Reflecting on My First Two Months at Purdue University

During Boiler Gold Rush (BGR), I asked my BGR leader “How is life at Purdue?” and he responded with one simple sentence which has stuck with me “College is what you make of it.” This phrase is simple but holds so much value behind it. We always hear “You will undergo a monumental change in college.” To be honest, I never understood what they meant when they said that. I heard it everywhere whether on YouTube, Medium, or even Reddit. I kept thinking, “How could going to college change who you are?” I kept contemplating what this “change” meant. More importantly, how would I change? I was a shy, timid, and introverted student in school. I did start doing YouTube and that did help in starting this transition from my old self to a new version of myself. These questions kept bothering me, but little did I know my whole perspective on this idea would change completely.

The first moment my idea changed on this was during my road from Chicago to Purdue. As we kept getting closer and closer to Purdue, I felt my heart racing, chills going down my spine and my mind pondering whether this was a new beginning for me. I still remember after graduating from high school, I made a promise to myself that my high school journey would not affect my college journey. I made a promise that college will be a fresh start a place to reimagine who I am and who I will be. I made a promise to myself that I would go out more, experience more things and make more memories! A promise I am keeping, and a promise that I will ensure I accomplish.

Probably the craziest moment transpired when I first saw the Purdue logo, something struck me, something telling me that Purdue University is going to change me, that I will be drastically different to my previous self. This same feeling hit me like a freight train when I unlocked the door to my dorm room, the place I would call home for the year. Luckily this feeling did come to fruition. Ever since coming to Purdue University, I have made so many memories, and experienced so many things and it’s only been 2 months! I went from being a person who was comfortable in his own boundaries to a person who was willing to explore beyond boundaries, beyond my comfort zone. I knew I was living independently for the first time, so all my decisions and choices were on me. I was careful but not fearful, everything I experienced as a result has been a learning towards a more confident and hopefully wiser individual.

Circling back to the line my BGR leader said “College is what you make of it” a line which really resonated with me. I think it resonated because, during BGR, I let go of all the little thoughts that would have dragged me down and instead chose to have the most fun possible, whether it be making jokes (probably a bit too many sometimes 😅), dancing my heart out at the Slayter Hill concert or even doing the Fountain Run TWICE! Because why not! I even vlogged BGR, and when I was editing the vlog, I realised I liked this version of myself the one who isn’t worried about what others think, the kind who is ready to dance and live in the moment with no regrets. I chose this as the person I want to be, the person who studies, but plays, the one who jokes but can be serious, and finally, the one who lives in the moment rather than regretting it later.

So after two months of filling up photos on my iPhone, I finally understood what they meant when they said “You will undergo a monumental change in college.” I believe that if you told me in 8th grade who I would become, he would definitely first ask what Purdue is (have to be honest here 😅), but secondly, he would be shocked and would not believe the person he would grow up to become. In 8th grade, I could never have imagined being a part of the school council, getting into a Top 20 School in the US for Computer Science, running through a fountain (not once but twice) or going to a concert. So “you will undergo a monumental change in college”, but there is one thing they forgot to add, “College is what you make of it, step outside your comfort zone you may like the person you become.” One thing I have already learnt from coming to Purdue University is that your past doesn’t define your present and not your future. Learn from your past, but don’t let it become your present. After all, they do say college is a fresh start, don’t think too hard! Just do!

Thanks for tuning in! It’s been a while, but hopefully I get back into this and start posting here more frequently!