Flashback

I finally got the letter of acceptance for a Master's degree course in Mass Communication at NTU.

Though the application process is not rocket science, I was actually apprehensive whether I would get acceptance or not. I could imagine them looking at my application and going, "Pehla degree toh barbaad kar diya, ab kis muh se doosra lene aa gayi?" ("After wasting one degree, she has the cheek to come back for another?")

So I was very excited to see the letter. Early this morning, I took half a day off work, and made my way back to my alma mater for the registration. I had to literally travel across the country to reach NTU. After the long bus-train-bus journey, I was finally there. Many things had changed, and many were still the same. And suddenly, in one massive rush, everything came back to me.

Moments from seven years ago trickled back. The huge campus where buses transported you from one hostel to another. The lecture theatres and tutorial rooms. The roof walkways sprinkled with the pretty bougainvillea plants. Some familiar faces. The cleaning lady who used to greet me in Chinese early in the morning before my classes. I would answer her greeting in English, and she would not understand a word. I would nod, and she would nod back, as if both of us understood what the other had said. The library where we caught many a nap, trying to study the maha-boring engineering textbooks. Canteen A where we used to gather for a short break from studies and end up adda-maroing for hours.

It was almost exhausting, as the memories flooded me in a huge rush. I had to literally go and wash my face. It was that overwhelming.

I have to admit that my four years there have pretty much made me the person I am today. From vulnerable to indifferent to the present me. NTU saw me through these transitions till I really discovered myself.

I am excited today. On some levels, I think I probably never really counted my engineering degree as part of my academic qualifications. So on some levels, my academic qualifications ended at my A levels. Now I feel as if finally, I have the opportunity to obtain university education.

Feels really great.