If teenage life were a movie, mine would be somewhere in the bittersweet final act — you know, the part where the protagonist starts seeing things differently as the credits inch closer. This year wasn’t just about surviving the second year of college, it felt like bidding farewell to my entire teenage era, 2015 was 10 years back. Yes 10 Years.
Looking back, school feels like a dream now — a simpler time of PT periods, lunch breaks, and the daily drama of which homework to copy. Those days were golden, weren’t they? Back then, the biggest problems were whether you would get caught while eating lunch in middle of class or if your friends would share their food.
“Till now whatever we worked for were just tools, now it’s up to us what we do with those tools.”
When I hit college, reality came at me like a freight train. Suddenly, I had to let go of the things that once defined me. Basketball? Gone. I didn’t have the time for it anymore. Tennis? Something I excelled at, but life had other plans.
It felt like piece by piece, the person I thought I was began slipping away and this began way back from Covid itself. And let me tell you, nostalgia for school days hits harder when you’re buried under exams and deadlines.
College life did have its perks. My friends were from diverse places ,a few older ones, some with unique personalities, some sweet souls and a handful with an impeccable drive. Learned few things like,
If you’re tired, then do it tired. Honestly this hits me a lot.
One thing I didn’t leave behind was my love for creating. Coding was already a skill I’d learned over the years, so it came easy to me. The idea of building, even in a small way, stirred something I couldn’t ignore. It wasn’t about grades or a résumé anymore; it was about the spark of doing something meaningful, something lasting.
This led to late nights filled with trial and error, entering competitions, and even winning few. It was exhilarating to finally see glimpses of that dream taking shape, no matter how small. And in mentoring others who shared similar passions, I found new purpose — teaching them was like reinforcing my own vision, step by step.
But this year wasn’t all victories and eureka moments. There were days when I missed being that carefree school kid, when I questioned if I was even on the right path. Life had become this mix of ambition and exhaustion, and it was hard not to long for simpler times.
“The truth is, I myself am the greatest project I would work on”
If there’s one thing these years have taught me, it’s that failure is inevitable. But you know what? “You only need to win once.” I’ve stumbled more times than I can count, but I’ve also learned to stand back up every single time. That’s the thing about growing up — resilience sneaks up on you when you least expect it.
Now, as I leave my teenage years behind, I see it more clearly:
“Knowing the right question is more valuable than knowing the answer itself”
So here’s to the end of an era — a chaotic, nostalgic, unforgettable chapter. Life ahead might be harder, but I’m ready to take it on. After all,
“Until death all defeat is psychological.”
Here’s to what comes next. See ya.
