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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAs a new academic session is set to start across Delhi University<\/a>, fuchchas are preparing to step onto campus for the very first time. Whether you got into your dream college, your backup choice or landed a seat you never expected, the first day can feel equally overwhelming. From making your first friends and joining societies to settling into campus life, we asked seniors, societies and principals to share what freshers can expect \u2013 and how to make the most of their first day.\u2018It\u2019s unreal when you experience it\u2019<\/span>Agneesh Saha, alumnus and former president of the Fine Arts Society at Hindu College, says what surprised him most was the campus culture. \u201cSeeing everyone having a great time in the evenings, sipping chai, gossiping, and eating momos. <\/p>\n I knew it existed, but it\u2019s unreal when you actually experience it.\u201dSharing practical first-day advice, Abhijeet Singh, president of Hansraj College\u2019s Student Union, says, \u201cThe first day of college is exciting, but freshers should also stay attentive. Carry your ID proof and fee slip, check the orientation schedule in advance, and take time to familiarise yourself with the campus. Don’t hesitate to interact with classmates or approach seniors for help\u2014we’ve all been in your shoes. College is a journey of learning, growth and lifelong memories, so make the most of every opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n THROWBACK: The classroom is only half the college experience. Throwing it back to our 2018 shoot at Gargi College, where we explored the cultural societies that make college life about so much more than academics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u2018<\/span>Cultural societies<\/span> impact college experience\u2019<\/span>Aswin Nair, president of Hansraj\u2019s music society, shares what he wished he knew, \u201cI wish someone had told me that you might not always get the crowd you\u2019ve wanted around you. So don\u2019t keep your expectations too high and try to be friendly and approachable. Being a part of a cultural society greatly impacts your college experience because you get to improve in the art form you pursue and also get to learn from people who have the same interests. Also, you get to go to different colleges in the first year, almost every DU<\/a> college.\u201dJoining a cultural society isn’t just fun; it can also be a rite of passage. Simran, general secretary of SRCC\u2019s Indian Dance Society, says, \u201cI have not only continued my passion for Indian dance but also developed leadership, coordination, communication, and event-management skills. From performing and coordinating dancers to organising events and working with alumni and different teams, the experience has helped me grow beyond the classroom. It has also allowed me to build strong friendships and create some of my most memorable college experiences.\u201d‘Just come with curiosity and an attitude to learn’<\/span>Prof Kanika K Ahuja, principal of Lady Shri Ram College, says, \u201cYour messiest year will be your most meaningful year. You are here to become a thinking, questioning, compassionate adult. Information overload is normal. You\u2019ll hear 100 new terms: NEP, societies, credits, placements, internships… Just come with curiosity and an attitude to learn. The rest, we will figure out together.\u201d Acknowledging that the transition can be particularly challenging for outstation students, LSR offers on-campus counselling support. \u201cAt LSR, we have a full-time counsellor, a peer support program in which 10 students are trained to offer psychological first aid to other students under the supervision of the department of Psychology,\u201d Prof Ahuja shares.Prof. Susan Elias, principal of St. Stephen’s College notes the importance of the first day, “The first day of college is a memory that will stay with students for years. The first glimpse of the campus, the first class, the first teacher, the first friend, and perhaps the first senior who offers guidance, these moments often shape their sense of belonging. They should spproach the day with curiosity, optimism, and an open mind. Our teaching is rigorous, but it is also supportive, inclusive, and responsive to the realities of the Gen Z and AI era.”<\/div>\nCJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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