Bid Adieu !

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Learn to trust the journey even if you don't understand it."

9th June'20 marked the last day of my college, and I have to say "The journey and the transformation has been phenomenal."

I vividly remember the first day of my college, as much as the last day. I was just an unguided and lost kid when I entered the college premises for the first time. As much as the huge campus fascinated me, I felt intimidated. But networking and working outside my comfort zone is an innate quality. 

Getting out of a territory where IITs and IIMs meant everything, I felt relaxed. I have been a bright kid since I can remember and getting marks was never a problem. But I liked to study and learn things in my own way. The unwanted pressure to show that you're the best by getting into an IIT was infuriating. I stopped studying and giving importance to academics altogether by the end of 11th standard itself. I flunked IIT Advanced on purpose. I just wanted out.

The same tendency followed me in the first semester of college and I scored 7.6 when everyone else around me averaged at 8.5. I used to binge watch TV Series and not sleeping for two days was quite normal. I didn't prepare for exams either. I realized that, in the process, I was losing my edge and no matter what one says, knowingly or unknowingly, you're judged by your grades. I had to get to back to my normal.

From 7.60 to 9.70, the growth and improvement was monumental (haha, just kidding. I had it in me all along and I had the confidence. I just didn't want to become a part of the race that I left back in 11th). I did copy at times too, LOL. But that's a part of college life, isn't it? Where's the fun in following all the rules eh? My focus was just to make sure I am learning things that matter and acquiring skills that are worth the time.

This was how the grades looked like in the semesters that followed : 7.60 -> 8.38 -> 9.00 -> 9.64 -> 9.42 -> 9.70 -> 9.40

Now obviously, academics wasn't everything. I despised going to college, sitting in classes, racing for grades and wasting time doing nothing. Yes, I did score well but the sheer objective was to maintain my reputation. And no, it's not wrong to do so. I started learning fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Competitive Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms. I got familiar with the basics of Web and App Development, Blockchain as well. But my interests were equally included towards Marketing, Management and Business Development. I started executing my knowledge, won business Pitching Competitions, co-founded a startup - Inception Wave with my flatmate and landed a Super Dream Offer at Nielsen.

Now it wouldn't be worth it if I kept everything to myself. I started sharing my experiences and mentoring my juniors. Recently, I was interviewed and featured by EatMyNews and AvunuMedia. I was called out to judge a Business Planning Competition in Delhi as well.

Read my interview with EatMyNews here.!

"Success requires no apologies.

Failure requires no alibis."

As much as I believed that I could do it, I never really saw it coming. What I realized during these 4 years of transformation was "Patience and Perseverance is the key." I would like to share my learning with everyone who has come this far. Here are a few things that I learned during these 4 years of my college life :

• Academics isn't everything. Developing a strong presence and interpersonal skills is gold.
• Networking is the key to progress. Your network is your net worth.
• No matter how hard you try, some things will never go in your favor. Make peace with it and move on.
• Be confident in everything you do. Learn to take responsibilities instead of dodging them and always be prepared for new beginnings.
• Certificates won't matter if you don't have a hands-on experience. Same is the case with bookish knowledge. You don't know the real world without facing the ground realities.

I share my experiences and thoughts on Instagram as well - Check It Out Here!

Feel free to connect and reach out to me on LinkedIn as well by clicking here. I'll be happy to help. :)

Until next time !