A 19-year-old kid dreams that his bachelor life will be "one of a kind". On the first day at the college at TBC, I was anxious and feared the future, wondering how my college life journey would be, and if I would be able to befriend people from the big city as I come from the Eastern part of Nepal (Biratnagar). 

However, I promised myself that no matter what, I would give my best. Then, my first class started, I made friends with my classmates, and day by day the College became like a home. I met driven, optimistic, and helpful people who taught me that to succeed, these qualities would be much more important than just focusing on grades. 

As I was slowly experiencing and learning from others, suddenly COVID-19 hit - the College closed, and everything I was enjoying just vanished. I went home, but TBC never gave up. The College started our online classes, which I think was the correct move and I am very grateful that they never delayed our course.

Even though we could not experience four years of college life, we enjoyed it as much as anybody could. I still remember the Christmas Fest, Sports Week and of course, our Dubai Tour. 

TBC made me realise that college can be fun, however, this doesn’t mean that we didn’t have our academic struggles. We had more than ten exams each semester and the assignments were super hard. This not only taught us programming skills but also made us realise how we should manage our time effectively. 

One of the highlights of my whole College experience has to be Prom Night. Oh my god, I still remember that day vividly. I was all suited up and all my friends wore classy clothes. It made me think, am I in the middle of some American or British TV series - as I had never experienced anything like this before. We all laughed, talked, danced, and listened to the song by the Elements. This made me realise that college is not just about education, it's much more than that. And then of course there was The Dubai Tour which felt like a movie. 

My friends and I stood all night talking about Dubai and what clothes we would wear and it was super exciting. From being on the plane laughing and giggling, to seeing the lights on our first night and experiencing the atmosphere and dancing on the cruise with our best friends - everything just felt different.

I think the next time I go to Dubai it will never be the same - I will just hear my friends laughing, talking, and making fun of each other. This event will stick in my mind forever. We met friends from different majors and it was super cool to know new people. In words, it’s difficult to express, but it just felt like the song “Summer of 69”. 

 
Then, when I was visiting the Global Village in Dubai, I received an email that changed everything: I had been selected to work as a research intern at Thammasat University in Thailand. My hands were shaking with excitement and disbelief. 

I had always dreamed of working internationally, believing that such an experience would significantly enhance my problem-solving abilities and expand my understanding of how technology is applied in various fields around the world. 

This incredible opportunity was provided by IAESTE, an organisation dedicated to offering international internships to students. The internship at Thammasat University was a chance to immerse myself in cutting-edge research and collaborate with a diverse group of scholars and professionals. 

It was an opportunity to challenge myself, learn new methodologies, and gain insights into how different cultures approach technological problems and solutions. Working in Thailand promised not only professional growth but also personal development as I adapted to a new environment, embraced a different culture, and built a global network of like-minded individuals.

Finally, I have to say that if I could talk to my 19-year-old self who was so anxious and doubting himself about whether or not he was capable,  I would just tell him to stay calm, be kind, help people, and be very motivated and focused on what he is doing. It is all about believing in yourself with great positivity. 

So, if you have just completed high school and are reading this blog, make sure you choose the right institute for you, one that will give you the knowledge you need and the kind of memories you can keep for a lifetime - and for me that place was The British College.

Anmol Karki, an accomplished BSC (Hons) Computing alumnus, is on a quest for knowledge, guided by humility and a mission to empower others. With a deep interest in making people's lives easier through technology and preventing its misuse, Anmol is currently working as a software engineer. Outside of his professional endeavours, he enjoys singing and travelling, constantly seeking new experiences and opportunities to grow.