Movie Mirage

Its funny how much you learn from your experiences and attending college in US sure tops my list. There are so many aspects of the entire ordeal that I don't think I could ever put it all down on my blog (which is dedicated to college. Ironic, isn't it?). Even though I'm in Pakistan for my vacation, the hilarious incidents that are somehow associated to college continue.

Lately, every person my age I get introduced to through friends, family or some other way has one very legitimate concern in their mind regarding American college life. At this point, you're probably imagining something like education standard in comparison to Pakistan or opportunities available to students there to broaden the horizon of intellect, but in reality, it is something far less thought-provoking than that. The concern is, "Dude, what's the party scene in colleges?"

You know how you meet someone new and a conversation starts building off. You two get to know each other a little. If the person mentions an interest that you two have in common, suddenly you become more keen to know more about the individual. Similarly, my interest in a conversation gradually increases but when that very legitimate concern pops-up, my interest plummets.

Its not the question that bothers me but the idea behind it. Who was that first person who thought to himself one day, "wouldn't it be super to make up a story about college life with unlimited booze, dope and really fine ladies… turn it into a ridiculous movie and put it out there for all the hormone charged kids?" Just yesterday I got asked by a Pakistani college student if everything in the movie "Road Trip; Bear Pong" is true. Since I was in no mood to turn it into an hour long debate, I cut the story short and replied no. Probably just to cover up his perception, he threw his excuse, "They probably don't invite you." I just sighed since I couldn't care less about his ridiculous imagination luring from the movies that do no more than to excite these kids and help create a fantasyland in their mind.

This idea is no different than a mere opinion and I don't blame the mind triggering these thoughts in almost every nineteen year old. In fact, it’s the outcome that disappoints me in this situation. Imagine yourself, an everyday individual living your life, enjoying the little things that it rolls along. Content with your accomplishments, still standing tall to the difficulties you face. Its all so realistic, isn't it? But if you had forever considered yourself beyond any imaginable prowess. Till you end up utterly disappointed, falling in your own trap of false-hope. All that you had aspired, the dedication you had put in absorbs in the mist as if it had never existed. Put this in context of a young and rising individual, who could, in his right mind, conquer more than his imagination, yet falls to the shackles of false hope. That oasis that he had always pictured so perfect was nothing but a mirage in the heat of the desert sand.


I surely did not intend to portray the mind of most adolescents (who should at least pretend to act as grown-ups) with such gloom. There is much good within the soul too. Only thing required is a change in attitude, recognizing that thin line between fantasy and reality. I hope there comes a change, a future that's bright, brighter than a thousand suns.