Where do I even start so many memories and so many lessons, from sleepless tense filled nights to happy night outs. This is me trying to summarize my 4 years of college life, a story of hope.
Haseen mulaakatein,
Sunehri raatein,
Behad Khoobsurat yaadein.
It all began when the JEE Advanced results were out, and I had to choose my preferred college. My sister advised me that IIT Kanpur was the best choice for me as I was getting computer science here, but I secretly desired to study in Bombay or Delhi, because the city life you experience there would be quite different from that of kanpur. Despite my uncertainty, I trusted her advice and enrolled at IIT Kanpur. Little did I know that my journey to campus would start with a series of mishaps. The train was delayed for a staggering eight hours, leading to the cancellation of our hotel booking. Doubts crept into my mind, and I questioned my decision to join IIT Kanpur.
With half-packed luggage and a mind filled with unanswered questions, I stepped foot on campus, desperately seeking clarity. I didn’t have a clear goal in mind; all I wanted was to graduate with a good job offer. I felt a mix of fear, excitement, and hope as I embarked on this new adventure. Unfortunately, during orientation, I fell ill and homesickness engulfed me. I missed out on exploring the vibrant campus life, spending most of my first semester glued to my laptop, lost in a virtual world. It was a missed opportunity to join clubs, make new friends, and cherish those late-night discussions and spontaneous hangouts that become treasured memories. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the few friends I made, who stood by me through thick and thin.The first year of college offers countless opportunities to connect with diverse individuals, bond over shared interests, and engage in endless canteen discussions that you’ll look back on fondly. These experiences played a crucial role in shaping my personality. I stumbled upon a group of three friends purely by chance, and together we had passionate debates over oats, enjoyed our casual hangouts at Chickblast, and embarked on frequent trips to ZSquare. .
When things were going steady, and slowly things were falling into their place. I left for home, to meet my parents in mid semester break in march and then covid happened, things went haphazard and lockdown was announced. It was difficult, all connections got lost amidst the chaos, but I refused to let it overshadow my college experience. As there was a lot of free time, i picked up my long lost hobby of reading and started watching movies[yep,I am a movie buff], finding solace and new perspectives within their narratives. both these played a huge role in me being sane.
I always believe that whatever the situation may be, a book always gives you a great company and offers you with a whole new perspective of life.
Amidst this, I realized the importance of improving my people skills and decided to step out of my comfort zone. I applied for Public Relations Organizer for Udghosh, unsure of my abilities, and was pleasantly surprised when I was selected . As an introvert,who feels out of place in social situations, becoming a public relations organizer seemed daunting, but with the guidance and support of my head, Jasmine[whom i thank from my bottom of my heart,for believing in me, I took up the challenge. It was a roller coaster ride, from pitching to speakers and organizing back-to-back events to managing unexpected obstacles during them. Those three days of the fest will forever be etched in my memory, teaching me the power of staying calm, giving my best, and overcoming pressure. it is not easy to manage a fest, it takes lot of patience and courage to not break and make things work as planned, people bail out on the last moment, and you need to have backup plans, you need to be polite however rude the other person is to you. All this happened only because I took a leap of faith and chose to work outside my comfort zone. Seniors on campus are always there to guide you, so whenever in doubt try contacting seniors, they had been in your place, they had the same doubts you had, you might feel intimidated to talk to them but trust me everyone on campus is ready to help.
