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In this 8th edition of As We Leave, Garvit Digarwal, a Y21 from BSBE, shares a journey marked by late starts, rejections, leadership, and quiet resilience. From missing his first weeks at IITK to leading Techkriti’s show management, and finding healing in teaching at Prayas, he reflects on growth beyond titles — where small habits, tough choices, and staying true to oneself make all the difference.
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 IITK.
Hey everyone, I’m Garvit Digarwal — someone who dances between being an introvert and an extrovert, depending on the moment. I come from a humble town in Rajasthan called Jhunjhunu. My dad is a government employee, my mom is a homemaker, and I have a competitive little brother who’s now following a similar path as mine — he’s a Y24 at IITK.
My journey at IIT Kanpur began in December 2021 — a time when the world was still recovering from the pandemic’s grip. Just one more month of delay, and we might’ve been the first batch to start our degree in a year that didn’t even match our batch name. Funny how life almost rewrites your timeline, right?
Back in December, while I was caught up in some family functions — being the chill guy I am — I had this strange feeling that maybe, just maybe, I’d get a call from someone saying, “Hey, classes are starting today… you better join in.” But no such call came. Why? Well, I was pretty much off social media back then, and let’s just say my Bappu wasn’t exactly on Insta either.
So December… and even half of January 2022… just slipped by. No classes, no updates, no clue.
It was only when I finally reconnected with some friends that I realized what I had missed. But instead of panicking, I picked myself up. I worked hard to catch up. My mid-sem grades? Pretty bad. But by the end of the semester, I managed to pull through with a decent CPI.
Offline IITK Life – The Real Journey Begins
We finally stepped into the real IITK experience in April 2022. First time living away from home… first time in a hostel.
Honestly? It wasn’t the dreamy campus life I had imagined. But I got lucky — a decent roommate, chill wingies, and slowly, campus life began to unfold.
And then… the real struggle began.
I didn’t get selected for my dream cell — the Entrepreneurship Cell — all because I didn’t know the name of a senior. Yes, that actually happened. Then came the Counseling Service selections… and again, I wasn’t chosen for Amma-Bappu culture, thanks to my CPI. But I wasn’t alone — none of my five bhai’s made it either. And somehow, that made it easier to accept.
Still, something in me stirred. That rejection pushed me — I started focusing more on academics. Slowly but surely, I raised my CPI.
Full of Struggle, Full of Growth
Because our semester had started late, we didn’t get a summer break. We were pushed straight into second year — no breathing room. But in that pressure, something clicked. I began working harder — in studies, in finding space in clubs, in exploring campus life beyond academics.
And then, things started turning around.
I got into Techkriti, thanks to the support of my Bappu and our Bappu Wing.
I also joined Prayas, a society dedicated to teaching underprivileged children near the campus. The kids there? Pure energy. Their excitement for learning lit a fire in me every single time I went. They gave me more than I could ever give them.
By the end of second year, in May 2023, I finally felt like the person I’d always wanted to become. I cracked interviews for core team positions — Techkriti, Prayas — and in third year, I proudly took over as Head of Show Management for Techkriti, one of the most demanding and respected roles
Life as a Head – When the Spotlight Feels Heavy
Life isn’t easy for anyone — and it wasn’t for me either. Taking up the responsibility of a Head in Techkriti shaped me in ways I never expected. It helped me grow, build meaningful connections across campus and beyond, and understand leadership not just as a title — but as a test of patience, humility, and persistence.
We conducted TOSC — Techkriti Open School Championship — an annual exam designed to spark curiosity in students from Classes 6 to 12.
Phase 1 was online, and Phase 2 brought selected students to our very own IIT Kanpur for a campus tour and final round. We even launched the SR Program, offering free participation to underprivileged students. It wasn’t record-breaking, but we had good participation and decent cash flow — enough to feel proud.
That period was packed with adrenaline. Visiting every school in and around Kanpur — even Lucknow — taught me more than any lecture ever could.
One moment I’ll never forget: We were in Lucknow, exhausted from school visits. My friend (a Y22) and I found a fancy-looking restaurant to charge our nearly-dead phones and grab lunch. We gave our phones at the counter… then opened the menu — not a single item under ₹1000. We locked eyes, both silently thinking: “Bro, are we at Right place?”
And then the waiter came, we dodged him.
We hatched an escape plan — one of us would leave with the bags, the other would grab the phones, pretend to call a friend outside due to “bad network,” and vanish.
Mission success. And the laughter that followed… man, that’s what memories are made of.
Phase 2 of TOSC was executed with passion. But deep down, I knew — there was more we could have done. Something better to be built for the future. I hope those who come after us take it further.
Burnout and Breakdowns
But not everything was rosy.
