University and some

Looking out of my department’s window

University has been one of my favorite experiences. Both studying there and teaching there. It has a special place in my heart.

We friends loved the landscape there. Before I got admission, I remember my cousin telling me on the phone that there was nothing “stunning” about UOK but that the nature of that place, the walls and the jungle, will get to the poet in me. That there was no perfect infrastructure but there was something I would be able to relate to, and I did fall in love with it so her words were cent percent true.

I remember writing in the weirdest spaces, solitary and among crowds. Exploring trees, languages, verses, people, art and spirituality.

Without trying, I also return to thinking about a specific room in the university and a specific person who has impacted me in a way – I guess I just cherish it all but wish I could do more.

A lot of things happened in those years. Things I wish I could pull down from my memory and put in words, like how Dumbledore caught a streak in his wand and placed in the Pensieve. Alas, such memories are so elusive. But also, I am not even trying yet. They are where they are.

And that’s how I deal with memories. Revisiting, but not entirely.

I won the prose elocution!

Yesterday was an elocution competition in my college, for which I had been selected along with 18 other students, from my entire college. The passage I chose for reading was from “HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS“, from the chapter ‘the Silver Doe’. It’s extremely lovely and full of expressions! The part I chose was when Harry found the silver creature; Snape’s patronus, and he ran after it. The doe led him to the spot in the forest where he finds the great sword of Gryffindor! (read about the chapter here on wikipedia)

SO I had been rehearsing for the 4 minute passage for weeks, for which my friend Yamna had helped me through out. I used to practice it along with her, and she used to guide me and pick mistakes.

Finally, the great day arrived. We participants were seated on the stage waiting for our turns to read before the judges and the entire hall full of students and professors! I was very tensed and my friends were all encouraging me. I kept repeating what my teacher Miss Tasneem had said a night before: Winning is only the cherry on top. To try is everything.

So I drank water, took a deep breath, gave a look at the crowd, and started when my name was called. My friends were counting on me, and mostly, I was counting on myself.

Long story short, I gave it my best shot for the satisfaction of it, and won.

I was awarded second position, a shield, a book and a certificate of recognition. Photographs were taken along with the teachers and principal, and the day ended in excitement and celebrations!

Image via Wikipedia