised IIT Roorkee is like a whole world in itself, just waiting to be explored!
On the first morning itself, I knew that future Ahana will never regret her high school “nerdiness.” These four years wouldn’t just fulfill my dreams, they’d multiply them. Even bad days couldn’t shake my faith — you, IIT Roorkee, held my most precious memories. Sure, there were 10+ hour study sessions, a smaller social circle, and missed home visits. Early mornings bled into late nights, parties exchanged for quiet libraries. But it was all worth it, and so much more.
Dear IIT Roorkee,
I loved you before I even set foot on campus, and even after seeing your toughest sides, that love has only grown. You gave me everything I dreamed of, and then some. And remember, this is just the start. I have thousands of memories with you and I’ll keep on writing about them until my words flow dry.
