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In the 81st edition of As We Leave 2026, Abhishek, a Y22 from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, reflects on four transformative years of turning setbacks into stepping stones at IIT Kanpur. From overcoming an initial academic shock to navigating the highs and lows of the placement season, he shares how stepping out of his comfort zone, relying on a tight-knit network of friends, and embracing life’s unexpected curveballs helped him evolve from a quiet JEE aspirant into a resilient, confident graduate.
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.
Writing this AWL feels incredibly nostalgic. For the past few years, around this time, I would sit and read my seniors’ AWLs, thinking I would write mine someday – and that “someday” has finally arrived.
During the grueling days of JEE prep, IIT Kanpur was just a montage of YouTube campus tours and fest aftermovies – a distant dream I watched on a screen just to keep my motivation alive. But crossing that screen and actually stepping into this world was a completely different reality. If you had told the wide-eyed, introverted Abhishek who walked through these gates four years ago how his story would end, he wouldn’t have believed you. I arrived carrying a lot of dreams, but I was also someone who found it incredibly hard to simply say “no” to people. Over the years, I actively sought out advice to improve different aspects of my personality, and actually applying it worked wonders for me. I quickly realized that while our institute is revered for its academics, the absolute greatest library you will ever have access to is the people and the situations around you. Every random conversation, every late-night debate, and every hurdle was a lesson. My journey didn’t start with instant perfection – in fact, stumbling early on was the exact push I needed to shatter my comfort zone. Before we walk through the timeline of these four years, just know this: the transformation from an isolated JEE aspirant to the person leaving today wasn’t always easy, but it was profoundly worth it.
First Semester: The Awakening
I would like to take it back to my JEE days, when I used to watch campus tours and fest aftermovies just to fuel my motivation to reach an IIT. Fortunately, the hard work paid off, and I secured my admission into CSE at IIT Kanpur. Looking back, I had no idea that the curious, introverted guy who stepped onto campus on October 27, 2022, would undergo such a massive transformation by the time he left this beautiful place.
I entered college with a quiet determination to break out of my shell, and orientation week was the perfect catalyst. It was a stress-free time with pure fun, meeting new people, and the hilarious task of “covering gaps in the line” 😆. My fondest memories from those early days are a mix of chaos and connection: singing in the auditorium, shooting a Harlem Shake video, and late-night jamming sessions in the wing.
Then, academics hit. The very first PHY114 class was a wake-up call, a clear signal that this wasn’t going to be easy. The first few weeks were an intense academic shock, including a flat zero score on my very first quiz. But instead of letting it bring me down, I somehow found myself enjoying the struggle. I was embracing the hustle of this new phase.
I made sure to balance the academic grind with everything campus life had to offer. Sports and late-night games became an inseparable part of hostel life. I played some games like squash for the first time in my life. Dragging myself out of bed into the freezing campus fog for morning PE was a struggle, but those early games ended up being incredibly fun. I thoroughly enjoyed Fresher’s Night, pulled my first all-nighter in the treasure hunt, celebrated birthdays and New Year’s, campaigned for Pallav, and connected with a bunch of people. Because I was genuinely enjoying the journey, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction when the semester wrapped up. I was happy both academically and non-academically, but more importantly, I could feel a tangible, positive shift in my personality.
More than anything, the first semester gave me my people. I was incredibly lucky to find a group of friends who quickly became like family and stuck by my side for all four years. We crashed a wedding at the Community Centre and scaled almost every campus rooftop. I explored all the classic study spots – the Library, SL, NCL, and RM. We also pulled a few all-nighters, not to study, but purely for fun, strolling through the quiet campus and making memories. Looking back at those times, I realized our seniors were absolutely right: the first semester truly is one of the greatest times of your college journey.
Second Sem : The Juggling Act
The second semester brought a completely different energy. I attended my first college fest, and it felt surreal-I was now actually a part of the very fest aftermovies I used to watch for motivation during my JEE days. I dove headfirst into campus activities, taking part in Dramatics for Galaxy and a Consulting PS for Takneek. Between these commitments and the endless stream of recruitment tasks for various clubs, teams, and SnT projects, my sleep schedule went completely out the window. For the first time, I felt genuinely exhausted.
This phase gave me my first real taste of the campus interview grind, as I sat for SnT clubs, teams, SG, and AM selections. I managed to get into Humanoid and ICG, and ended up taking on three or four different projects across various entities. Suddenly, a massive chunk of my time was swallowed up by project tasks and meetings.
The biggest challenge of the semester wasn’t any single assignment, but rather learning the art of balancing everything-projects, academics, and, crucially, time with friends. I quickly realized that taking on too much was unsustainable, which led to the tough decision to leave Humanoid after just two months to ease my load. Looking back, I deeply cherish that choice because it gave me the breathing room I desperately needed.
