Admission War

Having a residence near a public university is equally a blessing and irritating at the same time. You can live midst of nature and also have to play the role of a tourist guide when anyone comes to visit your place. And every year the pressure hikes up when the university admission period comes. We have to host the candidates who are our relatives or somehow known to us. 8/9 years ago, my mother used to guide the candidates and helped them to find the exam center (and I was always there as mamma's lenja). Talking with those senior examinees and learn about their perspectives was fun for me. I loved to observe and listen to them. Sometimes they taught me some tips on how to get prepared for the future. As time moved, now I become the senior one. For the last 5/6 years, I've been the one to give them those advice, teach them how to manage time, and reduce stress in the exam hall. Yesterday, the university's admission test started and just like every year, I'm on my way to pay my service. People will say this is the most mundane work to take the candidates or show the guest your campus as a tourist guide, but to be honest, I actually enjoy doing this work. As the guests aren't always the same, their way of expressing the feelings is somehow different from others. The funny thing is, right now, I'm sitting outside of my candidate's exam center and writing about this post. And last year, I was waiting in the same place for my younger sister. I think this circle will be going on! XD But have to agree, this is a crucial moment and also can say life-changing moment for these students. I've seen a lot of top-notch students who can't make their way to public universities just because they got stressed out in the last minute. I tired to recall what my situation was at this time. On my first day of the admission test, I was able to make myself so chilled thinking I'll never be able to make here, as I wasn't that type of nerd or so-called brilliant student. Which made it pretty sure that I couldn't get the chance to admit in here so there is nothing to stress about. And fortunately, this trick helped me to sit for the exam with a calm nerve. When I entered my exam hall, I saw almost all the students were sunken in their coaching sheets and with a damn serious look, they were still going through with their special notes. Yeah I agree that I wasn't a fakibaz student either. I got 3 months for taking the prep and maintained a regular routine. And the blessing was, none of my family members ever pressurised me saying that you have to get the chance here. And I'll be always thankful to them for being supportive at that stage. Ok let's move to my exam center again. As I didn't bring any of my notes and books, I had nothing to do but observe other candidates. In my back seat, a gollu mollu boy made his place and was restlessly going through his notes. When the teacher entered the room, he sadly had to say goodbye to his notes and after a while, he tried to talk with me and flexed about his prep. I just nod a little replying with hae, hum and then ignored him. When the bell rang and the teacher started to distribute the questions, that boy desperately started calling ma Mary's name. Sorry to say but I can't help to leash my laugh XD. After getting the question, I was going through the paper and suddenly that boy began to poke me for some answers. Ok, I can tolerate this kind of people in final tests or quizzes but how can one even expect to get the correct answer in the damn admission test?! Agh, I can't never get these people. Avoiding that gig, I tried to concentrate on my paper and was able to complete my exam within the time frame.

When baba came to receive me, I matched the general knowledge section with him, and to my surprise, I found only 3 mistakes! I still remember how he patted me and that thing boosted me up a little. After a month, on the day of getting the result, I was watching the "grave of the fireflies" and started to sob from time to time. All of a sudden, ammu rushed into my room with the news that I made it to the "dream university". She gave her "proud daughter hug" which was rare to get as I did a few little things to make her happy. I think ammu was cheerful than me at that moment. I was supposed to blast into joy too but that damn sad movie didn't let me express that. What an imperfect moment to choose a movie like that!

I got distracted from my wondering by one of the guardians sitting next to me. Listening to their conversation, it seems like they're more tense than their child. Some were continuously fanning their kids, kissing and wishing them for a better exam, talking to their close relatives through a button phone, and informing where they'll stay for the night. It's a big hassle for those who have no place to stay and travel all the way here back and forth for 1 week. This pain will be worthwhile if their child remembers their parents' struggle and appreciates their effort. Perhaps this acknowledgment is the only thing that they truly want!

Side note: please don't call a candidate asking where s/he got the chance or not. Show some common sense, they'll inform you on their own if they can make it, just keep a little patience. :)