#OhThePlacesYouWillGo- From Feeling Overwhelmed to Stepping onto the Volleyball Court

On the first day, I felt very overwhelmed. I saw plenty of new faces and places that I had never encountered in my life. There was a lot of nervousness and anxiety running through my head. I was helped by a lot of people on my first day at Ashoka- from finding my way to the dining hall to settling down in my room.

You know, at the beginning, it just felt like too much. I really struggled to manage my time, and honestly, keeping up with everything felt impossible. But little by little, I started figuring out how to plan my day better. I began making those to-do lists, tried to study a bit each day instead of cramming last-minute, and I wasn’t afraid to ask professors or classmates for help when I was stuck.

I also got smart about using the library more often and found online videos that really helped me grasp difficult subjects. Slowly but surely, I started feeling more confident and able to handle my studies on my own. It’s definitely still a challenge, but I’ve learned to roll with the punches and keep getting better.

Looking back, I’ve really changed a lot for the better since I first started university. In my first year, I was pretty quiet, mostly just trying to find my footing in a completely new place. I started learning to play volleyball- I’m still learning, but so far, it has been an amazing journey with the team, growing both physically and emotionally. Around the same time, I started getting out more and socialising. I made new friends, went to campus events, and really began feeling connected to university life. All in all, I feel like I’m a much more balanced, active, and confident person now. It’s been a great journey of growth.

Thinking back to my first year, what really stands out is definitely making so many great friends and finding my little comfort circle with them. We just shared so many laughs and truly had each other’s backs through everything.

Another super special memory has to be getting picked for the university men’s volleyball team. Playing in outside tournaments, like the ones at IIT Kanpur and in Dehradun, was an incredible experience. And honestly, I even cherish the simple things, like those evening walks with my friends. Those quiet moments made me feel so happy and really helped university feel like home.

Aditya Jain