Many colleges throw parties to welcome newcomers. The objective is to explore the talent of the newcomers and make them feel comfortable. This also helps juniors to understand the seniors better. Earlier, such parties were usually organised in the college auditoriums. However, the venues of such events have changed. Pubs or hotels are fast replacing college auditoriums. It goes without saying that fresher’s parties are fast becoming hyped events. Naturally, both newcomers and seniors look forward to this day. Orissa POST caught up with a few students to gauge their excitement about fresher’s parties.
Pratik Patra from Rourkela is eagerly looking forward to the fresher’s welcome party of his college next week. A first-year diploma student of Government Polytechnic, Bhubaneswar, Pratik says, “I have heard about such parties from my cousins and their experience of attending such parties. So, I am a shade nervous. I really don’t know what my seniors will ask me to perform. However, I will do a bit of homework and get ready to take any challenge thrown at me. Seniors here are very helpful. I am sure they won’t make us feel uncomfortable or out of place.”
Pratik has decided to join the party with a positive mind set. “I am hopeful that this party will help in breaking the ice between the seniors and the juniors and strengthen our bond,” adds Pratik.
Jajpur-based Manisha Das is a first-year B Tech student at a private engineering college. She feels both excited and nervous, as the common perception is that seniors always make fun of juniors and throw strange challenges at them. She says, “Although I know that the party is being organised to welcome newcomers and create a bond of friendship between seniors and juniors, I am to some extent jittery. At the same time, I am also excited as the girls have been asked to wear sarees to the party. This will be the dress code for the girls this year. I have never draped a saree before. So, I am looking forward to enjoy the day with friends.”
Monalisha Sahoo, a second-year B Tech student from Cuttack, says, “We have prepared a lot for the upcoming fresher’s party. We have not planned anything that will embarrass newcomers or make them uncomfortable. Last year, I was a fresher and never felt out of place during our welcome party. In fact it was wonderful experience. It was great meeting faculty members, seniors and super seniors. From self-introductory sessions to group dance, it was an affair to remember. Moreover, the ethnic dress-code theme of the party made it an evening worth remembering. The hard work put in by the seniors was commendable. There couldn’t have been a better start to my college life.”
Much like Monalisha, Eli Parida from Sri Sri University says, “Unlike the general perception, seniors always wait for the fresher’s party to offer a warm welcome to the juniors. This year we have requested the newcomers to attend the event in party gowns which will make them look special. There are also a few surprise events in store. Last year, our seniors welcomed us with a rose and by putting tilak on our forehead. It was followed by a session on self introduction in front of the faculty members and seniors. The real fun started after that. We were asked to pick up a chit from a box and keep it on the podium. Then we had to perform the activity written on the chit. It will always remain a special day in my life for a long time.”
BRATATI BARAL, OP