STUDENT VOICES: Learning is like the Construction of New Buildings
In a reflective Student Voices blog, Maryam Khan finds parallels between the buildings being constructed around student accommodation Victoria Hall and the experience of learning and growing as a STEP student—and responds with poetry.
Windows can be a kaleidoscope. Through them, you sneak out of your space and observe the colourful world around you. You observe people, buildings, nature, and sometimes you try to explore yourself through all the existence you see. Like many other students living in Victoria Hall, I have spent my time looking out of the window observing beautiful details around me: timelines of different seasons, trees growing and shedding leaves, little rain droplets tracing down the glass, waving to my friends. All these experiences kept changing, but one aspect that remained constant was the construction going on around the building. For other students reading this blog, this may bring memories of drilling and loud noises. Nonetheless, I want to draw a resemblance between the building work and us.
The construction near Victoria Hall mirrors the journey we have been through, or perhaps all students go through. Just as, at the start, the stiff and stationary soil was dug out, so we began by unlearning many ideas as we were prepared for the journey ahead. The foundations were then poured with concrete as we were filled with the wisdom of our professors and teachers, to create a strong base. Each module served as a floor of the building with the fine details of assessment serving as stairs. Self-reflection and guidance on personal growth helped shape the walls. Just like the building, we were all dug, burned, and polished. Little did we know that we would be transformed into beautiful pieces of art.
Every material used to construct a building requires quality checking. Similarly, every step our teachers and professors took to make our journey incredible was filled with love and immense hard work. Lastly, just as the new building has spaces for ventilation, we were also given space to grow and explore external ideas, which helped us to be refreshed and peaceful.
The building outside Victoria Hall is incomplete. However, it is complete for this particular time and date. Likewise, we are not complete, but we are ready for the new floors, walls and colours that we will uncover in our journeys ahead. We also have our own windows to look outside ourselves and then to look inside again to reflect on our journeys from different perspectives. Every day, when I walk from Victoria Hall to the Aga Khan Centre, I look at the building and then look at myself with a smile, joy and sense of awareness about how we both are constructed together and have shared this beautiful journey, despite all the hurdles and noise.
We are constructed together…
When I glance out of my window
At this hour,
I witness the resemblance between us,
With the streets drenched and showered.
Not long ago,
days countable on finger tips,
I remember our first encounter
Just like an eclipse.
Imagination and thoughts and some confusion
But ready to explore.
You were naïve, so was I,
We faced everything that showed up at our door.
We grew and were constructed together
With the passage of time, getting better,
Look at us now, strong and bold,
As we have come all the way along.
Yet! There is so much to discover,
Mysteries, stories, and love to uncover,
But I am proud of our courage
When I glance out of the window,
At this hour…
