An introduction to myself

Hey,

I’m Sethu Parvathy C.U., a postgraduate student at Madras Christian College. This isn’t really an introduction—more like a small attempt to put into words something I’ve carried for a long time. A quiet clarification I never really got around to sharing. So, here goes.

I was born in 2004 into the Chungath family, the first child—loved a little extra for just being the first. I grew up in a home that revolved around books and food. That mix made me an above-average student and an overweight teenager. And honestly, those two sides of me shaped almost everything about how I saw myself. I could stand in front of a crowd and speak with confidence, but one comment about my weight was enough to send me spiraling into self-doubt. That contrast lived in me for years.

One of the turning points in my life came with Madras Christian College. Funny thing is—I never really planned to be here. I just wanted a break from the chaos of NEET and KEAM, and to finally do something that felt like me. MCC happened like a quiet miracle. I applied casually, got an admission email two days later, and before I knew it, I was sitting in a car with my parents, heading toward this new chapter.

And what a chapter it turned out to be. I met so many people—some who stayed, some who didn’t. I made memories I’ll hold on to forever, and a few I’d rather forget. I found friends who turned into family. And just when I thought I had it all figured out, life threw in one last unexpected twist.

But beyond the academics and the friendships, MCC taught me things that don’t come with a syllabus. It taught me to enjoy my own company, to listen before I speak, to see people more clearly, and to forgive—not just others, but also myself. It’s where I slowly started to grow into someone I could maybe learn to like.

Now I’m back here, in the same place, but everything feels different. Familiar faces feel distant. New ones come with that quiet pressure to judge and be judged. There’s the usual fear—of getting distracted, of losing focus, of trusting the wrong people again. But strangely, even that fear feels kind of thrilling. Like I’m still learning, still growing. And for now, that’s enough.

(Part two is on its way.)