Samanvitha Janga is a Y20 Master’s student from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. In this edition of As We Leave 2022, she shares her experiences and decisions that shaped her journey at IITK.
Disclaimer:- The views presented below are the author’s own and are not in any manner representative of the views of Vox Populi as a body or IIT Kanpur in general. This is an informal account of the author’s experiences at IIT-K.
The “as we leave” series impacted me even before stepping onto the roads of IIT Kanpur, and I was eager to share my experience with the world when I finally reached this point in my life.
Of the many ways to tell my story, the movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, derived from the German book “DAS PARFUM,” which highlights the concept of scent as a symbol for the soul, motivated me to communicate this narrative as the soul is the manifestation of the entity so does my IITK journey define me as an individual.
Perfumery comprises three chords: head, heart, and base notes, with the head chord infusing the initial impression before giving way to the heart chord, which is the perfume’s theme, and ultimately the base chord, which is the perfume’s long-lasting trail.
Head chord (before going to IITK)
“Let everything happen to you: beauty or terror, keep going. No feeling is final.”
Our batch Y20 (PG) began in online mode. My interactions with the IITK during this one-year online semester centred around MOOKit, Zoom calls, WhatsApp assignments, and online quizzes, which gave me a look into the life of an IITian. It’s akin to how a perfume’s head note creates an initial impression. I felt alienated from the energising campus life I desired. Despite this, I have taken the opportunity to deliberately interact in campus activities by participating in various online workshops and trying out diverse positions of responsibility. My 1st attempt went terrible, but perseverance enabled me to occupy positions in multiple disciplines, allowing me to develop and practice my abilities as a DPGC student representative, marketing organiser at Udghosh, and secretary at CWC, along with a decent CPI of 8.00.
Heart chord (during placement SEP-JAN)
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog”.
The Y20 class was called back to campus in September 2021, and the placement season had already begun. I vividly recall the freezing winter at the library for placement preparation. “Library” became my second home for the entire season. After constant tenacity, I received a job offer on the 14th day. This phase challenged my endurance, perseverance, and commitment to the forefront.
Throughout this voyage, I met some of the most incredible individuals and learned how the right people could lend calm to you amid the turmoil. Despite the rigorous intensity of the preparation, I could enjoy my fourth semester to the utmost, with an internship opportunity already in my pocket.
Base chord (final days of IITK)
“A journey is best measured in experience, not in the destination & mine was an Eternal.”
We half-heartedly shifted from Hall 6 to Hall 4. However, Hall 4 greeted us with a new year, symbolising the beginning of fresh memories. The ambience of lush greenery and our companions now being winges made us cherish the most unforgettable moments. Late-night lab days, OAT fusion sessions, wild dance mates, sleepovers, Ugadi events, 1st-day movies, exotic Holi celebrations, Hall 7 badminton nights, Doaa canteen chit chats, and the list goes on. In addition, during my internship, I honed my skills in areas like decision-making, dedication, and adaptability. IITK has served as a trampoline for my future endeavours and prepared me to embrace life with greater dignity and pride, despite the odds & gravity of the situation.
When you see a dead-end, going for that extra mile, an extra effort is all that is needed to reach the destination.
One of such extra miles in my life is this IITK journey, so to all my juniors & fellow mates, “Just go for that extra mile bcoz it’s your journey & no one can do it for you.”
Finally, be an optimist in life.
We may falter & fail in the journey
But never cease to learn. . .
The time being such as I
Written By: Samanvitha Janga
Edited by: Ritam Jana, Tanuja Kaleli
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