To add to it, newfound independence is like a catalyst for all kinds of craziness, I think. I’m writing this with the kind of freedom that most of us are likely to come across post-SLC or +2 finals in mind.[break]
Having gone through the whole process and having had numerous friends who have gone through the same, I just want to share some pointers. Whether these are helpful or not is at your discretion, of course.
In keeping with the trend, I might not be wrong to assume that most of you might be considering exploring other destinations to pursue your higher education. And personally, I believe it’s okay to go abroad to study.
Acquiring knowledge anywhere in the world isn’t something that should be condemned or frowned upon. As long as you’re clear on contributing to the GDP of Nepal and being a part of Nepal in the future, I see no harm.
With a similar view, I came to Thailand to continue my studies. I love it here. Studies and culture aside, I think I’ve come to learn a lot about myself as an individual here. I mean all this, despite sounding uber-cliched.
For the first time in my life, being away from home and being fully in charge was quite something, I will admit. In fact, I still remember the exhilarating feeling I had when I paid my rent for the first time or when I came back home with my first bag of groceries; it totally surpasses the exhilaration that you get from bungee, hands down!
It’s quite easy to feel invincible with all the liberty. Part of this strength, I think, comes from the fact that you’re starting over afresh. So you can be whom you want to be, redefine yourself. And I, usually being the dependent sort of a person, decided it was time for change. It was time to step up, take charge and be more responsible.
Of course, having such values, it usually also means having your nose up in the air. It means that I was going to have to do without accepting offers for helps or favors.
I wanted to do everything on my own and I was determined to make it work.
This is when God decided to put my resolve to test.
To begin with, my daily schedule got changed by monumental proportions. Lunch usually happened around 4 pm, classes at 6 pm and dinner around 11 pm.
Needless to say, this kind of routine brought with it a serious case of ineffective time management. And to add to the juggling endeavor, assignments and readings were something ineluctable.
Not having someone to keep you on your toes is good. But unless you’re willing to embrace the responsibility that comes with the power, it does create a fix of a situation.
And now that I reflect upon it, perhaps choosing evening classes isn’t the wisest of decisions because you usually end up sleeping throughout the day and working endlessly throughout the night. No wonder I became fast friends with caffeine.
Coffee addiction is just the beginning of your true college experience, let me tell you. By the time you start getting the hang of sipping coffee and sifting through piles of assignments to get the ones that weigh the most in terms of your final grade out of your way first, you also start getting the hang of being a complete consumerist.
And what money your parents entrusted you with, hoping that you would buy food and water with, will soon become the money you use to buy that very things you’ve been eyeing in the mall.
Some of my friends actually give up on good food just so that they can put that money for fancy shoes or lavish watches. I’ll admit I’ve tried to do the same, but I’m too big a foodie to not invest heavily on what I eat.
Caught up with the power of the cash, I’ve seen (and almost fallen victim myself) how easy it is to be sucked into such traps. And while individual differences do play a crucial role in resisting such issues, it’s worth thinking about how strong of a defense you’re going to be able to build against the numerous temptations around you.
But the part of the charm, I guess, is succumbing to such temptations. They might not make for good real-life experiences, but they sure do make for a great story later on.
Like the time I chose to buy a nice pair of jeans over insect repellant. As much as I loved those jeans, I hated that I didn’t have a Bagon Spray to ward off the monstrous geckos that invaded my apartment.
I’m not at all affectionate when it comes to insects and reptiles. Saying that they freak me out would perhaps be an understatement, in fact.
So there I was sitting in my apartment peacefully doing one of those endless essays, and then, from nowhere, came an awful “trill” sound. The gecko had made itself welcome in my room.
Scanning through the room, I saw that the only weapon I had was my broom. That was when I realized the worth of a Bagon Spray. I can’t even begin to tell you how defenseless I felt.
In a meager attempt to do something about it, I took the broom, and instead of making my way to that damned gecko, I moved further away from it till finally I mustered up the courage to try to broom it out of my room.
The entire episode involved so much of screaming and shouting (on my part) that it compelled the security guard to come and check out the situation.
My point being, when you’re in college and decide to shoulder responsibility on your own, you tend to get more than you signed up for. There won’t be much you can do about it, except comply.
Independence does bring with it a lot of charms. But it also invites a lot of hidden clauses whereby you’re expected to step up and take charge. It’s not like playing pretend; it’s the real deal.
So before stepping out into the unknown, it’s best you know a few things. And to begin with, you might want to know that perhaps independence is a mere illusion.
Ayushma Basnyat is a student of Political Science at Thammasat University who enjoys exploring life and all that it has to offer.
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