✨ Soft Launching✨ My College Life: Expectation vs. Reality

 Expectation: A Bollywood Movie

I grew up on Bollywood, so obviously, I walked into college expecting a full-on "Main Character" experience—thinking dramatic slow-mo entries, impromptu dance sequences, and a perfect squad. Spoiler alert: it was nothing like that.

Instead of being the star of my own movie, I realized college is more like a reality show where no one knows who you are and no one really cares. Which is both a blessing and a curse—you get to reinvent yourself, but at the same time, you’re starting from zero. Making friends? Harder than expected. Adjusting to a new place? Even harder. Confidence? Social skills? Survival mode ON.

Reality Check: Living Away Is Not for the Weak Before college, I romanticized the idea of moving out—the thrill of a new city, endless opportunities, and an exciting routine. Yeah… turns out, I’m the type of person who gets homesick every weekend. While others were planning road trips, I was secretly counting down to my next visit home and let’s not even talk about the "big city dream" vs. reality. I used to think my small hometown was boring, but after moving to a bigger city, I realized I love my hometown way more than I ever admitted. Sometimes, the best places are the ones you take for granted.

Also, nobody told me that college isn’t just about cute tote bags, aesthetic "Get Ready With Me" videos, and café hopping. It’s a LOT of hard work, endless walking, and figuring out how to survive on questionable food.

The socializing struggle! Here’s the one piece of advice I wish someone gave me before college: DO NOT rely on just one friend. Not everyone you meet will stay till the end, and that’s okay. But if you don’t put yourself out there, you’ll be stuck feeling lost when that one person gets busy. Make as many friends as possible. Socializing is a skill, and in college, it's survival. Also, the competition is real. Everyone around you seems to be doing something amazing—joining clubs, getting internships, acing their studies—meanwhile, you’re just trying to figure out where the best canteen table is. But that’s the thing: everyone works at their own pace. Don’t rush. You’re doing fine.

Final Advice: Just Do You if I could give one tip to anyone starting college, it would be: don't hold yourself back because of fear of judgment. Nobody actually cares what you do-so why not do what makes you happy?Want to join a club? Do it.Want to dress up extra? Own it. The only regrets in college are the things you were too scared to try. So, here's to soft launching this new phase of life. A little messy, a little unexpected, but definitely worth the ride.