What My First Year at Galgotias University Taught Me

In my first year at Galgotias University I learned that:.

College is not just about going to class. When I first got to campus everything was new. New classrooms. New faces. New freedom. As most freshmen did I thought my only task was to go to lectures, do assignments, and pass exams. After all we had years before we had to worry about placements. There was no rush… which is what I did. But over the past few months I began to talk to seniors. Some were working on great projects. Some had very impressive GitHub profiles. Also they were part of hackathons and tech competitions. What surprised me wasn’t that they were very talented. It was our assumption that we had just started out too late. What that did was change the way I looked at college. I saw that every semester isn’t just about getting the grades it’s a chance to develop skills which you take with you long past the end of the term. Also I stepped out of my comfort zone. I joined technical events. Began to learn Git and GitHub. Put together some small coding projects. Got to know seniors which in turn the seniors were always willing to mentor juniors. And gradually I began to enjoy the process of learning beyond the classroom. What I got out of my first year wasn’t the best marks. What I got out of it was the experience of discovery which came from being curious enough to explore. Of course in college it isn’t only about coding.

It is about making friends that become family. Going to fests which you will remember for a lifetime. Late night chats in the hostels. Laughing at the last minute assignments. Each experience is a lesson. For those joining Galgotias University this year, my advice is simple. Live every moment of college life. But do not wait for the right time to start working on yourself. Learn a new skill. Talk to seniors. Join a club. Put together a small project. Ask questions. You don’t have to be the smartest in the room. You just have to keep showing up. I am in my first year out and in all honesty I have a great deal to learn. But what this first term has done for me is prove that the habits you develop in your first year quiet in the background and set the stage for the opportunities you will have in the years to come. I can\’t wait to see where this road takes me.