The scariest part is always just before you begin, and that is why the first days at any new place of or any new experience, are often thought to be terrible. Hearts filled with intense feelings of anxiety and excitement make you think deeply and observe the world around you during those initial moments.

First days could encompass a wide range of experiences — they can be your first day at a new school, during relocation of home, when taking control of habits, or when making significant life changes, like taking up a course or a new job. And that is why the first days are unique, wonderful and maybe the beginning of a pleasant journey — a journey full of ups and downs, rights and wrongs and fights and a lot more.

Like I said, we come across several first days in our lives. For instance, do you remember your first day at school? When you went to school wearing the uniform for the very first time in your life, the excitement and fear of that first day? It was a mixture of awe and terror.

And then comes another very first time or day, when your teacher asked you to speak on a topic in front of your class. Ah, that nervousness of the first time! I know how that feels. To many people, the feelings are as if you are asked to present at gunpoint and you would be badly mocked if you don’t give your best.

And then there is the first day of your exams, or the ‘board exams’. Remember realising that now you will be going to give exams in another school where your seat number has been allotted? This whole new situation makes you nervous — the fear of going into the examination hall, being invigilated by some teacher you have never seen before, and all the new experience of giving an exam on which depends your future.

During this time, your heart is filled with intense feelings of anxiety and anticipation. The thought of facing an unfamiliar exam environment, with different rules and procedures, can be quite daunting. Then, there’s the nerve-wracking part of discussing the exam paper with your mates, which often leaves you swayed by their thoughts on the way back home, especially on the first day. However, as time passes, things start to return to seem more in control.

Well, school life ends, and you embark on a new journey, to a college. The place you are told will be unique, very different from your school, a place where you will experience newfound freedom. The first day in college is a mix of emotions, often marked by excitement, anxiety, curiosity and a sense of independence.

It’s a significant milestone in one’s life, representing the beginning of a new chapter filled with new experiences and opportunities; you are scared of experiencing things as an adult but, at the same time, you are happy that you are a grownup person now.

But when you enter the university, it feels as if you have been thrown into another cosmos, surrounded by a lot of people who seem mature and practical, except for a few.

And the list of the first days goes on and on ….

In short, the first days of any new experience, whether it be starting school, college, or facing significant life changes, are filled with a mix of emotions. Excitement, anxiety, curiosity and a sense of independence, all intertwine to create a unique and sometimes nerve-wracking experience.

As humans, we are designed to navigate these initial challenges not only during specific moments, but throughout our lives. Each new beginning presents an opportunity for growth, learning and self-discovery, shaping us into more capable and confident individuals as we embrace the journey ahead.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 2nd, 2023