When Dreams Found a City

I come from Jalandhar, a city lying at the conjunction of two rivers: Beas and Sutlej. It wasn't only the rivers that conjucted here in Jalandhar, they were also my ambitions, which I thought were too big to be fulfilled. Coming to a prestigious college was one such dream. Delhi as a city was not just unknown, but also with a really bad reputation.

Crimes, pollution and what not! But when I got admission here to a prestigious college, I thought of nothing else. I knew Delhi would be the place where I could fulfil my dreams, grow as the person I really wanted to be, and make my parents proud. Yes, the city was unknown, but the people I met here are no more home than my birthplace.

They gave me a vision and helped me to find my path. When I joined the University, I had a lot of an inferiority complex. I thought of myself as I am an ill-fit piece for which adjustment would be very difficult. In the beginning days, I felt very out of place. But then, as time passed, this city accepted me, and I began finding happiness and contentment in my course with my friends.

The experience of studying here at this University has shaped me a lot as a person. Whatever I am today is because of the city and my decision to move to Delhi. This gave me a vision and confidence in myself and made me a better human. I learnt to be kind, compassionate and empathetic- as these are the only qualities that can take you far in life.

The meek Umangika, who entered the college thinking that there was no place for her there, is now confident enough to show up every day in college.

I am so grateful that I got this opportunity to pen down my views and experience of being in this city. I hope it can help others to see hope and trust the process.

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