Kid, share your university. I have friends in all tier 1s and I'll make sure you get the required support and guidance from a nice senior. Or just email me at anonymauxes@protonmail.com.

[Moderator note: Be prudent and use caution / common sense when writing to anonymous email addresses on the internet]

I am a first year law student in an NLU. Going through a crisis with regards to health currently, and feel incredibly lonely and isolated. Have not eaten properly in months, and body and mind seem to be on autopilot. Socially, I am surviving on the kindness of the few genuine people in this university. Last sem I felt like quitting, but remembered how there were people who gave me basic respect and talked to me non judgementally and that made me want to continue. My body language does not look confident, I fumble, and that looks so awkward.

I like to dig deep and study–I was one of the toppers of my school and cleared CLAT without coaching and preparation to get into my current NLU. But I saw that in law uni, most students looked down on active and engaged learners. I enjoyed studying, even without appreciation from anyone but I realised how unfair this field is (that is what i think) and everything depends on connections and social shrewdness to navigate relationships. In fact, everyone can pull in late nighters to touch the 7 CGPA mark so shining brightly academically also does not seem to make sensor, after all, even if you work sincerely and diligently, you will still only barely cross the 8 mark. That does not make up for my need for social connection.

I went for the mid terms without any prep, just CHATGPTed the syllabus an hour before and took the exams. Even reached the exam hall late and was threatened by the professor’s that they would not allow me to enter (but later did when I apologised profusely). I am a guy, and an emotionally sensitive one at that, plus am interacting with human beings after years of chronic trauma (which still persists, I am working on my emotional health) is not an easy task. I mean good but come across as weird. I do not time my words well, when the situation is least favourable to make friends or talk to a new student I will go at that very moment and strike up a conversation.

Till before a few months ago I had one good quality with regards to social interactions–my knack for building good relationships with people in authority (like professors etc.) and understanding professional relationships well (because in school i was in their good books for being a respectful, well behaved and intelligent student) School rewarded academic excellence, university has academics just as one aspect and most of the life is social.

And now, students pick up on it. A lot of them have flaunted their connections in corridors of power in the country and use it to try to bully me. If i stand up, i am threatened by their huge groups and also made to feel unsafe in this university. On my part, my biggest mistake was to stop studying and interacting with professors and now I have lost their support as well. They act well before professors (while cursing at them in private) and that is what professors see!

My parents are not judges, bureaucrats, politicians, rich businessmen, powerful lawyers, or well connected and powerful people. They are simple government employees.

I am tired of students flaunting their background to make one feel small and weak while I have to suppress tears because of this injustice.

What can i do, as a first year NLU student who has no one to bank on other than my deep hunger to build myself into someone that people think twice before disrespecting or messing with? I have not touched books in months, have not watched movies, have not played any sport and it is as if i come to uni every day to be ignored and treated callously.

I will go to any length to do anything which will make me a formidable voice to not be messed with or taken lightly. Have thought of building a support system of professors and good seniors and being absolutely sincere to help me get through the next four years of law school.

What are the kind of people I should network with in law, provide them undeniable value, so that I at least have a few powerful people who can vouch for me when no one else does?

Are there any senior advocates, academicians, politicians, or any other people in this field who will appreciate hardwork and dedication of a student so that the relationship even makes a student feel safe in this world?