Reminiscence of Hostel life

Reminiscence of Hostel life can never be taken for granted. Some memories still haunt us, may be after years, good or bad, for sure. Especially when it comes to school or college hostel some moments can bring tears and some joy. A real carefree life away from parents, but not away from the strict wardens appointed in few hostels.

For students it is a place, where their personality and character changes when stayed for a longer period of time. Depends on the circle of friends they get along.

As there are no much professional colleges nearby I was forced to send my two children to hostel, once they completed their senior secondary schooling ie., after completing their 12th class. Admissions to professional colleges are based on an entrance exam conducted by the respective state governments. Once the result is declared, the ranks are published according to the seniority. The student with high ranks are allotted college of their choice while the other allotment goes as per the direction of the government.

At first when leaving the comfort zone of their home its difficult for them to adjust with new surroundings but then they get habitual or used to the rules and routine of the hostel.

In the initial days, my daughter found it very difficult to adjust to the hostel lifestyle. But gradually she started making new friends with whom she spent wonderful days until the convocation ie., the last of her class. It was a four year engineering degree.

The transformation that takes place in a hostel life is quite surprising and unbelievable. In contract to her character she became very bold, she became an extrovert (because she was a introvert till then) , the girl who never spoke became talkative- she never gave up when it came to arguments .

This is the place where the meet children from nothing to everything.

Socializing with students from affluent families to impoverished, changes once perspective towards life. They get to know the behavior, strength and character of their friends. It teaches a lot and transform you as a successful individual.

Aware of the fact that you are alone in hostel, with no family around, you try to combat the struggle yourself, may be with the support of your friends. You get the strength to control your tears and fears. In a way you try to be independent in what you do.

But in hostel life always you are not on the right track. Here, You are the sole owner of yourself, either to make or break your personality.

To make a personality of yourself takes time. For this you must be among some right chosen friends. Friends play a major role here. But if one amomg you choose to go in a wrong path, joint initiative should be taken to bring him/her in the right path.

Very often we find children becoming more responsible once their tenure in hostel gets over. Children learn a lot from personal experience they gain from room mates. Some are good while some are bad. Let me narrate one such bad experience which my daughter went through and confronted to me.

Her college had two ladies hostel. One was exclusively for the NRI's with all privileges like washing machine, fridge, an iron box, a table lamp attached to a wide study table etc. etc., with just two students in each room. While the hostel for local students was a room with eight students each, with no much facilities.

In the first quarter of the academic year there was a new admission from abroad. To say, a girl from an affluent family. She stayed in the NRI hostel. Most of the time she was confined to her room and never mingled with anyone. She used to meet her friends in the mess hall which was a general hall. Though in the beginning she talked less, she gradually became friends with all of them.

But compared to other students she was a bit arrogant, sometimes rude and also had selective friends from affluent families. All of a sudden she goes out of her mood. Though she stays jn the hostel, she never reached the class on time. Never punctual. Her parents were settled abroad. Evenings she used to move out with one or the other, so called affluent girls. Where she goes and what she does nobody wa sure of.

In one of the weekend days, the girls decided to go to a nearby beach. So as per the rule of the hostel, they took the permission from the warden and signed the out going register. All set to leave. The new admit also joined them. They were twelve of them. They had a wonderful time in the beach and had some good food in the restaurant and finally, returned back to the hostel.

Next day, few girls from among the twelve, were called for, by the Head of the Department (HoD). They were being questioned by the HoD as to where they went the day before? How many were there? Did they go with permission. As the girls took permission both from their homes and hostel warden they were on the safe side.

Immediately the HoD produced some photographs of their beach photos. To their shock and disbelief, they identified this was their trip to beach the day before. But they were shocked as to how it reached the HoD. To add to their disappointment it was told the photos were received from colleges of another region. Those photos were captured by that NRI student, she being one among them.

Though the eleven were innocent they got their first warning. My daughter was one of them. They left the HoD cabin and went directly to that NRI 's room. At first she was reluctant to answer them but later co-operated.

It was one month past she joined the college. She said she got addicted to drugs and had lot of boy friends from other college to whom she forwarded the photo. The very next day the girls met the Principal and told whatever was told to them. Her parents were asked to come immediately from abroad and finally, she was terminated. She never felt guilty for what she did. She gave them a mocking smile and left the institution.

A hostel is a place where you can either make or break your personality. Make it a place to win your confidence than losing your image.