#DearFirstYearMe: Just Keep Swimming- Prayag Raj Pandey

The first time I stepped on the Ashoka University campus, it seemed like I had entered a new universe, a universe alien to me and far from my home. A small step, but one giant leap for my future. There was a lot of excitement everywhere. The entire place felt alive with the promise of new experiences. Despite this excitement, I experienced a surge of fear and self-doubt. Do I belong here? Did I have what it takes to succeed at a place like Ashoka? These feelings were difficult to overcome, and I felt like an outsider.

On that first day, I struggled with the imposter syndrome, a recurring question about whether I genuinely belonged among the smart, hardworking students around me. It was easy to question my place at Ashoka while surrounded by such accomplished people. However, when I began to engage with other students and heard their experiences, I discovered that I was not alone in feeling this way. Many of us were experiencing similar anxieties, attempting to find our way in a new and challenging world. The more we opened up to each other, it became evident that these feelings were shared. We were all in the same boat, trying to adjust and find our feet together.

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, especially when you’re stepping into a new and challenging environment. In fact, it’s normal. Starting at Ashoka, or any new place for that matter, is a big deal. It’s a change, and change can be tough. But just because it’s tough doesn’t mean it’s wrong or that you don’t belong. A lot of us come in feeling like we might not be good enough, but the truth is, we’re all here because we earned it. The admissions process at Ashoka is very rigorous—they picked us because they saw something in us that’s valuable.

“Just keep swimming” is a quote from one of my favourite childhood movies, Finding Nemo, that has always stuck with me. It’s very simple advice, but it makes a lot of sense. On that first day, and even now sometimes, when things get overwhelming, I remind myself that I must keep going. There is no need to figure out everything right away. It’s okay to take things one step at a time, to ask for help, and to learn as we go.

I want to echo what Oscar Wilde once said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” It’s a good reminder that we don’t have to pretend to be someone that we’re not. We’re all here because each one of us brings something unique to the table, something that the university saw in us. So, while it’s natural to feel out of place at first, it’s important to remember that we’re not here by coincidence. We are here because we were worthy of it.

As the day went on, I started to feel more comfortable. I began to see Ashoka not as a place where I needed to prove myself but as a community where I could learn, grow, and be myself. The first days were a rollercoaster of emotions, full of ups and downs, but by the end, I felt at ease. Feeling overwhelmed is the first step of starting something new. And eventually, I found my place here, just like everyone else.