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I Almost Forgot The Slap
Suppressed memories also serve a purpose
Unlike in the United States, when a high school student applies to college in their senior year, receive their decision letters anywhere from Dec to May, and commit to a college or university before they finish their final year of high school, students in India start the application process after they complete their final exams.
The year was 1994. I had just finished my Grade 12 final exams.
During the pre-Internet days, we visited the colleges in town to pick up the applications in person. My parents weren’t too pleased with me because I was a rebel not wanting to apply to engineering or medical school, their approved line of study.
I frankly didn’t know what I wanted to do, but having a gap year was not an option. I had to attend college.
Since I rejected the idea of engineering and medicine, I was left with applying to the local arts and science colleges—such a downgrade in my parents’ view.
It could be a consequence of my behavior that I had to go around town picking up these applications by myself. In contrast, my friends completed this process with at least one parent accompanying them.
Going to these colleges in scorching heat, standing in line, and then deciding on a program…
