Between Homesickness and Hope

I am a humanities student from Madhya Pradesh, pursuing a BA (Hons) in Political Science at a prestigious central university in Delhi. My town, a district headquarters, lacked English-medium schools in the humanities stream. So, I opted for open schooling in 11th and 12th. After completing my 12th, I decided to give the CUET examination for further studies as that seemed the most appealing and common path. I chose Delhi for my bachelor’s because it was the best academic option in my field, and it was a leap of faith, as I had never been to Delhi before and had no idea about this city. For someone like me, who had never lived outside my hometown, away from those familiar faces, streets, markets, and home, it was a huge change. Coming to Delhi might have been a gamble, but it was never a bad decision. It has proved to be an amazing city for me, not just for academics, but about my whole life.

Before joining, my expectations were not too high, but different from the city’s reality. My expectations about academics and experiencing a ‘magical change’ in myself proved different. However, the reality outperformed my expectations in a few other fields, such as the people, the opportunities available in the college other than academics, and the amount of fun I could have. Joining this university has nurtured me more as a person than a scholar. I have learned a lot here, not just academically but as a human being. It has made me more broad-minded. Being with like-minded people of the same course but from different cultures, regions, and traditions gave way to interesting new experiences. Meeting people from diverse backgrounds made me more in touch with the ground realities of the nation.

Although I have had an amazing experience, there were also a few challenges. The two biggest challenges were homesickness and cultural differences. The lingering feeling of not being at home with family and loved ones is hard to shrug off. Also, the cultural differences constantly made me aware of being outside my home; they also made me feel confused and lost. And when I first joined, I was a little afraid because of the uncertainties, but a large part of me was excited about the new experiences. Most of these challenges would automatically become irrelevant as this new unknown city became my second home. The comforting feeling and daily life of the city made me feel like I was forever a part of this city. I think it’s the quality of Delhi that no one feels alone; it is the melting pot of a diverse group of cultures from all over India, comforting everyone.

Earlier, I was much quieter, unsure, and a little afraid. But a lot has changed in me since I arrived at this college. Today, I feel I am more confident, aware, and self-conscious. This campus has not just given me knowledge; it has given me wisdom. It provided me with a new perspective. But the journey still continues; I have not even covered half of it yet. I don’t know what the future holds, but the decision I made to come to this university was the correct one.

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