A serious issue started growing within the core team. It was affecting the team’s energy and culture. No one addressed it, so I took the initiative. Things started improving, slowly. But pushing further meant risking my academics — and as an average student, that risk wasn’t small. One wrong step, and I’d be staring at multiple Fs.
I made a hard call. On January 25, I resigned.
What followed wasn’t easy. My mental and social health dipped. There was backlash — some from seniors, some from batchmates. Most understood why I stepped down, but very few stood by me.
One thing kept me afloat — Prayas.
I returned to teach kids who looked up to us for guidance, unaware of what I was going through. But somewhere in that process, I realized something — it wasn’t just me helping them, they were healing me too. Their curiosity, their smiles… it gave me strength.
Letting Go of the Spotlight, Finding the Light
Unlike many Y21 batchmates who became managers, I didn’t apply. I chose to stay as a volunteer. And I don’t regret that.
I became one of the longest-serving volunteers in Prayas, and that joy of consistent contribution — it mattered more than any title.
Around this time, a new fire sparked in me. I began questioning everything — from the nano world of cells to the vast scale of galaxies.
What’s my role in this world?
How do I live meaningfully?
I started again — from scratch. I built a daily schedule, began reading books, started asking questions again — the foundation of learning. That curiosity brought me to BIOSoc, our department’s new society, where I became the Overall Coordinator.
Here, I met new friends — each with their own strengths, perspectives, and quirks. And I’ve been trying to learn from all of them.
Because the Best Thing About Time… is That it Changes
No matter how bad things get — time moves. If you show resilience, it bends in your favor. You grow. You learn. You become stronger.
So, to the juniors reading this — if I could leave you with a few tips I wish I had followed earlier… here they are.
Tips I Wish I Knew Earlier (And I’m Glad I Know Now)
Eating Healthy is the Luxurious Thing
Healthy eating won’t give you overnight results — but it’s the best long-term investment you’ll ever make. Fruits, veggies, and home-cooked meals nourish not just your body but your focus, your energy, and your emotions. Ask yourself before biting into that fast food: Am I eating for my tongue, or for my body?Drink 4 Litres of Water Every Day – Make It a Challenge
A senior once told me: Buy four 1-litre bottles. Fill them at 5 PM. Your challenge? Finish them all before 5 PM the next day.
I copied it. It worked. Proper hydration fixed more problems than I realized — tiredness, mood, and even skin. Try it once. Your body will thank you.In This Competitive World, Build a Collaborative One
Don’t just compete — collaborate. The people around you aren’t just your peers; they’re your potential partners in creating something meaningful. You’ll grow faster and farther when you grow together.Start Reading Books – Any Book, Any Genre, Just Start
Books will become your quietest but most powerful friends. They’ll teach you what YouTube can’t — patience, depth, and the art of reflection. Start anywhere — fiction, non-fiction, whatever draws you in.
But if you need a push, start with Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday. It changed how I looked at failure, identity, and ambition.You Can Always Start Again — Stronger and Smarter
Whether it’s a failed project, a bad grade, or a rough week — you always have the right to restart.
What matters is how you rise, not how you fall.Learn from People, Not Just Books
Everyone around you knows something you don’t — and you don’t always need to be the smartest in the room. Sometimes, just being the one who listens can teach you more than any lecture.Success is a Daily Habit,
The secret is simple: small wins, done consistently. Waking up on time. Finishing that one chapter. Helping one person.
Do that long enough, and one day, you’ll look back and realize — you’ve built a life you’re proud of.
Conclusion: A Request, a Reminder, and a Challenge
If you’re reading this, I have one simple but important request: Take care of your body — especially now, when you’re young. Build habits that will allow you to age gracefully, with health and strength. Your future self will thank you for the effort you put in today. Remember, there will be moments where you’ll need to make tough decisions. I encourage you to always take the right call — not the easy one.
Alongside that, help others when you can. It doesn’t always require joining an NGO — sometimes, it’s as simple as helping a stranger fix their cycle chain when they’re in trouble. Small acts of kindness can go a long way.
Incorporate small, good habits into your routine, and stick to them. They might not change everything overnight, but they’ll build the foundation for a life worth living.
And finally, remember this: You can’t create a perfect world around you. But you can create a positive environment by focusing on the things within your control — your actions, your mindset, and your attitude.
Make it count.
Acknowledgement
This journey has been full of ups and downs, learnings and unlearning, but most importantly — growth. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who stood by me, even in silence. To the friends who listened, the students of Prayas who unknowingly healed me, the mentors who challenged me, and the setbacks that shaped me — thank you.
And a special thanks to Vox Populi for helping me pen this chapter of my life.
Mitanshi and the entire team — your effort in bringing our stories to light truly means a lot.
— Garvit Digarwal
Written by: Garvit Digarwal
Edited by: Mitanshi Khandelwal, Amoghsiddhu R N
Designed by: Pragya Puri
