The day had finally come. I was going to join one of the premier historical institutions of our country - IIT Roorkee. After researching almost everything about the college on the internet, I was going to experience its grandeur personally. With high optimism, I, along with my parents, reached Rajendra Bhawan (the Freshers Boys Hostel) and was allotted a single occupancy room, which was far better than what I had seen on the internet. And then started the week long Orientation program in the (not so) majestic Convocation Hall. After many long speeches about the Rules and Procedures and many more motivational speeches came the performances of different cultural groups which were quite rejuvenating.

Soon, after classes had started and we were left on our own, began the Intro Talks and Workshops of the many diverse campus groups. It became more like a ritual to attend the intro talk of each and every group and get to know the massive talent pool around you. A few I attended were just for the refreshments they served.

As a safeguard from ragging, we were strictly prohibited from leaving our hostels after 7:30pm and if outside, we had to get back inside before 9. Such restriction was unacceptable to most of us who longed to experience the college nightlife. On the 15th of August, we inaugurated a small independence movement of our own as many freshers reached to the hostel gate and demanded freedom. Planned as it was, the restrictions were removed the next day.

Very soon, we had our first college party - the Informal Freshers Party of our branch. It was a fun-filled party for which everyone prepared something to perform. It was also an opportunity to interact with seniors of our batch, which proved to be an interesting experience.

Next came the Recruitment Season Version-1 when most of the campus (non-technical) groups conducted their recruitments through multiple different tests and interviews. I, luckily, got selected in the editorial cell of Geek Gazette and Dramatics Section, after long and cumbersome processes with many rounds of interviews.

The joy of cracking the recruitments was not yet over when came the first shock wave - the Mid Term Examinations (MTEs). Those were the days when we devoted most of our time to studies and honestly, had nothing much to do apart from studies.

By the time the MTEs were over, I got a mail from Aditya Birla Group informing that I was selected for the final round of Aditya Birla Scholarship (ABS), for which I had reluctantly applied after a friend’s persuasion. They had arranged for us an orientation and interview schedule at ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. Experiencing a fully paid 2-day stay at one of the finest 5-star hotels in the financial capital of India along with some of the most brilliant minds of the country was an experience that will always remain etched in my memory.

The campus group activities had started by now and I got the chance to play a role in my first ever college play - Ashadh ka ek din. Even though my role was small, it was quite an interesting and challenging one. The whole process of rehearsals led to formation of very strong bonds between me and my fellow actors. The final performance of the play was definitely a memorable one and the play was a huge success.

In the final days of October, the campus started to get more beautiful. Beautiful graffiti was etched on the buildings and streets were lit with lanterns. Thomso, the annual cultural fest, had begun, giving the pathetic sex ratio of the institute a much needed boost. I used to roam around the campus with friends to witness the numerous cultural activities going on in the campus and spent the nights playing mafia in front of The Main Building.

The Thomso fever subsided giving way to the second shock wave - The End Term Examinations. After hearing from each and every senior that your CGPA is of utmost importance, we were determined to score good marks in the exams but had no idea how. Somehow, we fared well and I unexpectedly ended up scoring a decent enough SGPA.

One must always celebrate a little after winning a war. After winning the war of the first semester of our college life, a group of my friends decided to go on a trip to Mussoorie which was a mere 3 hour journey from the (well located) college. The chilling waterfalls (and shakes too) in an equally cold weather are never a trouble in the presence of warm friendships.

After a long summer, winter had come and so did the vacations. I let go of the opportunity to go to The Inter IIT Cultural Meet to go home and meet my family after so long.

With the end of the one month short vacation started the second semester and with it started the Recruitment Season Version-2. The campus tech groups started conducting their recruitment tests and intimidating interviews. The interviews, although difficult, were really interesting and, in my case, really long too. Fortunately, I got selected in IMG, SDSLabs and PAG but after a lot of thought, chose to continue with IMG and PAG.

The days of stress and worry were over and it was time for some fun. The annual trip of Geek Gazette was organized, this time to Manali. The trip was unforgettable not because of the snowy mountains, lavish hotels, warm bonfires or the long bus journeys but by the lovely people and the time we had together.

Shortly after the GG Trip, the IMG annual trip was organized. Owing to the approaching MTEs, it was kept short and we went to Nainital and Jim Corbett National Park (where the only tigers we saw were the biscuits). I have since realized that the purpose of such trips is not just to have fun but also to strengthen the bonds we form with other members of the group, irrespective of seniority.

Having scarcely studied this time complemented with increased difficulty of courses, MTEs this time were haunting us. We vowed to study daily, read all the books and pay attention to the professor in the lectures after the MTEs, to no avail. I remember sleeping in the very first lecture I attended after MTEs.

Very soon, the campus became beautiful again. Decorations, lightings, stages being set and all. Cognizance (The Annual Tech Fest) was round the corner. The Pro Nights were fun - dancing with friends in the crowd where everyone has gone crazy will never disappoint.

Activities of different groups were on their peak now with several lectures, meetings and assignments. The days were filled with deadlines, nights with Chapos. The group chapos (specially of GG) have turned me into a far better dancer than I ever was. Watching the best brains of the country dance with you like maniacs is a different feeling altogether.

Now comes the saddest part - Farewells. Preparing gifts for your beloved seniors is more like marriage preparations at the bride’s home where though it is a joyful moment, everyone is sad inside. Seniors who gave you so many chapos, sang and danced with you and most importantly, taught you so much were about to leave. Losing proximity of some of the best people you have ever met in your life is an extremely disheartening affair. But like the marriages, the farewell functions are grand! With characters from almost every genre of movies and TV series assigned to the passing out batch in every group, the farewell chapo are no less than Fancy Dress Competition. The tasks they are supposed to do to get the invites are also immensely embarrassing (mujra in student’s club to proposing dogs!).

Finally after all of this fun, the ghost of ETEs started haunting us again. This time we switched to JEE preparation mode and became (well, at least tried to become) ghissus. But sleep and procrastination got better of us, and we ended up leaving everything for the last moment, again. Still I managed to score decent enough, surprisingly, better than the previous semester. And then the first year ended...

I have since understood (mostly, by the little experience) that the fun of college life doesn’t exist in the fests, chapos, lectures or any such ‘event’. The real treasure lies in the small moments - the late night chats in friend’s room, the stories by seniors in canteens, the long walks and talks after chapos, the collaborative debugging of your badly written strange codes. Things which cannot be described are the ones which are closest to your heart. I sincerely feel that I have met the most brilliant, visionary, helpful and caring people here which has surely evolved me to become a better person than I ever was. The first year of college has by far been the most eventful year of my life (can be judged by the length of this post). I have come to believe that “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”. Here’s hoping to improve upon everything in the coming years!