The first steps into college, and the foundation of a successful future!!

It gives me great pleasure and honor to be given this opportunity to pen a few lines about my experience and association with Rama Devi Women’s College. Thank you Indira aunty (Lecturer, Sanskrit). I would rate these two years as one of the best phases of my life. Even though it is more than 15 years, as I start looking through the pages of my memory, a lot is pouring out.

Let me start with how I ended up at R.D. Women’s College. Way back in 1997 is when I passed my 10^th class or as it is better known: finished basic school education. Next logical step was higher education in a pristine institution. I had no inclination in continuing at school even though lot of my school mates went that way. I was more of the “experience new things in life as much as you can” types and had to go a different route than school – I had already been in school for 10 years, so why more? So ‘go-to-college’ it was!! Out of the many colleges in Bhubaneswar, without doubt my choice was R.D. Women’s College. Not sure how others address the college but I usually refer to it as “R.D”, no ‘college’ or ‘women’s’ attached to the name, just plain simple R.D. My mother had worked at R.D. for more than 20 years and I had literally grown up seeing a lot of the college. As a kid I used to go to the college picnics, annual functions, sports meet; visit the library, get treated at the canteen and knew most of the lecturers. Each and every corner of the college felt personal and home-like. So it was an obvious and easy decision for me – R.D.

When I stepped out of school and went to college, it is a big leap of faith. School is a much more disciplined environment and being at college demanded that I grow up and become more mature. I was full on ready for the move. I had always been a very logical and independent person and here was the time for me to prove it. Starting at college was as lucid as it could have been as I was already so familiar with the brick and mortar. Right from the entrance itself I knew it all - the principal’s office, the teacher’s common room, the corridors and the galleries, canteen and much more..This kind of familiarity not only gave me the much needed confidence when I entered the new arena but also took away the feeling that it was the beginning of a chapter and made the transition and adjustment much easier.

If I have to talk about my two years at R.D. it will go without saying that two things are most precious to me – my friends and the awards and recognition I got. So let us go on and talk about “friends-for-life” that I made there. Each and every day was fun for me with the best of my buddies around me..Starting from being in the same section of the class to being in the same lab group, I was kind of inseparable from them. I can’t say I am sad about it but I never went through that phase of ‘bunking classes’ as I had my group, a tightly knit bunch of 6 girls, always together and class is where I wanted to be. We all knew each other for may be a month before college started as we went to the same tuition classes for preparation of engineering / medical entrance exams. The friendship just grew stronger with all the time spent at college. I still remember all of our roll numbers, all even numbers – 106 (Rulli), 134 (Sushree), 156 (Pinki), 190 (Smaranika), 192 (Me) and 194 (Ragini). Now, even though we all stay in different cities, are married, have kids, that saga which started in 1997 at R.D. still continues and the bond is intact, despite our busy lives, time and distance.

Now about the day that still is so close to my heart - my best day at college. Other than being good and regular in studies, I was always into many other constructive things too. Right from my school days I have always had interest in extra-curricular activities and I was super glad that I got plentiful of chances at R.D. too.  You name it and I bet I participated in that competition. I not only participated but won the first prize in most events – essay, debate, quiz, poetry recitation etc. I even took part in a drama. This particular day is etched in my memory more vividly than anyone can think of. It was still my first year at R.D. and it was our annual day function and the prize distribution ceremony was going on. So for one event they call my name and I go to the stage and collect my trophy. Right after that they call my name, yet again, as the winner of another event and this goes on continuously, back to back, may be 6-7 times. The chief guest then asks me to stay back on the stage itself and enquires if I have more trophies and when they say yes she hands me all of them at one go and also gives me a tray – how else do you carry 12 cups (all 1^st and one 3^rd position if I remember correctly) with two hands?? That was by far the most applause I have ever heard for myself in my entire life. The announcer was like “Ruchira Padhi 1^st in this”, “Ruchira Padhi 1^st in that”, on and on and on and the clapping never probably stopped for that entire seven to ten minute duration. Time just froze right there. Not only I but most people present there were surprised to see someone with so much talent. Apart from all other fun, memorable and enjoyable moments spent at R.D. this one by far is the winner.

Two years is not a small amount of time to be wrapped and presented in a few paragraphs, but this is true reflection of all that I earned and special to me. Not only did I have exposure to great classes and teachers but also made the best of friends who I am proud to say are still close to my heart. As on today also I feel privileged to be part of such an old and renowned institution and I proudly declare myself as an RDian. Three cheers to all my fellow RDians. It will not be proper in my endeavor if I fail to extend my sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all my teachers for their excellent teaching,  help and last but not the least their guidance which very much paved the path to success for me and helped me to be where and what I am today.

I take this opportunity to proudly share that I am very happily and successfully placed in life. I am currently settled in USA with my loving husband Abhishek Tripathy and our two year old adorable son Aryansh. With the blessings, able guidance, best wishes and help of my great parents, teachers, friends and well wishers I completed my MBA (Insurance) in 2004 from ICFAI (Hyderabad) and just got done with my second master‘s degree - MS in Computer Management & Information System (CMIS) from SIUE (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville), USA (Graduation Ceremony is in December 2014).

To conclude, from the core of my heart, I humbly dedicate all of my personal and professional achievements to my loving parents : Dr. Rajashree Padhi, Reader in Sanskrit (Retd.), R.D.Women's College and Shri Rajendra Nath Padhi (Retd. Senior Officer from UIIC).

Ruchira Padhi

Alumni, +2 Science (Batch : 1997-99)

I know not when next will I be able to go and visit R.D. again, but definitely whenever I walk down those corridors it goes without saying I will see and feel the change, not just in the structures, but the atmosphere, the fashion (now they   wear uniforms right!!), the gadgets students carry (laptops and fancy cell phones) etc..But for me, it will always be the same as it was back when I was a student there. All I will hear is laughter of my group, me and’ my girls’ holding our notebooks, chirping like birdies, happy and excited to be together, headed to the next class, last but not the least talking and making plans for our daily ritual - having gup-chup in the next break….Reminiscing is always such a happy feeling!!!