Mohammad Arfat Wani
The first day of college is a memory that stays with you forever. It is not merely the start of education but the beginning of a journey filled with self-discovery, responsibility, and hope. When I left home for Ramzaan College of Nursing, my heart carried two opposing emotions—excitement for the opportunities ahead and nervousness for the unknown world of new faces, teachers, and experiences that would shape my future.
As I passed through the gates of the college, pride walked with uncertainty. Walls looked unfamiliar, passages were a blur of voices never known before, and every face that went by looked as keen to recognize me as I did to recognize them. In silence, I entered a class and sat with people who were to slowly become friends, struggling to quiet down the tempest of emotions within me.
Our initial meeting was with Professor Ajaz Sir, our class coordinator. He established the tone for our journey with his words. He reminded us that being a nurse is not a mere career but a service to mankind, a science, a discipline, a responsibility. He explained to us that we were not mere students but future caretakers/healers and researchers. His words made a lasting impact, revealing to us the sacred objective of the course we had embarked upon.
Next arrived Mudassir Sir, our lecturer for Anatomy and Physiology. He spoke about more than just the human body. He spoke about courage, faith, and commitment, explaining that to be a nurse one should be completely committed. When he saw our worried faces, he urged us to adopt confidence even in the face of uncertainty. What he spoke about ingrained in me the idea that learning how to learn is as important as learning itself.
Abid Sir, our lecturer for Nursing Foundation, once taught an excellent lesson about trust—trust in Allah as well as in what is meant for us. He also told us that good role models are neither stars nor celebrities but our lecturers who create our character, value systems, and discipline. He told us that something as fundamental as good manners, being on time, and neat appearance reflects dignity and professionalism.
Zahid Sir then addressed the congregation emphasizing the religious aspect of nursing. He termed it as worship itself where serving others grants one much more than one can earn with money. He explained with a most inspiring account regarding Hazrat Rufaidah bint Sa’d (RA), who is credited with being the first Islamic nurse. He demonstrated how prestigious and honored a career it is indeed.
Mahek Maam also opined, emphasizing industriousness and efficient time management. “Work hard,” she counseled. “Time is valuable, and a minute is a minute.” It seemed to me that such admonitions were a reminder that responsible scholarship is the key to a successful varsity career.
Beyond the lectures, I explored the campus. I saw lively classrooms, well-equipped laboratories where science comes alive, the principal’s office symbolizing leadership, faculty rooms full of knowledge, and the library, where rows of books quietly awaited eager minds. Watching students deeply absorbed in study made me realize that learning doesn’t come only from lectures but also from curiosity, self-study, and reflection. Knowledge grows when we are patient, persistent, and dedicated.
One of the toughest moments of the day was to introduce myself to the entire class on stage. My voice never favored me for public speaking, but as I spoke, my nervous gradually turned into confidence. I learned from this episode that being a part of a college is not only about learning but also about overcoming one’s fears and transforming one’s weaknesses into strengths. When they called my name as a Class Representative, pride and responsibility mingled together in my heart. It was a moment to serve, to lead, to grow.
That first day instilled me with lessons much deeper than nursing. Efforts lead to confidence, professors teach us how to live, nervousness is only natural, and growth is realized through challenges. College is about tests and grades but also about developing character, finding one’s own identity, learning about responsibility, and learning to serve society with honesty. That anxious home-bound student who departed early morning returned home a changed person with lessons to be learned about courage, humility, responsibility, and hope. What is unique about the first day is not perfection but the imperfect but unforgettable beginning of learning—learning not only from books but from life. As I walked out of the college gate after evening class, I knew that the journey ahead would be tough but worthwhile, and every step would be worth having taken.
(The author is a passionate writer, social activist, and B.Sc. Nursing student at Ramzaan College of Nursing & Paramedical Sciences, Galander Pampore. He hails from Kuchmulla Tral and can be reached at [email protected])
