"I have grown up since that day."

Humanism in me

When I was a 12th-grade student…

For every student like me back then, university was a personal dream, a teacher's expectation, and a parent's pride. So, from the class superstar to the average student or even the "notorious" one, everyone dreamed of setting foot in that prestigious university. Another huge factor for us at that time was: university was a world both near and far, and most importantly, it offered us freedom. In that fierce race, each of us chose our own path. Some chose based on their academic ability, some based on family advice, and some based on their interests… like me. It wasn't easy fighting for that, because I had to "resolutely" overcome a whole host of "prejudices" to put pen to paper and write "UNIVERSAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES." Actually, no one would have objected if I hadn't already spent seven years in the science stream. I used to live and breathe math, physics, chemistry, and biology; I swore by life and death that I would become the best young physicist in the future; I even passed rigorous selection processes for physics and biology teams, even though I never won any top prizes. It's sad! That's why when I said, "I want to become a writer, a literary researcher," everyone found it hard to accept. I had to try very hard, really, very hard, to prove to everyone that I could do it. To "rationalize" my years of studying science, I even had to create an additional application for science-related fields, and that was incredibly difficult. That's how choosing a university was for me; as an 18-year-old student, I was excited about the new world called "Social Sciences and Humanities," which I would later affectionately call "Humanities."

When I was a freshman…

The days after the exams were the most stressful and pressure-filled for me; each day brought a little more despondency. I used to sit for hours in front of the computer screen doing only one thing: constantly refreshing the school's website. So I proudly boasted that I was among the first to see the results as soon as they appeared. And of course, I pretended to be overjoyed, picking up the phone without knowing who to call first. Happiness can sometimes make people laugh like that…! The days of eagerly packing, preparing documents, and then the enrollment day… everything felt like a dream. But when salty tears rolled down my cheeks as I saw my parents disappear through the school gate, that's when I woke up from my dream. I realized it was time to start a new life – a life unlike the 18 years I'd lived! The humanities introduced me to new friends, new circumstances, and new ways of thinking. Many firsts began with this new life. It was my first time away from home; my first time meeting friends from different regions, each with their own interesting characteristics; my first experience of dormitory life – the kind of life I'd been most curious about since I first learned about it – and many more firsts! The first lessons, the first teachers – everything was so new. At that time, the humanities held so much to explore and so many challenges for me. Each new teacher and friend was a world in itself, each new lesson a space; I wanted to explore them all simply because they were the humanities within me! The humanities made me forget my moments of homesickness and made me realize that it was time for me to mature and think more deeply about life…!

When I was a sophomore,...

As a sophomore, I could proudly say, "I know every corner of the campus, every tree in the Faculty of Humanities." My historic Faculty of Humanities nestled beautifully beside the bustling and busy street, yet it always felt so peaceful! In my sophomore year, everything started to become routine, the initial awkwardness faded, the new teachers became familiar faces, new friends became close companions, and the lessons no longer felt so unfamiliar. I became bolder in participating in student union activities, and more confident in my role as a "leader." For me at this point, the Faculty of Humanities was a challenge! That challenge made me more mature, more dynamic, and more loving. But… even now, for me, my sophomore year was the most beautiful time I've ever had at the Faculty of Humanities. I love the feeling of going to school every morning, breathing in the familiar air, happily spending time with my friends; life is so carefree…! The Faculty of Humanities taught me life lessons, and my friends are always there for me; they're like my second family. Around me, there are always people willing to listen to my rambling stories, talking about everything under the sun. My friends and I poured all our first romantic feelings into the Faculty of Humanities…

And now I am a third-year university student…

In our third year, things started to change, some things changed drastically. Studying became much more difficult and demanding. We started getting used to dissertations and scientific reports. At this point, the Faculty of Humanities began to demand that we be more conscious of what we were studying and what we had accumulated over the past year. Each of us began to have our own world; things like work and family started to encroach on the carefree lives of our first and second-year students. This awareness of life made them more mature. And of course, in life, when you gain something, you also lose something. My friends, they lost something at the Faculty of Humanities! I often return to the trees and benches where I once had carefree moments, to find a little bit of that peaceful space again. But I know that my Humanities class would be very sad if we remained carefree little girls and boys, because they want us to be strong and mature individuals. Suddenly one day, I realized something: how long had it been since I arrived at school early, since I lingered there for a while as the sun began to set? Perhaps I was too hasty! We rushed with our own plans and projects, withdrawing into our own worlds and "reluctant" to confide in each other about life. And suddenly one day, when my friends stopped their hurried glances at each other, they realized that perhaps friendship couldn't keep up with the rush. They began to realize with alarm that they didn't have much time left together! Humanities is what bound us together, bringing us together like fate…

In just a few months, I'll be a final-year student again, caught up in the whirlwind of internships and thesis work. Humanities—they've been with me throughout my first years stepping out into the world, those years of bewilderment and naivety. Humanities is simple and genuine. It's my teachers, my mentors, my friends, the lecture halls, the trees and hidden corners… all of that is Humanities within me.