Shruthi is a graduating Y19 student from the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering. In her As We Leave, she reminisces some of her most defining experiences in college and shares some significant learnings she’s taking away from all that.
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.
As I sit here looking at the beautiful sunset outside my window, quite literally writing this piece as I’m leaving IITK and heading home, my heart is filled with gratitude and extreme satisfaction for the journey I’ve had over these last 4 years, that’s coming to an end.
What I thought to be a premier educational institution turned out to be something much more valuable than that. A factory of relationships, memories, failures and wins. From being someone who was tremendously low in self-confidence the day I came here, to leaving this beautiful place having found my true self, having understood my core values and what I want to represent in life, IIT Kanpur has really brought me up. I’ve felt the most ‘me’ when I was here than ever before.
Trying to summarize what felt like an entire era into just 1000 words is a very hard task. It doesn’t even come close to explaining what one goes through and learns by going through all those different moments. Nevertheless, I’ll try to focus on the most important instances/realizations I’ve had these 4 years.
“We do not remember days. We remember moments.” – Cesare Pavese
I ended my first year with a CPI < 6. I don’t think I need to clarify, this is a pretty bad state to be in. You might think I was probably out whiling away time with friends and had zero regards for acads. Truth was, I was trying very hard to grasp whatever was being taught. I’d pulled all-nighters, referred to textbooks, online guides, YouTube videos, literally anything that would help me understand what was going on just a little bit better. The one important thing I’d failed to do (and probably the only thing I actually needed to do), was just go ask for help, from either fellow batchmates, or from seniors. This incident hammered in me the basic principle that one must follow at IITK : if you need something, or you’re confused or stuck, just ask. Do not assume you can do it yourself or fix it yourself (maybe you can, but you WILL end up spending way more time on it), or that someone would come to your rescue (IITK has leopards, but no Spiderman or Batman).
“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” – Bill Nye
This brings up another important realization I’ve had in my time here : networking is wealth. Make as many friends as possible, talk to as many seniors (and juniors) as possible. There are courses that I’ve successfully passed because there was that one senior who was kind enough to clarify whatever doubts I had. I’ve paid my mess bill on time only because my best friend reminded me to do it every single month. I’ve gotten career guidance from so many alums only because I’d reached out to them via LinkedIn or spoken to them during fests and other events. So connect and surround yourself with likeminded people, people who inspire you. You never know when someone might be of help.
When COVID struck, and we were all sent back home, amidst all the negativity and drama that went on, the one thing that kept me sane, motivated and strong, was Athletics. I was not a regular athlete during my first year, I had very shitty time management skills and I missed a lot of practice sessions. But my 2 years at home changed that completely. I fell in love with working out, with wanting to be fit. I wanted to be strong not just mentally, but physically. I liked putting myself through the pain of cramps or sprains or heavy workouts – it helped me focus better, helped me put myself together.
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” – Fred Devito
The environment the team maintained both online and offline, whether on ground during practice or off ground when we were just doing bakchodi, was very healthy, comfortable and was built on motivation, mutual respect, support and love. This greatly helped lift my self-confidence and improved my personality as a whole. So make sure you play a sport, or do any form of physical activity every day. Start small, set doable goals and raise the bar slowly. This helps keep you disciplined, focused and strong. It can even open up a different dimension of you altogether.
At some point in this journey, I realized it’s more important to go behind experiences rather than materialistic, temporary stuff. These teach you life lessons like no self-help book or motivational podcast can. I’ve had easy, happy moments, as well as insanely tough, mentally difficult moments over here. I’ve found it extremely difficult to even get out of bed on certain days, and I’ve also hiked mountains on some others – both days are important. And I would never change anything ever because I wouldn’t be the person I am today if not for them. Take that trip that you’ve been planning with friends. Get to the MT after a nightout and have some hot chai and pakoras. Roam around Z Square once midsems end because it’s parampara. Do it all whenever you can because, one day you too will look back on where you started and how far you’ve come, and it feels so much better to have memories than regrets.
“It’s not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary
I’d like to end this (not so boring, IMO) story with probably the most important learning I’m taking away from my time here. I’ve always felt like I’ve played it very safe all my life. I’ve been the class topper, teacher’s pet, the studious girl that goes by rules all the time. I’ve dreamt about having a decent job with a good package that would let me get the house of my dreams and have a secure future. But from the various interactions I’ve had with successful people in my time at college, I realized that playing it safe doesn’t really take you to greatness. You have to be brave enough to choose the path less taken, to go for the unconventional, to play with uncertainty, to shine out and make a mark. You’d probably be alone in that journey, but it is still way better than ending up being average I’d say. So take risks; this age is the best time to do so. You have the mind and energy to help you through that.
To further take this point home, I’d like to share something I relate to a whole lot as an ambitious individual – my favorite bunch of lines from the biography of Steve Jobs (I’m so in love with this book, I urge everyone to read this at least once):
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
You have the power to change the world. The question is, are you ready to be a rebel?
P.S. To all the lovely people that have been a part of my wonderful journey at IITK, a big thank you from the bottom of my heart. Good luck with whatever you choose to do in life. IITK ka tempo high hai!
Written by: S. Shruthi
Edited by: Maharaajan J, Niliena Celine Biju
