Metamorphosis

Looking back at the past two years, as I begin a new chapter

The past few days have been a little overwhelming, fast and monumental in some senses. Before the 28th of July, I was still a school student, albeit on the verge of leaving it. But after my CLAT results, which have been amazing, things have moved rather quickly. I am officially a university student now and I have the privilege of reading at the best law school in the country.

I am writing for this blog after a gap of over a month at this point. While I apologise for that, I think this month has given me the time and space to reflect on a lot of things, especially how I have transformed over the past two years. Today, my class teacher from grade 10 called up to congratulate me and she resonated the same thought.

When I transitioned from being a grade 10 student in a small city in Punjab to being a Class 11 student at a premier school in Delhi, I had a rather vague idea of what I was there to do. I knew that I wanted to study the Humanities, that I had been admitted into one of the best schools and that I was going to prepare for the CLAT examination in a bid to enter the national law schools. It is a little strange that I am writing about metamorphosis since I have done exactly what I thought about doing. Yet, there is a palpable change. I believe that this is because transformation happens in the 'how' of things more than in the 'what'.

Being a Board topper gave me a confidence boost entering into my school in Delhi. Everybody seemed to recognise that I brought something to the table. The only reason that I am mentioning this achievement is that as much as I wish not to acknowledge it, it played an important role in my journey. Whether it's the way you speak English, the exposure you have had, your ability to get the cultural references in jokes, the books you have read; there definitely is an inferiority complex that exists in students who come to these institutions of excellence from schools with relatively less exposure. It is in this context that my past record helped me to claim my place in the school and walk around with confidence.

I was also fortunate enough to meet a set of wonderful people who I hope, remain my life-long friends. I have always said - "I am not a friend person." But I would like to think otherwise now. Grade 11 was also the time when I was away from home for the first time in my life and I was not coping particularly well with it. However, it is owing to these people who understood my emotions, recognised my talents, respected my reservations and tolerated my behaviour that I seldom despaired while in school.

With this community support which is really the hallmark of any good education, I participated in all club inductions I felt I had a fair chance of getting into and was largely successful. The Debating Society played the most important role among the clubs I was part of. I love public speaking and it was a skill I had cultivated in my time at my previous school back home. Even though I didn't get to go to a lot of competitions in grade 11, I spoke in the classroom, assemblies, school ceremonies and handled the stage in a few school events. In grade 12, I got to work with a bunch of dedicated junior club members. It is during this time that I learned the most - listening to their speeches, giving them feedback, going to competitions, losing, going back to the drawing board and winning.

It is in order now that I speak about the academics part of the journey. The most beautiful thing about the past two years is that all these parts - friendships, extra-curricular activities and academics aligned perfectly towards shaping my personality and preparing me for a liberal arts education, often in subtle ways.

I have always loved the English language and the past two years further refined my grasp of the language, not only in the academic sense but also in the way I converse. I had started writing a bit of poetry in Grade 9-10 but it really flourished during this time. Back home, I used to think that I was a particularly avid reader since few people in my school read for pleasure. But here, I met people who could finish a book, sometimes two, in one single day. I made full use of the library and read as many books as I could since it was also my coping mechanism for the homesickness I was experiencing. Initially, I was a bit skeptical about Economics and Mathematics. Although there hasn't been a reversal of hearts, I do acknowledge that these are beautiful subjects and I am glad to have got the opportunity to study them in detail.

Political Science and Legal Studies were the best part of the deal - not because of the syllabus - but rather, because of the rich culture of discussion, debate and dialogue that flourished in the classroom. We (or at least I) would forget everything, close our books and just listen to the views of the teacher and classmates, ready to come up with a counter-argument. It is this ecosystem of healthy disagreements which really introduced to me the beauty of an education in the Humanities and the social sciences. For me, teachers are the lifeblood of any institution. I have cultivated relationships with my teachers which continue to inspire and push me forward.

All of the above may seem like a description of the journey I have traversed and not really, the manner in which I have been transformed. To that point - I have grown in confidence. I know a lot more about the world and the disciplines that I chose. I have gained a sense of purpose and discovered my interests. My thought process has evolved in that I have developed a sense of inquiry and skepticism. My debating skills have improved by leaps and bounds. The way I interact with friends and talk about relationships (which I would have never even imagined) has undergone a sea change. In short, these were some of the best years of my life.

As I now begin a new journey, I have only gratitude and a recognition of my future obligations. Gratitude - for my teachers, my school, my family, my friends and the Universe which brought it all together. Obligation - to do justice to all of this, to fulfil expectations and to realize my dreams.

I would like to end with a slight digression. Ordinarily, I am not a sports fan. However, since childhood, I have always been fascinated by the Olympics (and the Commonwealth Games etc.). I remember waking up at odd hours in 2016 when Rio hosted the Games and watching Indian women win the only medals India got. On 23rd July this year, the Tokyo Olympic Games began, amid a fair bit of opposition. I have been following it since, with adrenaline rushes of patriotic fervour every time an Indian athlete plays. For me, however, the Olympics represent more than countries winning medals. They are a symbol of nations coming together in a spirit of universal brotherhood, companionship, healthy competition and sportsmanship. They are a symbol of hope, of light and of peace, especially in the dark dark times we have all undergone. During the Opening Ceremony, the song 'Imagine' was performed. I invite you to listen to it, even if you already have. It summarises my perception of the Games.

It is my sincere desire that just like the lighting of the Olympic cauldron marks the beginning of the biggest sports event, we all come together to light a better future for all of mankind. And it is my prayer that I get to play a small role in that grand endeavour so that one day, I look back at this METAMORPHOSIS with even more joy and happiness.

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