So, it’s that time, the AWL time. Time for class of 2025 to leave, time for me to leave. Before I start throwing random thoughts tangled with some facts and advices, a little disclaimer that writing this was never easy. Sometimes, it’s too short, sometimes, out of words and all the time emotional to pen down this journey of 4 years in a single blog. So this is going to be about me who came here and the one who’s leaving. It’s going to be a long story short where a guy with a lot of ambition, immaturity and yes ‘enthu’ survives between the brightest minds of the country.

Hello!

So Hiii, I am Vishal, first I will introduce you to the Vishal who came here, yes we both aren’t same. So when He came here in the 2nd sem, ugh he was a bit unlucky and our college actually started in the 2nd sem when we got the chance to get back to campus (Post covid batch). He was from a small city Dumka somehow managed to crack JEE and get admission here at EE. Yes he was overwhelmed and scared. Scared because it was the first time he was stepping out of home, was not sure what he likes, hobbies??, insecurities? Many, academic bts (yes already had), surrounded by doubts that if he could make it. On top of all that, due to personal reasons he came here late, missed the orientation, which is counted as the stepping stone to make friends, know people, get acquainted with places on campus (Ig that’s why I still do not know places on campus :/) Knowing him, it must be quite obvious that he didn’t have many online friends either. Though he knew that it was a blank slate and a lot is ahead and he just wanted to make this count, wanted to make everyone proud. 

There is so much to pen down but Ik I am out of time and words (Today is deadline and it’s what IITK taught me). So will add some key events which help you understand how he became me (Ugh It’s already getting complicated. Also an advice to get used to acronyms, I use many :P).

First Lap

Ofc a memorable one for everyone. Mine was a bit different from the batch, 16th April 2022. Already missed an Antrangini too (yes woh Ritviz wali). Wandered in the scorching heat to get my ID card trying hard to remember the paths (Just to mention, I lost them both) looking around the overwhelming campus, the flora, the roads, bought a cycle too (close to me) and then I entered a lecture hall L19 for the first time, the biggest I had seen ever 400+ students sitting in a set-up of a competition, you wanna know which one? Guesstimate by FAC. Will make more sense as the story proceeds. It all felt like a dream which that lost kid wanted to live at fullest. Meanwhile I met my wing, my roommate (talked with him for the first time, not a surprise). I remember the next day having a quiz later on, of course MTH102 (Hated by all defeated by none). I just slept at 11PM, which was very normal for me, then I saw my roommate Praneat started studying and then I woke up at 6AM. He was still there on the desk and I realized what an all nighter is 🙂 Quite shocked trying to sink in how it works, it was kinda the first hit for me. 

Now this was how it started for me. The rest of this semester went into getting used to how things work here, followed by a disciplined life (For me it’s eating mess food daily and attending all the classes). And then clubs (Gymkhana wale :)) came into picture, in which I was involved the least earlier. Wanted to get in one as I thought it was important from ‘POR’ POV. Which laid the foundation of the next chapter.

