Academic Year One Year

Our setup for Academic Year One Year is a bit unusual because we are located right in the C. U. P. G. Hall at University Hostel 112. It’s on Vidyasagar Street in Kolkata, but we also have ties to Green Park in Bhadreswar. Being in a hostel means things are always moving and there’s never a quiet moment. We started this because we saw how much of a mess the first year of university can be for most people. It’s a lot of work condensed into a small space. We don’t have a proper office with a sign on the door. It’s mostly just us working out of a room filled with books and old notes. The walls are a bit peeling, and the tea is usually cold because we forget to drink it. People drop by at all hours because hostel life doesn't really follow a normal schedule. We help out with whatever we can, whether it’s finding a specific book or explaining a lecture that didn't make sense. It’s very informal. We aren't a big institution; we’re just people who have been through it and want to help others get through that first year. Kolkata is a big city with so many students, and we’re just a small part of that world in Hooghly and on Vidyasagar Street. It’s messy and hectic, but it feels right for what we’re trying to do here every day. We just keep the doors open and see who comes by needing a hand.