Early Mornings, Empty Stomachs, and Unexpected Lessons.

First of all, I’m studying agriculture, and I just wrapped up my fourth year at the university last month. Right now, I’m back home for the holidays, trying to relax a bit and spend time with my family. It's been a long academic year, and to be honest, this break feels very much deserved.

During school periods, I usually stay on campus. Life over there is pretty straightforward—wake up, go for lectures or practicals, eat, sleep, repeat. But my fourth year was a different kind of ride. It was our practical year, which meant less classroom work and more time getting our hands dirty on the farm. Most mornings were spent attending to animals or crops, depending on the schedule. No matter how tired I was from the previous day or how cold the morning felt, I had to be up by 7 a.m., put on my farm coat, and get moving and that quickly became a routine I couldn’t escape from.

Wednesdays, however, always came with a twist. In my school, Wednesdays are strictly reserved for church service, and the administration doesn’t joke about it one bit. Service starts at 10:30 a.m., but I still have to wake up around 7 a.m. to prepare. Not because it took me that long to get ready, but because of one key thing—electricity. They usually cut off the power supply by 9:30 a.m. sharp. So if you don’t bathe and iron your clothes on time, you're on your own. And trust me, it's actually not a good experience because everyone would be getting prepared at the same time.

The worst part is that missing church isn’t something you can get away with easily. Unless you have a valid excuse or a medical report, there are consequences. I’ve seen people get suspended—some for two weeks, others for a whole semester. The rules are that strict. So, even if you’re not feeling it spiritually, you just have to show up and be present.

Now,outside of farm work and church, I mostly keep to myself in the hostel. I’m not really the outgoing type, especially because things are super expensive around school. Food, for example, is no joke. That’s why I sometimes skip breakfast. I normally eat my first meal—usually around 12 noon—so I can stay full till night. Then, later, around 7 or 8 p.m., I’d step out again to buy something before the curfew at 9 p.m. If you don’t plan well, you might end up spending the night with an empty stomach.

Thursday nights are also reserved for church, but unlike Wednesdays, that one is optional. Still, most people attend anyway. My school is heavily religious, and even optional services are taken seriously. Sometimes, it feels like spiritual activities are just as important as academics.

Looking back, my fourth year was intense, but it taught me a lot—discipline, how to manage my time better, and most importantly, how to balance academic work with my spiritual life. It wasn’t easy, but it’s a year I’ll never forget.

Thanks for reading.