A dense, subtle smile spawns on my face as I retraverse my timeline of this year in my mind. Coming from a home-sickened lifestyle, I had high hopes for the independence at IIT-R that Iwas soon to imbibe. Owing to my introversion, the idea of living in a melancholy solitude for theentirety of my college life seemed pretty much the way forward. But this notion of mine wa ssoon overthrown by the advent of lively acquaintances, people, who would soon become the highlight of my stay here at IIT-R.

The initial phases- registration and the orientation ceremony were characterized by a certain dynamic amusement that filled the air at all times. The various courses of the first semester seemed decent enough. But academics were over shadowed by the other endless possibilities here. I made sure not to miss any. Campus cultural group recruitments were marked by'exploration'. Seeing the branching opportunities the campus had to offer, I decided to go for something I had a decent passion for: content writing as an editor.

The arrival of the midterms brought an overwhelming amount of aura with it. One could clearly observe the sudden change in the campus atmosphere. Everyone was cramming the night before the exams, the library was jam-packed, it really was a sight to behold. However, they didn't bother me much. I studied just to get the bare minimum grades-​which I did get​. Thomso was wonderful. It went in a haze but showered a bliss upon everyone. End terms were pretty much the same as midterms- a few days of gathering notes from here and there, studying from video lectures, and cramming in loads of stuff.

The conclusion of the semester brought in much-needed relaxation. An unplanned trip to Mussoorie was great. Going back home for the first time in about six months was an experience in itself. Come January and the second semester began. This period of time, marked by lively walks around the campus with my peers, seemed much more enjoyable than anything else.Sheering away from the madding recruitments of technical groups and whiling away the days brought pleasance. Quarantine became an inevitable part of this year. The time amidst the pandemic had brought with it its own ups and downs. With barely any online lectures, few assignments to be submitted here and there and with a weird grading system, the semester wrapped up swiftly.

In the fullness of time, the multiple pathways you choose to create and the experiences you garner will be the ones to cherish and learn from; all the while, change in oneself being the only constant. And even with its various intricacies, you'll be in for an indelible ride.