IT’s a bitter fact that life goes on and nothing stops for anybody. Time’s cruel hands sweep away all the treasured moments from life. But it’s also true that the time which passes by leaves an indelible inscription in our minds. Whatever time we live in, we all hold some sort of special memories with us. Be it our childhood, youth, early marriage days or be it our study period — we tend to hold these moments tightly no matter how much time moves forward. They are the essence of our entire life’s earning.
For me, my real life began when I joined Karachi University. I must say that it was the inception of a whole new era of enlightenment, experience, relationships, fun and sorrows. I owe a lot to this place which literally taught me everything about life, apart from giving me an official Masters degree.
I still remember my first day at the university, when I was all alone. I did not know what my department was all about. I was preoccupied by confusion and nervousness. Secondly, I was completely stunned to see this huge city. I had no picture of a university in my mind. Sitting aloof in a corridor, I was wondering how I was going to spend four long years in this strange environment. Days passed one after another and the university became a significant part of my life; an adorable place whose daily visit was the substitute of oxygen for me.
Those beautiful and recreational days were like a blessing for me, because I found the right kind of friends at the very right time. Studying in a university can be the worst experience for someone who fails to get good friends. Studying alone and living isolated in this whole sea of people can virtually turn your life into hell. The charm attached to university life is all because of the good gathering and the people whom you can connect and feel relaxed with.
It may sound cliched, but in the company of my friends, I felt secure and comfort. Without them, all those places where we used to go and have fun became totally alienated. Their presence in my life and mine in theirs became indispensable. Together, we spent golden times in every single nook and corner. There were days when we studied together, argued on stupid things for long hours, gossiped about all kinds of spicy stuff, became eccentric while doing tiring assignments, had major battles, laughed, cried, but above all, we always kept the back door open — the door for coming back to each other.
I knew myself as an entirely different person before coming to the university. But afterwards, I found that this place had carved many facets of my personality. The experiences which I had during studies in every matter were the true mirror of actual society. I came to know how to deal intelligently with people and how to get work done without any fuss. Talking politely to people and to keep on repeating the old Colonial words that are ‘Thank You’ and ‘Sorry’ would fasten the speed of your work and in return, would not take anything from you. It’s a general observation that showing attitude to people further creates complications for one’s own self.
So, Karachi University is one place which can polish your communication as well as persuasive skills.
A university is supposed to be a place which provides a platform or a direction from where one can choose his or her own destination. Expecting that a university degree is obligatory to provide good jobs to everyone is rather a high expectation. Getting a job totally depends on a person’s own skills. Blaming the university by the end of the day is apparently the denial of one’s own capabilities and talents. In my case, being a student of Mass Communication, my department presented me the mix plate with all the ingredients and spices, and after tasting it all, I got the chance to discover my own taste. Eventually, in the final year, I preferred to stick with my own choice — advertising. It’s a known fact that whatever education you get in universities and colleges, the practical world depicts something else and everybody has to go through strenuous field experiences in order to imply what they had been studying.
Apart from getting an education, one must not loose the charm of university life by merely staying all the time in the library. Getting to know different kinds of people, observing funny and absurd behaviour and most of all, listening to the philandering stories of your friends and giving your precious advice to heart-broken friends — all carries an enchanting pleasure which will always remain in the back of your mind and will bring a smile to your face even after years have gone by. These fun-filled days come once in a lifetime and can never be regained.
How time flew by and how mutely those blissful days became a part of the past for me. When I opened my eyes, those glorious four years were coming to an end. Four years back, I was standing alone, strolling aimlessly on an unknown path. But today, I feel satiated because my hands are full, I have acquired enough out of life. And above all, I have the beautiful memories of my unforgettable past, the memories of my dear friends and the good times. I can never repay what I owe to this place. I want to close my fist tightly, never to let these moments slip away.
