Parting is always painful. Another semester has ended and this summer was not going to be like the last one, when the only worry I had was how I will work 9 to 5 every single day at my on-campus job and make as much money as possible. My home away from home is undergoing a transition, two of my ‘original’ roommates having left to pursue internships already. It is the people who are left behind that feel the void, because those who are leaving will have a lot to look forward to. Bidding farewell is all the more depressing because it reminds me of all the things that went wrong – the innumerable internship applications, the rejects, interview calls I did not get – everything that could have helped me move someplace else, just like my roommates. It only added to the already tense end semester atmosphere with the final exams, project submissions and the grades which will be out soon. What I like about goodbyes, though, is the hugs, the honesty and the promise that we will see each other soon.
I was pondering over how I, an immensely sociable person could not be the best of roommates, being aloof to their amity more often than not. It is when people leave that I fathom how I could have been a much better person and could have made some difference in their lives. I probably have an excuse for that though, that I like to leave my enthusiasm and bustle outside the house and keep to myself when I am at home.
One of our roommates who came from Dallas and stayed here for her internship was the first one to leave this summer, giving us a hint of the change awaiting. We made sure that her last night in LA was memorable, dancing at a pub as per her wishes. It was the first of a few “One last time” moments that we planned. That made me think of the last time another roommate (who stayed with us for her last semester) left, when we went out for dinner – “One last time together” and had this thing where we all told each other what our first impression about the person was and what we thought of that person now. Not many surprises there, but it was quite a revealing and rewarding experience.
It is easier not to think of all that is imminent when I have plenty to do. I am afraid I will not able to tick everything off my to-do list, which includes making Chapatis and learning Spanish. I seem to be doing a good job already, impressing people at work with phrases like “Mi casa, su casa”, which means “My house is yours” and also getting off my bed at 6:30 AM every day to go jogging.
When we were out for breakfast, again reveling in the last few moments together, what was exciting was that as others were getting ready to leave, we were planning our trip to visit them soon. I cannot count all the things I will miss – the impromptu group cooking sessions and the chatter which sometimes lasted late into the night were the best. Some things that I could take in, which my roommates are better at than I am, is to work hard, not to burn out easily, to care a lot less about what anybody thinks and to do what I think is best for me.
Moreover, when someone leaves, someone else arrives. We have new and interesting roommates pursuing their studies in fields as diverse as dentistry, occupational therapy and cognitive science. Our house which mostly sheltered only engineers so far should be feeling happy.
I attended the Graduation ceremony this year to cheer for friends. We plan to hire people to scream and cheer for us next year. There was a fun element at this formal event too! One girl stood out from the sea of graduates with a hat that said “One degree hotter”. I think the graduates’ faces had relief written all over them rather than accomplishment. Jokes apart, it was quite an inspiration, to toil and be there next year along with a job offer and my parents by my side. Every day is new, and I could make one of those life altering!