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In the 36th edition of “As We Leave,” Mandar Wayal, a Y20 Bachelor in Computer Science and Engineering, reflects on his college life and reminisces about all the memorable experiences he had here.
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 leave, I hope IITK stays with me forever. I hope every time it rains, the clattering takes me back to the fountains in front of the library. I hope every late-night ice cream reminds me of Mama Mio. I hope I find familiar faces sipping coffee whenever I visit a CCD outlet. I hope every time I listen to Chasing Cars, it reminds me of the night-outs under the bare skies at OAT. I hope the tall buildings we’d go on to live in fill me with the same serenity as the terraces in Acad Area. I hope I get to experience such highs again!
As I started to think about writing an AWL, I spent a lot of time thinking of the perfect way to start and end, the ideal stories to tell, and the right words to say. I didn’t write a word before I got home, only to realize that I couldn’t flawlessly sum up my life here. These past four years have been a mix of ups and downs, full of surprises, challenges, and growth. I’ve learned to value every moment, even the ones that don’t seem important right now. This article will include some lessons from my journey and a lot about how these were the best 4 years of my life!
Like any other student about to join an IIT, I had some expectations: glamorous fests, good placement, facilities for everything—you know the list! But life always has its own plans for you. We spent 3 semesters at home, glued to the screens all day, downloading slides and sharing notes. Oh, how I wish we could get back those lost years on campus! However, IITK still surpassed my anticipations with the amount of time we were offered.
The trimmed online semesters allowed for little time to explore. I remember scratching my head over applying to different PORs and choosing the best SnT/ACA project. As I look at it now, these things didn’t really matter. This is not to say that the projects and involvements were useless, but the time spent worrying was. Make decisions based on your interests, and forget about the marginal gains. If you think one project or a POR will get you that placement you always dreamt of, I’ve got two words and one punctuation for you: ‘Wake up!’ This is one of those cases where you need to trust your greedy decision-making since you don’t know the elements that lie ahead.
Our seniors encouraged us to explore. I applied to everything that interested me and ended up taking up 6 positions in my second year. One highlight was my involvement in the Counselling Service. Like half the first-year junta, I wanted to become a Student Guide. I applied for both SG and AM positions and was accepted. Talking to juniors about their problems (academic or otherwise) definitely changed me. I like to think it made me a better person! (at least a good listener, lol) I loved conducting lectures, solving doubts, and helping juniors. This was part of why I took up tutorship in my final year. It was also during this time that I met some of the sweetest juniors. Although I’ve often criticized the Counselling Service with my CTM friends, this short tenure will have a special place in my heart!
By the time we reached campus, we were already in our fourth semester. This was also the time to apply for third-year positions. I had a few options, but I was drawn to applying for the position of Leader at IITK Consulting Group (ICG). I had worked on multiple projects as a secretary and loved it. I found immense satisfaction in the work, which was not only impactful but also aligned with a good cause. I skipped the CTM interviews, hoping for that spot at ICG. In the summer, I filled out the nominations, submitted the presentation, and gave the interview. The verdict? Not selected. It was the first time I went all-in about something in college and failed. I was upset and didn’t feel like preparing for the internship season. I could write another paragraph on how frustrated I was, but that’s beyond the point I’m trying to make.
“We all have this illusion that we are in control, but not everything happens according to our will. Things will always change, and you have to deal with it. But the good news is, 4 years from now, you won’t even remember today.”
Since it was already summer, most of the nominations had wrapped up. To answer my question: “What would I do in my third year?” I filled out the nominations for Manager at Outreach Cell on the last day. In hindsight, this turned out to be one of the best decisions of my college life. Conducting sessions across cities, organizing talks, and managing alum reunions was fun. Personally connecting with alums was a bonus. These involvements made me good friends and introduced me to helpful seniors. The guidance and support they offered throughout was priceless, underscoring the importance of having a good network of people to lean on.
“When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell.
We are bundled with such quotes daily, which is expected to somehow motivate us. I’ve constantly bashed such thoughts because I could always find another contradictory quote that some other great person wrote. Yet, this one resonated with me. When I didn’t get a pre-placement offer from Adobe (with only a month to placement tests), I was frustrated. Since there were signs of recession, I had worked overtime during my summer internship and didn’t get time to prepare for placements. But surprise-surprise, recession also meant low (3/47) PPO rates. Parents and friends consoled, claiming that better things await. But the advice didn’t make sense then because I was going into placements with little preparation during the worst of times. Two months and countless tests later, I accepted an offer from Google. Looking back, I would have settled for the PPO if it had been offered. Similarly, my rejection from ICG had a comparable impact. I remain grateful for these lows!
The final year was when everyone made the most of college. Although the placement season was rough, I didn’t forget to have fun. The last semester was something else though! People puking from balconies was a common visual. You’d always find someone blasting music out of their door. It was so easy to convince anyone to join a plan by reminding them it was the last semester. It would start with a random knock at 11 AM, and before you know it, you’d end up at Legendary/DOAA canteen/Mama Mio/OAT at 4 AM, craving food (mostly, hehe). I’ll also cherish those fleeting moments, gasping for breath between consecutive badminton doubles. I’ll miss the poker nights ending with breakfast in the morning. I won’t forget all the partying, even though it became so frequent I lost count!
Along the journey, I made many close friends. IITK wouldn’t be the same without these people. Considering my inapproachable nature, I’m grateful I met such wonderful folks. And now that I’m moving on to a new chapter of my life, I’m not sure how it’ll be without them. During my internship, I realized how you don’t just get along with everyone. We often take college connections for granted, but this is probably where you will find some of the best people. Every person I’ve come across in my journey has had a story of their own. It baffles me how this set of students who aced a common exam could then go on to pursue such diverse paths. And don’t get me started on how smart everyone is! So go out and interact; just don’t sit in your room scrolling reels!
The final days on campus were bittersweet. After the exams, everyone stayed back for a few days, counting down their delimited time on campus. From the revelry of Hall 1 ki Baarat to the quiet moments of reflection, each day seemed to hold a lifetime of memories. Amidst the laughter and celebrations, there were tears, too—the kind that come when you realize you’re saying goodbye to something truly special. Bad grades? Next semester phod denge! Break-up? Will get over it! But nobody really had an answer to things ending. As I move on, I carry with me the lessons, friendships, and memories that have shaped my journey at IITK. To the juniors: cherish each moment, seize every opportunity, and live each day on campus as if it were your last!
Written by: Mandar Wayal
Edited by: Chaitanya, Sruthi
Designed by: Sanyam Shivhare
