A Season of Growth: Reflections from the International PPSUites

Hello International PPSUites, Today, I want us to take a moment to reflect on the challenges of being far away from home, especially the feeling of homesickness and the reality that sometimes, there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it. Let’s talk about being in an environment that pushes us to grow in ways we could have never imagined. The first large batch of international students arrived at PPSU in 2022. At that time, many of the buildings we now see around campus didn’t even exist. The boys’ hostel and the faculty hostels had only four floors, including the ground floor which, to make things more interesting, was under construction, being extended. Imagine arriving in a foreign land, and the first thing that welcomes you is the ground floor of your hostel flooded with water. It made no sense at the time, but we had to adjust. The food was another big challenge. It used to be very spicy, extra hot! Many of us often fell ill, and for others, visiting the washroom became a full-time job as our bodies adjusted to the new cuisine. The food was so different from what we were used to, but we still had to eat. In fact, we were required to finish every meal, and there was even a camera placed above the trash can to monitor food wastage. The weighing scale below it used to be active at all times, and no one was allowed to throw away more than 100 grams of food. It was tough, even torturous for some, but we persevered through those tough times. Since the campus strictly follows a vegan diet, non-vegetarian food was not allowed. On Tuesdays and Friday, we often had to eat outside the campus gates, even during the heavy monsoon rains. But despite all that, we remained strong and we remain grateful for the efforts the institution has made to improve our living experience since then. We came here when the new girls’ hostel didn’t exist, when the turf area was still a tennis court, and when the basketball courts were just bare concrete. There was no music room, no volleyball courts, and no Ayurvedic Hospital Building, what many of you now know as the building with the new Student Section. We witnessed this campus grow from a small, quiet space into a vibrant institution that welcomes more and more students every year. Each of us faced different challenges, some good days, some bad, but here we are, still standing strong. That in itself is proof that challenges don’t exist to break us; they exist to build us. They make us stronger, wiser, and more resilient. It doesn’t matter how big or small your struggle is, you will make it through. As we enter the season of final exams, let this serve as motivation to anyone who might be struggling silently. We may not know the battles you are fighting, but we are here cheering you on. Be patient with yourself. Believe in yourself. You didn’t come this far for nothing. Trust the process and stay motivated. You are in your season of growth. We have seen it with PPSU. We have seen it with the senior students who came before us. So let that inspire you, let your challenges fuel your determination. Remember: good things take time, and the best things often come from the toughest situations. Every great athlete will tell you that success doesn’t happen overnight, it comes through pain, persistence, and hard work. The journey isn’t easy, but the results are always worth it. So, never give up. Rename this season as “The Season of I BELIEVE.” Put in the work. Go harder than before. Because you are amazing, you are capable, and only you can make your dreams come true. You can make it happen.