By Samarpita Saha
3rd Year, Computer Science Engineering (B.Tech), 1905633

Remember how we used to fantasize about our college life and hostel life? And our parents used to warn us saying that it all happens in movies, not in real life? They were right, in real life corona happened!

Many of us have lived our hostel lives for only 8-9 months, and what I have learnt from my experience is to live in the moment.

When you are coming to the hostel, come with an open heart and mind. Do not live in your bubble. Come out of your comfort zone, and free yourself a bit. You need not have to be that disciplined school kid, who follows the timetable, because if you are doing that then you will be missing out on so much. In the hostel, you need to go with the flow, talk to everyone, and enjoy with everyone.

Do not go home very often! Try to enjoy every festival in the hostel with your friends. Whether it is Holi, Diwali, or Ganesh puja, every single festival is celebrated at KIIT. Apart from this, never ever miss the KIIT fest. It is a three day long fest, and it is organised every year during winters. So, for three days you get to participate in different events during the day and enjoy the exotic performances of famous bands and singers, like Amit Trivedi and Armaan Malik, at night. If you find a poster or a senior tells you to audition for any society, JUST GO FOR IT! There are many societies under KSAC (KIIT Student Activity Center) to choose from. Take your friends with you and give auditions. These experiences will help you a lot and will also help in networking with more people.

Go out with friends! Explore new places every day. KIIT campus itself is really big, you will have a tough time finding your classrooms. Apart from this, there is a lot on KIIT Road to explore. And come back to the hostel in time; otherwise, you will be in trouble.

Click a lot of pictures with friends, wardens, or even with your favourite professors. Click pictures while having a meal at the hostel mess or food courts. Click pictures when you are making maggie at three in the morning. Click pictures of all the activities you do, because you never know, maybe next year zombies are coming to ruin your college life just like corona. But at that time, you will at least have enough pictures with your loved ones to cherish those memories.

Now you will say, what is the point of having pictures with people who are not gonna stay friends till the end of your college? Yes, plenty of seniors say that the friends you make in the first year don't