Despite the packed schedule, the fun never stopped. Escaping the campus heat for a trip to the waterpark and going on long, aimless walks across campus with my friends remain some of my fondest memories from this period.
Ultimately, the second semester taught me how to juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously without losing myself in the chaos. And just like that, with a mix of exhaustion and triumph, we said goodbye to our first year.
Third Semester: A New Beginning
Entering the third semester, there was a sudden shift in the air-a looming sense of seriousness. Listening to our seniors’ internship stories was a real wake-up call that it was time to buckle down. Seeing my friends start the Competitive Programming grind, I decided to jump in and start coding alongside them.
This was also the semester when our core department courses began, which naturally shifted my social dynamic. My interactions with non-department friends were reduced, remaining mostly limited to my wingies, the clubs I was part of, and the people I regularly played sports with. Meanwhile, my bond with the department crowd and my wingies grew stronger, and I ended up making some great new friends along the way.
Academically, things leveled up. We got our first real taste of assignments, and surprisingly, I actually found solving them really enjoyable.
Despite the growing pressure, the semester was packed with unforgettable moments. Cycling to Ganga Barrage, soaking in the vibe of my second Antaragni, the unique experience of a take-home endsem exam, and the legendary CS201 course dinners hosted by Manindra Sir all hold a special place in my heart. Celebrating Diwali on campus, conducting AM class, and just having fun with friends balanced out the workload. In many ways, the third semester felt like a completely new start.
Fourth Semester: The Halfway Mark
The fourth semester was bookended by two memorable trips to Lucknow-one right at the beginning to kick things off, and another just after the semester ended to celebrate. This was a semester of pushing my boundaries and trying new things. I ran the first 5K run of my life, participated in the Institute Phatta League, and even took lawn tennis lessons (though that only lasted for about a month!). It was a time filled with sports, laughter, and simply enjoying life with my friends.
On the academic side, the CS253 Software project took center stage. The late nights and the overall journey of building that project together with my friends remains one of my absolute fondest college memories.
When this semester finally came to a close, marking the official halfway point of my college life, it truly hit me. Taking a moment to reflect, I could actually feel how much I had grown up since day one. By the end of second year, campus no longer felt unfamiliar-it felt like home. I was stepping into the second half of my college journey significantly more confident, and stronger both mentally and emotionally.
Third Year
The summer leading into my third year was dominated by internship prep.Staying in constant touch with my friends and seniors kept me motivated to push through the grind. I also co-mentored two projects during this time. Facing a few initial rejections was tough but all the hard work paid off when, right at the start of the fifth semester, I landed an internship at Glean.
The days immediately following that offer were some of the best of my college life-just pure relief and chilling with friends. But the chilling phase didn’t last long. The fifth semester is notorious as a core CSE heavy-hitter, and I had overloaded my schedule. Naturally, a massive chunk of my time was swallowed by academics.
Yet, looking back, the academic grind is exactly what brought us closer. My favorite memories are studying together in KD Lab, taking much-needed evening tea breaks at the CC canteen, heading out of campus for dinners, and playing games with my wingies while laughing at completely senseless jokes. To top it all off, this semester gave me one of my favorite college trips ever: an unforgettable getaway to Manali, filled with stunning views, bonfires, adventure and mafia games with friends.”
Then came the sixth semester. With the pressure of securing an internship off my shoulders, I let loose and started playing even more.I played badminton and cricket almost regularly, engaged in intense Mafia games, and participated in the Hall 12 Phatta league and a futsal league with my wingies. We also religiously maintained our daily ritual of shaam ki chai throughout the 8th sem . A major highlight was taking a trip to Prayagraj to experience the Mahakumbh.
Academically, this semester was project-heavy. In fact, this was the very first semester where I actually had to pull a genuine all-nighter for academics! Exam preparation usually happened just a few days before the papers, but the projects consumed most of my time. Before I knew it, the semester wrapped up, and it was time to step into the corporate world.
The Summer Internship
My internship was an incredible time-my very first real corporate experience. Stepping into that world gave me a profound sense of independence. I loved the fast-paced environment and working alongside incredibly smart people, getting my hands dirty with real code .
The demanding work was perfectly balanced with an amazing culture. I interacted with students and professionals from all over the world, traveled and hiked extensively, and made wonderful new friends. I was lucky to have excellent housemates who taught me so much, and I even played golf for the first time in my life!
It felt like a dream summer. But coming back to campus posed a completely new, unexpected challenge. I received the news that I didn’t get the Pre-Placement Offer (PPO).
