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As I roused myself for the Fajr prayer, still enveloped in the remnants of sleep, I had no inkling that today would mark the commencement of my university journey. After completing my prayer, a vague sense of something forgotten lingered, but I brushed it aside and slipped back into bed, sleeping past 6 a.m. At 6:15 a.m., my dad roused me, reminding me that it was my first day at university and missing it was not an option.

I quickly got ready, had breakfast, booked a cab, and set off for the university. As I gazed out the car window, a mixture of nervousness and the fear of the unknown filled my mind. After a 30-minute drive, I finally arrived at the campus. Stepping onto the grounds of FAST-NU Lahore for the first time felt like a dream realized. Months of anticipation, preparation, and excitement had climaxed in this moment. As I walked through the gates, a blend of trembling and excitation washed over me. This was the dawn of my journey towards becoming a Data Science/AI engineer, and I was eager to immerse myself in it.

The Calamity

I checked my phone for my timetable and lecture schedule and saw that my first lecture was in the CS block. With no labels to guide me around the campus, I had to ask several people for directions to CS-04. When I finally found the venue, I went inside and took a seat on the last bench in the corner. As the clock neared 8:30 AM, more and more students filtered into the classroom.

One student, in particular, caught my eye; he looked like an anime fan (I am an anime lover myself). I struck up a conversation with him, and we quickly got to know each other. At 8:40 AM, an instructor walked in and announced, "Hello everyone, today will be your first class on Computer Networks." We were all taken aback, exclaiming, "What? Isn't this the Programming Fundamentals lecture?" The instructor explained that there had been a scheduling clash and the timetable had changed. Since we hadn't received any notifications, we were utterly confused.

All the students in the same predicament as I were rushed out of the venue, clueless about what to do next. I suggested that we head to the CS department office to sort things out. When we got there, we found it overcrowded, hot, and stuffy. We waited and moved around, but there was no immediate resolution in sight.

Crashing a Class

Due to the scheduling mishap, we were anxious that we had missed our very first Programming Fundamentals class. In an attempt to salvage the situation, I proposed attending a different section of the Programming Fundamentals class to avoid missing any content. We decided to crash a class and actively participated in the lecture. After the session, we explained our situation to the instructor, who was understanding and sympathetic.

Shortly after, one of my classmates received an email with the updated schedule. To our surprise, our Programming Fundamentals class had been rescheduled to 5:30 PM the same day, and the previous session had been swapped with our Applied Physics class, which we had consequently missed.

Exploring the Facilities

Upon learning about the schedule change, it felt like a cloud of depression descended upon us. Filled with anxiety and uncertainty, we decided to explore the campus to pass the time. We began our tour with the library, where I hoped to find some comics but found none. Feeling a bit disheartened, I decided to nap on one of the tables, enjoying the cool, quiet environment.

After two hours, I woke up and headed to the university’s café to grab something to eat. My new classmates and I gathered around a table, sharing stories and getting to know each other better over a meal. The café was quite old and suffocating, the construction was ongoing of the F-Block, but we made the best of it.

After about an hour, I went to the mosque just outside the university, prayed Zuhr, and took another short nap. When I woke up, it was 3:30 PM, and we still had two hours before our next class. Unsure of what to do, I decided to take a leisurely walk around the campus, exploring every nook and cranny. By 5 PM, I returned to the mosque, prayed Asar, and then headed to my lecture venue for the Programming Fundamentals class.

The First Lecture

The course instructor arrived 15 minutes late. By this point, we were all already drained and frustrated from the day's events. The instructor had an aura reminiscent of Merlin, the wizard from English folklore. As he began delivering the lecture, his engaging and lively teaching style caught my attention, making the material more interesting.

However, I had developed a headache, which made it difficult for me to fully concentrate on the lecture.

Reflecting on the Day

As the day drew to a close, I couldn’t help but reflect on everything I had experienced. My first day at FAST-NU Lahore was everything I hadn’t hoped for and more. It was a day of new beginnings, filled with anxiety, frustration, exhaustion, exploration, and connection. Despite the challenges, it marked the start of an exciting journey. I booked a cab and headed home, eager to see what the next day would bring.

Looking Ahead

This first day was just the beginning, and I hoped that the upcoming days wouldn't be as tiring. I know the journey ahead will be challenging, but I am ready to embrace every moment. With the support of my professors, peers, and the incredible resources at FAST-NU, I am confident that I will grow both academically and personally. I am excited to see where this journey will take me.

To all the new students starting their journey at FAST-NU or any other university, I wish you all the best. Embrace every moment, learn as much as you can, and most importantly, enjoy the ride. Here’s to a bright and promising future!

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