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This entry wins the first prize for the contest on the theme of Campus Admissions.
  • Category: Creative Writing

    Life lessons through the admission procedure to the PG Course

    Today is vital for her, but she seems too relaxed while her family doesn't. Supriya's sister is watching her and feeling nervous, but she is in her usual carefree attitude. It's almost nine in the morning, and within half an hour, Supriya will leave for Calcutta University, where she will face an interview for admission to the English PG course
    around eleven-thirty.

    Supriya leaves home on time with everyone's blessings and best wishes. After she left, the family members showed concern regarding how a student could be so casual. Mr Prabhu, Supriya's father, commented that it's Supriya's nature, so it's better not to dig into it too far and leave her as she is. Supriya reaches her destination and meets many of her batchmates, who have all come for the interview. Most of them are busy with the last-minute upgradation of their knowledge, although Supriya has some notes in her hand, hardly looking into it.

    At a quarter to eleven first candidate gets a call from the interview room. Every candidate becomes a little restless as they wait for their turn; surprisingly, Supriya is still the same, a very relaxed person and is not even trying for last-minute preparation. The candidates coming out of the interview room get encircled by other candidates to know about the interview, except Supriya. It's almost eleven-fifty when Supriya receives a call from the interview room.

    When she steps into the room and looks at the professors present there, Supriya seems helpless and nervous. She has inner turmoil as she was expecting someone on the interview board but is missing. The professors in the interview board try to relax her by offering her a glass of water. Gradually, the interview begins, and it continues for almost half an hour.

    Without talking to any other candidate, Supriya leaves the university premises. She reaches home, and looking at her makes her family worried as she seems very shaky. No one cross-examines her, not even her sister. In a soft voice, the family shows concern but decides not to disturb Supriya unless she speaks up openly. Nothing changes for the next few days, and Supriya, ever energetic, seems to be within a shell. On the seventh day, her best friend, Mitali, calls on her cell phone at noon. She rejects her calls several times. After a while, Supriya's sister comes to her room and gives her cell phone to talk to Mitali as she is on the line. Very unwillingly, Supriya says 'hello' over the cell phone then Mitali asks her to accompany her to the university because the university website is down, and the selection list for the PG Course of every subject is declared. Supriya declines it vehemently and disconnects the call. This incident troubles Supriya's sister, so she questions Supriya, which makes her burst into tears. Then it puzzles her sister more, so she keeps on consoling her younger sister. After some time, Supriya tries to gather herself and confides to her elder sister that Mitali's eldest brother recently took over as the Head of the English Dept. He was supposed to be on the selection panel but was not there. She was confident about her selection but got nervous when she didn't see Mitali's brother in the interview room.

    In the meantime, Mitali rings up again and requests Supriya's sister to make Supriya accompany her to the university. At last, Supriya agrees, and within half an hour, both friends head to the university. After reaching the university, both walk towards the Political Science department. Mitali's name is on the selection list; now it's time to go to the English department. Supriya unwillingly heads towards it very slowly, and as she looks at the list, she screams with joy. Mitali hugs her friend tightly and says I knew it. She softly says in her ears that whatever happens, it happens for a reason.

    After a while, both go to the chamber of Mitali's brother. He congratulates both and reveals to Supriya that as she is known to him, so he excused himself from the selection panel. Although he supervised the whole interview session secretly via video conference, the decision-making right rested upon the interview panel only. He advises Supriya to have faith in herself and to be confident. Her knowledge has earned her a seat in the PG course. So, next time Supriya must face every competition by believing in herself and must not depend upon any third party to achieve what she deserves. He appreciates her for the replies she gave during the interview.

    After some time, both friends leave the chamber in a jubilant mood. Mitali smilingly asks Supriya what have you learnt from the incident. While grinning at Mitali, Supriya says that she has learnt two lessons from this admission procedure: firstly, never to misuse one's position and power for personal gain, and secondly, one must have self-confidence and mustn't depend upon someone else for personal success.


    Entry for:
    Campus Admission Writing Contest
  • #774097
    An excellent post! No doubt, it is a strong contender for the contest prize.

    But I have a small question (only for my information). It is not related to the content/storyline. Does University of Calcutta conduct interview for PG admission nowadays? Interview system was not there when I was a student during late eighties.

    (a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
    (b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali

  • #774099
    When we depend for our achievements on someone else then our confidence factor is not within us but is depending on that person. In case that person doesn't help us and leave us in the lurch then one can get discouraged and lose confidence. That is of course a bad situation.
    Instead of depending on others one should always try to face the difficulties in life because that is what pays in the long run.

    Knowledge is power.

  • #774114
    One should get a seat in a college on his own. No one should depend on recommendations etc. The marks or the rank we obtain in the entrance test will only give us a seat. But some colleges may be conducting interviews also, I am not aware of that. Thinking somebody will help us, we should not give up preparation for the interview or the test. So we should try our maximum to obtain a seat. One should understand that if you are not having the required capability no one can help you.
    drrao
    always confident

  • #774130
    A very nice presentation made by the author. Once I started reading the content, I felt myself deeply immersed to this fascinating story. This might be due to selection of magic words to provide the right impulse of the story.
    This is not the story of Supriya alone but there are thousands of girls and boys of similar nature. The tragic part is that these groups of people don't have trust in themselves apart from attitudes of not sharing their personal experiences on such occasions.
    The story has not lost its rhythm from beginning to end.


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