Throughout my journey, I learned that it’s never too late to start anew and it is pointless to dwell on the past. When the intern season started i was pretty clueless about the process or how to prepare as I had no contacts on campus. By now you must have understood what my almost non existent interaction on campus lead to. My sister was my only source of guidance when the intern season came she warned me beforehand to do some projects because of which i was able to fill my resume pretty decently. To my surprise, I got a interview call from google, and guess what! They liked my resume and my interview was scheduled. That was the moment I realized that to win a game you need to be familiar with the rules the more you are familiar, the more conscious choice you make, i knew that resume plays a big hand and worked on it but I ignored competitive programming because of which I couldn’t clear the interview. But that rejection from google gave me a confidence boost igniting a fire within me and motivated me to work even harder. I started my intern prep, and everything was going good. In jan 2022 we were called back to campus, I was excited to be back on campus and this time I contracted covid. It had a huge impact as my health deteriorated. I could neither focus on my acads to increase my pointer nor my intern prep. I wanted to go home and be with my mom. But, if I went then, I would have be losing out on my career. It was damn difficult, but my mom always supported me. She wanted me to study and be on campus. I managed to crack the Jio internship, but before I could complete my internship and get my first ever paycheck, I lost my mom. It was hard, I was devastated. She was the biggest source of inspiration and my first mentor in life. She was a fighter, she never gave up. I saw her fighting with all her might right till her last days. She always taught me to be independent and fight for the things that I deserved. She was my best friend, and was the coolest mom one could get. Whatever I am today is all because of her influence and teachings.
This was the time, when I was near the cross roads with 2 paths in front of me, accept the pre-placement offer or reject it and sit for placements. My dad didn’t want me to reject the ppo, he wanted me to take it, but i wanted more and my mom taught me to never settle for less. I again chose the hard path, I rejected my ppo and started my preparations. My placement preparation journey was chaotic, there were days when I badly missed my mom and felt guilty for leaving my grieving father all alone at home and staying here on campus. I was clear of my goal- I will get a job that I deserve. For that, I had to work my ass off to land a decent job. There were days where I felt so hopeless and was on the verge of giving up, but thankfully I was preparing with my friends and it helped a lot. We were able to support each other when one of us was feeling low. There was someone to push you and whom you are answerable to if you procrastinate, and everytime you felt hopeless, they would crack some really bad jokes, which after a point of time removed your fear. Having friends whom you can prepare with and people who have your back is really important during placements, because placements are hectic and chaotic things. People get placed and you don’t even know, there is constant fear and uncertainty about your future until you get placed and some support would be helpful during this time.[Thank you Navya for listening to my countless rants and stupid breakdowns]
After the placements came the real tough time, that was the time when I was had lots of free time and very less academic load. Being placed, even academic pressure had vanished. I started going down a dark path and met the department counsellor. That was when I was again presented with hope and learnt again that life goes on and I need to move on. I met lots of new people, made new friends, got out of my comfort zone, and tried to attend all campus events. That was when I really changed. Meeting new people gives you a whole different perspective on life.
The final three months on campus were a whirlwind of unforgettable moments. From bookdates with Navya and the electrifying atmosphere of Antaragni and Techkriti to canceled trips and profound discussions, every memory created during this time holds a special place in my heart. From aimlessly wandering at 12 on delhi roads to spending a night on Ganga Ghat just vibing to old songs with friends, from waking up at 2 in the noon to sleeping at 6 in the morning, from hating hostel food to cooking food in rooms, from group studies to room parties. Lots of memories were made. Hall 1 became our favorite hangout spot, where afternoons were spent playing carroms and evenings were filled with badminton games and Uno nights. And let’s not forget the irresistible biryani at Hall 1’s mess—truly the best on campus. The friendships I formed, the lessons I learned, and the memories I made shaped my final semester into a remarkable chapter of my college life.
There are all kinds of people on campus, take your time and choose your tribe that matches your vibe.
College molded me into a better person, teaching me to judge less, be more compassionate and embrace the beauty of taking things slow.
I realized that everything happens for a reason and the only thing within my control is my actions. Regrets are a part of life, but second chances await those who are patient and willing to take them. Although I am still a confused soul with unanswered questions, I have found a supportive tribe, holding onto the memories that remind me of my capabilities and lessons learnt.
“Kabhi kabhi hum mushkil rasta isliye chunte h kyunki hume lagta h ki important cheeze paane ke liye hume mushkil raasta apnana chahiye, apne aap ko punish karna bhut zarrori samajhte h, asan raasta bhi chun sakte khas kar ke jab hum uss mushkil ka saamna karne ke liye hum tayaar hi nhi h”
Cheers to my endless love for romance books and street shopping mirror selfies:
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