The Journey in between

It wasn’t a great start tbh, had an operation dealing with health issues (dropped to almost 40 Kgs, yes real). But but, that kid wasn’t going to give up this early. Collected the will and tried getting into places he likes (which was itself uncertain). Found my first club, Chess club, got into it for creativity but it helped me relieve my passion for chess once again. Now comes SnT clubs, I definitely wanted to get into one. PClub tasks came and seemed out of league (Luckily) and had some past with finance so I tried to be in FAC which later became more than just a club to me. I am very grateful to my seniors (if you are reading this) for believing in me at that time, even though I wasn’t able to do the same. Worked hard as a secy, as finally I got something I like, a place I feel I belonged to and later on continued to become the Coordinator of the same club I attended the first event of. I got a chance to represent IITK in 2 Inter-IIT tech meets, and it brought me to the new definition of competition, teamwork and trust. The fight the GradCap team and Zelta team made, the sleepless nights had awakened something in me, a sense of purpose, the will to keep going, giving best and never stopping. It was my honor and definitely the highlight of the journey in between. Since we are talking about tough times, there comes the internship season at the end of 2nd year, dw won’t take much time you can find my journey here – https://medium.com/@ug_anc/the-more-you-know-1-sde-8e04336dc07a (thank you AnC for capturing this). And I feel third year is the best as it challenges the most, being coordinator helped me to think like a leader, take upfront responsibilities and become accountable for others as well. I bonded with my team and luckily accepted by all. Someone told me I have this unique power to make people like me, I felt it here, it felt like a family where they looked up to me and it always kept me going. The journey in between wasn’t just about clubs, was much more than that, I belonged from hall 2 (I LOVE MY HALL), have special place for it where I became part of TEAM CANTEEN, a friend group that formed with the love of canteen food (Or the hate of mess) but stayed for much more than that (in and beyond). Being part of takneek, fests, elections, the grind, the unsaid walks, cycling and roaming around the campus (and ending up getting lost :P) are all core memories of this chapter as I move ahead with the final lap.

Final lap

And just like that the senior year started. Going back to college after an internship is never the same. An entire batch is gone, Some people close to you are not there anymore. This time when we have seen how the world actually works, we value campus life much more. Started on a rough path by losing two of my best friends to a different hall (H9, but actually never lost them and ended up even closer). And the stress of placements looms and odd sem being an odd sem brought many challenges.  Everyone nervously waited for the PPO results, so did I. But but but, I got lucky, before I started making a resume I got the offer, a dream got fulfilled. Was it easy onwards? Never. There was an emptiness, now there was no place I had to go. Days were spent mostly in the room, it was the time I spent with myself, learnt what I like, worked on my hobbies. Started appreciating nature. A peacock in the morning was making my day beautiful. It was a strange time, which left a huge impact on me. Meanwhile, did the placement season end here? No. Winter was coming, not me but my close ones were there, some trying, some helpless and I wanted to be there, it’s not even a choice. This was the highlight of the sem giving tests all day in G113 followed by attending the last Antrangini (gotta see Ritviz this time). It was a special one, like a break between the chaos until it turned into chaos itself. Then December happened, my people got placed and the final lap (the fun part) started. Time to finish the unplanned trips, Remember completing four trips in this duration, was finally able to decide I am a beach person over a mountain, winters over summers and my gallery was filled with the endless memories. Last semester is just bittersweet, it’s the time you want to stop, meet as many as you can and create as many memories. I wandered around to discover some new places in my last days at campus, visited some unvisited rooftops and also the places that I associated with. Parties all around… Discovered another side of me. (Being a senior you have to give many, so be prepared :)) This time you care less about things once most important for you (yes talking about acads). This final lap helped me find myself.

Adieu!

Finally, let’s meet up now. Hiii, I am Vishal and I find myself lucky to spend most of the time in college on this beautiful campus. Now in a big city, Bangalore somehow managed to crack a decent job. Yes, now I am confident because of the love and experiences I got here. Hobbies?? Many – You can find me scratching my pen on a diary trying to pen down a thought, a poem or a story. Or maybe doing some sort of digital art. And yes sometimes sliding over the candlesticks (I meant markets, weird hobbies ik). Can talk about N series and anime, started reading books and ofc chess, I love it. Though still clumsy and messy, lost in directions and yes some things never change, maybe for the good. On top of all that, I participated in all the final year rituals, including batch photoshoots, or dance extravaganza, writing emo wale testimonials, or scribbling day, or writing letter to 10 years future me (talking with future and past, yes Dark is going on:)) and finally farewells, the parties and writing this AWL. This Vishal didn’t miss any of them. And now knowing me, it must be quite obvious that I met many amazing people on this journey. The blank slate is filled with memories of lifetime, learnings to stay forever and people to stay close. And yes, the first year me, made everyone proud from where he is, leaving with gratitude!

So thus I learnt, “Change is the only constant. Embrace it, don’t differentiate it” (else it will be zero) 😉

Token of appreciation 🙂