#GraduateStories: Roots, Rhythms, and Reflections

“Entering Ashoka, I was eager to dive into the college experience right away and take the world by storm, feeling like life was finally starting up again after being held on pause by the pandemic. However, that bubble burst in the first few weeks as I felt extremely homesick and hesitant to approach all the newness that surrounded me. Nothing clicked instantly. Navigating academics, hostel living and new friendships in a place radically different from my hometown took quite some time to get physically and mentally accustomed to. However, by my second year, Ashoka had proved to be a safe and encouraging enough space which pushed me to let go of my anxieties and pursue my avenues of interest.

As someone who loves to sing and be in the presence of music, I felt at home being a part of Applecello–the Acapella club of Vistaar Music Society. Having such a community that meets regularly to practice and hone a repertoire of songs while having fun and making cherished friendships in the process, helped me establish my roots at Ashoka. Our mid-sem and sem-end performances, Christmas carolling and various other performances form my dearest core memories.I also got a chance to restart my Carnatic music education through a co-curricular course and also performed a fully Malayalam set as part of a band for ‘Pupcert’.

Being in the company of people who study diverse subjects prevents you from getting pigeon-holed into just one lens of looking at the world, which I really appreciated, being a person who values multiple stories and perspectives. I am also learning Mandarin through the China Studies language courses that Ashoka offers, which has been a gratifying experience that rekindled my love of learning languages. Ashoka also introduced me to different artforms, knowledge systems and performances that I’m constantly amazed by. But it was not just my experiences within Ashoka but being able to experience the sights, sounds and flavours of Delhi that further enriched my undergraduate experience.

Last but certainly not the least, my experience as a Resident Assistant (RA) played a very crucial role in my personal and professional development. Through the RA program, I found a community of upstanding and empathetic individuals and contributed to campus culture through organising flagship events like The Great Ashokan Weekend and Dorm Olympics, apart from conducting floor events and being responsible for the wellbeing of my residents.”