In 2002, I enrolled as a freshman at Dagon University. Twenty years or more have passed, yet my memories of my time as a student are still vivid. Some of the occurrences seem to have happened yesterday.
That year, on December 2, the university reopened. I left my house that day at around seven in the morning and boarded a bus at the bus stop in front of the Kaba Aye Pagoda.
After an hour’s journey, I arrived at the bus stop closest to Dagon University, which is situated in the outer region of Yangon.
I continued on my way to the university after that. After a short while, the vibrant flower gardens on either side of the university gate were visible.
As I stepped through the gate, I was on Tawin Road, which led to the convocation building, which was barely visible against the western skyline.
There were clumps of trees interspersed with wild, long grass covering parts of low-lying, swampy land behind the road lined with trees of various sorts.
I knew the campus consisted of large, level fields with occasional tree groves, and buildings housing academic divisions were scattered around.
I thought the university was a nice location right away. The sight of the students who flooded the entire estate with color and energy delighted me as well. I experienced a sense of loneliness among the unfamiliar faces at the same moment.
Ten minutes of following the route brought me to the English Department, where I would study until I graduated. It was located in an enormous three-story brick edifice with a cream color that stood proudly at the intersection of Nguwah Street and Tawin Road.
The building was surrounded by trees on the eastern, northern, and western sides, and on the southern side by a large expanse of natural grass.
In front of the building were a few Gold Mohur trees adorned with vibrant red blossoms. I spotted a middle-aged teacher lecturing to the first-year class when I walked in. Her classes appeared to be in full swing.
As a result, there was total stillness throughout the class. That being said, I snatched a seat in the back of the class without seeking the teacher’s permission.
However, the teacher became irate and asked me why I had been late for class. She said it was alright with her, flashing a ghostly smile, when I explained that I was thus because of the traffic jam.
Only then did I feel relieved. It was the first flavor I had encountered while attending college. (I subsequently discovered that this teacher’s name was Daw Thadar Min; due to her exceptional teaching abilities and deep affection for her students, she rose to the status of one of their favorites.)
After a few minutes, the lesson ended, and the pupils scattered. Me included, there were only five of us left in the class.
We exchanged covert glances before introducing ourselves. We then marched to the Gantgaw Oo food stand, which was located at the intersection of Vijja Street and Nguwah Street.
Huge expanses of watercress dotted with clusters of plantain plants encircled it on all sides. Past the watercress fields, I noticed a few little dwellings nestled among trees.
I felt like we were on a farm in the middle of nowhere when I saw that scene. We started talking as soon as we sat down for tea and some munchies.
We talked about a wide range of things, including ourselves, in order to learn more about one another. Among my newfound pals were Than Htaik Aung from Kaba Aye, where I also resided, Myo Ko Ko Aung from Hline, Chan Thar Soe from Kyimyindine, and Moe Thauk from Insein. We kept chatting till three o’clock at the canteen.
We went out, ate, and learned things together starting that day. Our intimacy quickly grew, and we became good friends in a matter of days.
We grew closer and learned more about each other’s personal details as time went on. Moe Thauk was a tiny, dark-skinned man who was obsessed with Western music, particularly songs by the well-known Western singer Eminem.
He was an insane fan of Eminem and frequently copied his style of clothing. Not only could he pronounce words in English flawlessly, but he also spoke with demagogy. Brown-skinned and medium-sized, Chan Thar Soe was a reserved bookworm.
Moe Thauk always seen digging through books, and a large backpack brimming with various-sized books was slung over his right shoulder.
Moe Thauk was a snobby smart thinker who laughed at anyone who talked. Across Tawin Road from our department, he was a frequent visitor to the library.
Moe Thauk gave off the impression that he was driven to succeed academically or to become a writer. Like Chan Thar Soe, Myo Ko Ko Aung had a passion for reading.
Moe Thauk bought books a lot. Moe Thauk was a tall man with straight hair and a round face. He typically wore a long-sleeved white shirt without a collar. He had a gentlemanly demeanor. According to rumors, he resembled actor Lwin Moe.
Being a Chinese hybrid, Than Htaik Aung was a different character from the rest of us. He was tall, chubby, and fair-skinned.
It seems he was more interested in business than in learning. In their home, his parents set up a little shop on the first floor. We were closer because we had gone to the same high school in Kaba Aye.
We were all in our late teens and in the prime of our youth at that time. So we happily and blissfully savored the fruits of university life. We tried our best to attend the classes on a regular basis and gave each teacher’s lecture our whole attention.
We showed the utmost respect to each and every teacher, made an effort to get along well with other students. However, we crept out of the classroom and headed to the adjoining canteen when we got bored during the lectures.
The area was busy, with a line of food vendors covered in thatches and protected from the elements by bamboo mats.
There, we idled away the entire afternoon, at times engaging in conversation and at other times strumming along to tunes on the guitar.
In those days, vocalist Sai Sai Kham Hlaing was very popular among young people. His songs were in vogue. Primarily, we sang his songs named “February Record” (ဖေဖေါ်ဝါရီမှတ်တမ်း) and “A Lot of Friends” (သူငယ်ချင်းများ).
We used to wander about the university grounds and enjoy ourselves at the food stands or tea shops. One of my older brothers, Kyaw Ze Ya, who studied in Chemistry, used to hang out at the Chan Myae food stall.
It was directly across from the Geology Department, and we would frequently see them seated around a table, chatting about a variety of subjects. Later on, we got to know my brother’s buddies.
Sometimes, we rode to the 7-8 Junction in downtown North Dagon, where we spent some hours playing video games.
Once or twice a semester, we visited Yangon University and Inya Lake, for we believed that without visits to these places, our university life would not be complete and meaningful.
In particular, watching the broad expanse of the water of Inya Lake dotted with greenery islets while sitting at a fried-fritter stall on the bund of the lake was an enjoyable time for us.
Often, we, with our girlfriends, saw movies at the cinema houses in downtown Yangon. We all also participated happily in the social and religious occasions organized by the university.
Dr. Maung Thin, a former geology professor, was Dagon University’s rector at the time. He was courteous to the students and usually had a smile on his face.
Daw Sein Sein Myint was the professor and head of the English department. Despite her diminutive stature, she exuded immense authority.
She was an excellent teacher and a strict disciplinarian. However, she left her job at the end of the second semester of the 2002–2003 school year, and Daw Swe Swe Pwint, who was more patient and understanding with students, took her place.
It was discovered that Dagon University was the largest in Myanmar, spanning over 1,500 acres, and that its first Rector was U Kaung Nyunt, a former principal of RC 2 who was later promoted to a member of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board. Dagon University was founded in 1993.
The first and second years were filled with joy at seeing the skies. But as the last year approached, a few of my classmates decided to put more of an emphasis on their education in order to finish their degrees as soon as possible in order to better prepare for the trip ahead of them in life.
A few pals tied the knot; others took the helm of the company their parents had given them; still others made connections with friends and family who were employed overseas in an attempt to follow their example and increase their income.
I wanted to work for the government when I graduated because I came from a family of government employees, just like my siblings and sisters.
I so focused more on my studies and was able to pass my 2005 final exam with ease. To put it briefly, my three years in university were the happiest of my life.
It gave me a degree that would guarantee me a decent job and taught me a lot about social interactions. I believe that I will continue to recall my time as a university student, which was a significant life turning moment, until the day I die.