It was a curveball I wasn’t prepared for at all…
Seventh Semester
The news of not getting the PPO was a heavy blow. With it, my long-held dream of going on a semester exchange program to EPFL shattered completely. Suddenly, I found myself back at square one, gearing up for the intense, high-pressure placement season.
But this is where the magic of the people around me truly shined. My friends and my entire environment were incredibly supportive. Thanks to them, the stress faded just a few days after the news broke. Instead of panicking, I surprisingly found myself enjoying the process all over again.
I tried to carve out an hour every evening to play cricket and clear my head. My friend Ansh’s room essentially became the official common room for our wing – we spent hours in there relieving stress through hilarious, completely random conversations and endless card games.
Then came the turnaround. Fortunately, I secured a placement at an amazing company for a role that aligns much more with my interests. It is a path I genuinely enjoy far more than what I was doing during my internship.
It is often said that you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. Standing here now, I feel that with absolute certainty. Not getting that PPO was a bitter pill to swallow at the time, but it ended up being one of the absolute best things that could have ever happened to me.
Eighth Semester
If the seventh semester was about connecting the dots, the eighth semester was simply about celebrating the picture they created. It was, hands down, the best semester of my entire college life. With the heavy pressures finally behind us, we went all out. We traveled to the ghats of Varanasi, and went on an unforgettable trek to Kedarkantha-that pre-dawn summit push is a memory that will be etched in my mind forever.
Campus life turned into an endless string of games and activities. I played a lot of cricket, badminton, and poker. My wingies and I teamed up for late night volleyball and played our own across-hall treasure hunt. I also decided it was time to try something completely new and picked up the guitar. I also tried wall climbing for the first time and ran my 2nd 5K run.
On the academic side, I found a deeply rewarding routine in tutoring the ESC course throughout both my 7th and 8th semesters, giving back to the juniors. But the nights were strictly reserved for making memories. We danced our hearts out at Dance Extravaganza and our department farewell, took over the mics at karaoke night, and partied harder than we ever had before.
As the final days ticked down, the air grew heavy with nostalgia. I spent my time reconnecting with old friends, capturing countless memories through photographs, and covering shirts in heartfelt messages on Scribble Day. It was a semester of pure, unadulterated joy with my people. And honestly, having that much fun together is exactly what made the final goodbye so incredibly hard.
CONCLUSION
Looking back at this incredible journey, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this vibrant campus-a place that is magically just as alive and buzzing in the middle of the night as it is during the day. I am profoundly thankful to the professors who guided me, and to the friends who sat with me through truly life-changing discussions. IITK didn’t just give me a degree; it gave me a new family. I found friends who were always, unconditionally there for me.
When I think about the true essence of this journey, it is found in those shared everyday moments: walking to the canteen together every single day, laughing endlessly at completely random things, and surviving the chaos of group projects. From getting consoled by them during my lowest heartbreaks to celebrating our biggest successes side-by-side, and all the unforgettable trips and game nights in between-they made every single second of these four years truly memorable.
If I can leave my juniors with a few pieces of advice from my “library” of experiences, it would be this: First, never be afraid of failing. Embrace your setbacks. As Sundar Pichai said, wear your failure as a badge of honor. As Roger Federer’s advice says: even at the absolute peak of his career, he only won 54% of the points he played. His lesson was simple—you are going to lose points, and you must learn to quickly let them go. Whether it was taking a flat zero on my very first quiz or the sudden shock of not getting a PPO, those perceived “failures” were actually the defining moments that pushed me toward much greater successes. Always remember that the dots only connect looking backward.
Second, dive in and ruthlessly explore the boundless opportunities this campus provides. Sometimes the perfect opportunity will land right in your lap, but other times, you have to be brave enough to go out and create it yourself.
Yet, amidst all that hustle, protect your peace and energy. I am an ardent believer in the Pomodoro technique-not just for studying, but as a life philosophy. Value your breaks, step away when you need to, and enjoy the journey. Whenever I felt completely overwhelmed by a mountain of projects and deadlines, using this technique was my anchor.Â
Third, help others unconditionally; the sheer positivity it brings back into your life is unmatched. Finally, learn the quiet power of saying “no,” and always, always preserve your individuality, no matter whose company you find yourself in.
Ultimately, no journey is ever a perfect, straight line. It is a beautiful, chaotic mix of soaring highs, crushing lows, unexpected heartbreaks, and hard-earned successes. But every single one of those moments was necessary. The curious Abhishek who entered these gates four years ago would be proud of the person leaving today. I am walking away transformed. Thank you, IIT Kanpur, for the holistic growth, the endless opportunities, and the absolute best memories of my life.
Written by: Abhishek Khandelwal
Edited by: Gurmannat Kaur, Anandan Iyer
