New Year, Same Life Crisis?
- Reveil Magazine
- Jan 16, 2025
- 6 min read
Regrets, Realisations and Resolutions: A Letter to You.
It's that time again. The calendar has turned anew, and somewhere between the chaos of submission deadlines and the quiet of winter break, a familiar question surfaces in your mind: “Where exactly am I heading?
You’re not alone.
College is like a strange vortex where time moves differently. One moment you’re slogging through the endless stretch of mid-sems, and the next, it’s the end of another year. You’re left staring at your calendar wondering, “Where did all that time go?”
And just when you start to feel a semblance of control, someone casually drops the dreaded question: “College ke baad kya plan?” Suddenly, the clock starts ticking louder, each second amplifying the weight of all you think you should have figured out by now. Let's talk about that ticking.
Here’s a radical thought: Maybe time isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s the way we’ve been taught to measure it.
We’ve been conditioned to quantify our time by achievements—GPAs, internships, competitions. But what if the true value of time isn’t in what you achieve, but in the moments that make you feel alive?
It’s okay to be in the middle of your chapter—unfinished, uncertain, and still figuring things out. Every morning, as you debate between hot or iced coffee, your phone buzzes with yet another LinkedIn notification: a classmate winning a fest, landing an internship, or announcing their latest achievement. It’s hard not to feel like an imposter in the face of everyone else’s highlight reel. But here’s a reminder you might need today: you’re not an imposter—you’re human. And being human means your journey is meant to unfold at its own pace.
The Anti Yearbook
Regret has a bad reputation, but let’s be honest: it’s one of the best ways to learn.
When we asked the batch of 2025 a simple but piercing question—
"If you could rewind and change one thing about your college journey, what would it be?"— their answers weren’t about the awards they didn’t win or the accolades they fell short of.
Instead, they spoke of the opportunities they hesitated to seize, the conversations they avoided, the risks left untaken, and the connections they didn’t nurture. Because in the end, it’s not the unachieved goals that linger, but the could-haves and should-haves that quietly
echo.
“Never date your own classmates.” - Abhinav Thaker 6 BBA E
“I’d say getting involved in clubs and associations earlier. I started with A-Quant in my 4th sem, and that’s when I realised how much one gains from meeting people and building a team. I do wish I'd started sooner but I’m glad I joined when I did. Better late than never” - Sricharan Komateswar, 6 BBA B
“One thing I slightly regret is not taking part in Pan University level activities/clubs. It's very easy to fall prey to staying in the BBA bubble, and obviously I was an easy victim. But there's a whole world out there and a plethora of opportunities so I wish I could contribute to more than just the department.” - Shaili Anchalia, 6 BBA D
“I wish I took part in something cultural-related as well, probably dance. 3rd year is a blur, do as much as you can!” - Pari Vashisht, 6 BBA E
“I feel like everyone should find one constant. That’s something that I haven’t done. Stick to any one thing like an art form, passion project, startup, etc. Make sure you do it from scratch to completion. College life has so many variables like events, friendships, relationships, activities etc. So having that one constant gives you something to anchor around, something that grows with you. So pick that constant as early as possible, make it yours, something you can look back and feel proud of. It’ll give all the chaos a bit more meaning.” - Mella Mohit, 6 BBA B
“If I could change one thing about my college life, I would go out with my friends more often rather than staying at home. Oh, and don’t lose your touch with sports if you played in school.”- Srujitha Akula, 6 BBA F
“I regret being a people pleaser and always making myself available for people who would not do the same. Oh, and going on more trips, all juniors should explore more!” - Diya Khandelwal, 6 BBA E
“The one thing I deeply regret not doing in college is socializing and keeping myself open to new experiences. Looking back, I’ll always regret not stepping out of my comfort zone sooner. So, my advice to juniors is simple: don't hold yourself back from embracing new experiences and meeting new people.” - Aakrat Nenwani, 6 BBA F
“In the middle of romanticising college, achieving everything under the sun, love, career, life basically, you forget your health sometimes, both mentally and physically. Long story short I met with a near-death experience that changed my perspective on my priorities. Take care of yourself. You have one life, make it the largest! ” - Seerat Kaur, 6 BBA B
“If I could rewind, I would remind myself to take some time off. It was one event after the other, one club after the other. In the rat-race of resumes, I forgot that I’m not here just to add things to my to-do list. Realising what I loved doing and where my interests lied really helped make college life easier.” - Vanshi Tekwani, 6 BBA E
The Fear of Not Being Everywhere All the Time
We’re constantly told to seize every opportunity, to keep moving, to never miss a beat. The pressure to be everywhere, try everything, and know everyone can feel suffocating. But here’s the thing: life isn’t a game of attendance.
What if success wasn’t about doing it all, but about doing what truly matters to you?
This year, let go of the idea that every moment has to be maximized. Think of 2025 not as a ticking clock but as a blank canvas. Not every stroke needs to be bold and calculated—some can be playful, messy, or just for fun.
Introducing the “Maybe” List. Forget rigid to-do lists. The Maybe List is an antidote to the pressure of perfection—a space for curiosity, exploration, and joy.
Say Yes to Small Curiosities.That club you’ve been silently stalking? Apply. The elective that doesn’t align with your “career path”? Take it. The idea sitting half-formed in your mind? Chase it. Sometimes, the best adventures start with why not?
Embrace Random ConnectionsTalk to people outside your circle—those who’ve chosen paths you’d never consider. Their stories might inspire, challenge, or even redirect you. At the very least, they’ll add color to your journey.
Try Something Outrageously UnproductiveBake a cake that flops. Sketch a picture that never leaves your notebook. Watch a foreign movie with no subtitles. Not everything needs to “pay off”—some things are worth doing just because they feel good.
Follow Your WhimsWrite down everything that sparks even a flicker of interest: learning the guitar, hosting a game night, joining a hiking group. These aren’t “goals.” They’re whispers from your heart asking to be explored.
Revel in Imperfect Outcomes. A Maybe List is permission to try without fear of failing. It’s not about mastery; it’s about discovery. You might find a lifelong passion—or simply laugh at the attempt. Both are wins.
Because Here’s the Secret: Success doesn’t always wear a medal. Sometimes, it’s found in late-night laughter, unexpected friendships, and the quiet thrill of saying, “I did that, just for me.”
Let this year be a playground, not a productivity contest. Pick up the brush, and let your Maybe List be the palette. Who knows? What starts as a maybe might just turn into your masterpiece.
Regret, Realizations, and Resolutions: A Letter to You
If you’re still reading this, let me leave you with a truth that’s taken me years to accept:
No one has it all figured out. Not your classmates with stellar LinkedIn profiles. Not the seniors who seem like they’ve “made it.” Not even your professors.
We’re all just navigating life with a mix of hope and guesswork.
So, as you step into 2025, remember this:
You’re allowed to take the scenic route.
You’re allowed to change your mind.
You’re allowed to fail spectacularly and try again.
This year isn’t a box to tick or a race to win. It’s a story—your story. Let it be unpredictable, imperfect, a little wild, and entirely yours. Because in the end, the most meaningful journeys are rarely the clean, calculated ones. They’re the messy, uncharted ones that make you feel truly alive.
Penned By:
Mehar Singh | Editor In Chief | 4 BBA D
Wonderful expression of thoughts!!