Feature

Choosing the Right Path

Trina Mutsuddy

WHEN I had my admission in the top most private university in Bangladeh, I was skeptical about my future. At the same time I was quite frustrated that I could not get a chance in any of the public universities. Therefore, it was a huge responsibility for me to do well from the very beginning, as my parents were ready to spend a large sum of money to provide me with quality education.

Initially, I did not know anyone at my university but somehow I managed to find some down to earth, good friends without whom I do not know what I would have done. In addition, I had the privileges to be a student of some amazing teachers who were very caring and cooperative. In fact they helped me to boost up my confidence. Nevertheless all the tiring classes and lack of places to hang out sometimes made me feel like a machine. I wanted to escape, where I could breathe some fresh air.

Although I was quite happy with my life the way it was going, but sometimes people used to mock me about not getting a chance in a public university. In fact I found a public university student getting more respect or special attention than a private university student. One day I got a call from the Indian High Comisson, they told me that I got a chance to study in India as a scholar from ICCR (Indian Commission for Cultural Relations). My happiness knew no bounds but when I went there I fell really homesick; and I didn't like the environment. I came back to Bangladesh with a depressed mind. I wanted to get over this bad phase of my life. That's when I decided to fight again for a chance at DU with new energy and determination.

By not dropping a semester at my university, I remember how much I struggled to keep a balance between my university classes, exams with admission studies(not to forget, running here and there with a twisted ankle).I worked very hard for one and a half months. When I heard that I got the chance at DU, I was excited, at the same time I was sad, because I had to leave my friends with whom I shared some very sweet and bitter memories.

When I started my class at DU, I realized that the class was filled with almost 100 students, which made it harder for the teacher to interact or cooperate with the students. All the teachers; however, from the start made us aware of their limitations such as accommodation, transportation, food and political problems. In spite of these problems they told us it depends upon us to be self-skilled in order to compete with the outside world. Excellent intelligence and persona of the professors is the sole reason why DU is called The Oxford of the East. I could not have asked for more- being privileged enough to be a part of such a great institution.

More than anybody else, I know how much I cherish to be a DU student. Every time I ride a university bus or walk beside the 'Modhu's canteen', I feel thrilled. I take a deep breath that is when I truly realize that I am now a DU student. Some people might say that I have wasted money and time by moving here and there, but I would rather say it was an experience of a lifetime, which kept me one step ahead of everyone else. As a student of DU, now I feel more responsible towards our country and society as the DU authority is giving huge amount of subsidy for us (point to be noted that, I had to give taka 12000 per subject at my previous university, whereas now I give only BDT 30 per month at DU).

Finally, I feel it is the hard earned money of the common people of our country that the government is spending for us which urges me to be a worthy citizen of our soil and to do the best for our needy people. Nevertheless, from time to time DU has played a vital role in the history of our country and provided all out direction during each crisis phase of the country. I believe and also feel that the people of our country expect a lot from us to bring some pride by doing some good for our country. It should be our priority and commitment as a student of Dhaka University. Personally I feel proud to be a student of Dhaka University and promise to carry out the legacy.

(BBA, Department of Management Studies, DU)