A Journey From Can I? To I Can!!!

The moment I received the mail from IIM Nagpur stating that I had been selected for the MBA program, my happiness knew no bounds. I began packing my things the very following day, and as each day went by, my excitement only grew. I had already read and watched everything there was to know about IIM Nagpur on the internet, but I still gave it two or three more reads. The final day of my packing arrived, and with a lot of luggage, I packed my enthusiasm and energy too.

Along with my parents, I reached the campus on time. Looking at the Arjuna statue from the cab, I got goosebumps, and it was at that moment that I knew that dreams do come true. The first two days were as amazing as they could be. I explored the campus, decorated my hostel room, and clicked pictures to post; my energetic side was still intact. I was sitting in the mess when a notification popped on my phone, “Batch meet at 11 pm”. The timing sounded a little odd to me, but I was excited about this too. To my surprise, the batch meeting was a reality check from our seniors. They talked about what all hurdles would be coming our way very soon. Then we had a little fun too. Honestly, I did not pay much attention to the serious stuff being talked about. It was probably because I was confident I would pass every milestone with my zest and strength.

“Sacrosanct deadlines, proper decorum, no chit-chat in class” was all I heard from the seniors and the authorities at every session. So, I prepared myself accordingly for the very first class. Everybody was on time; after all, it was the first day. I hardly knew more than five names in my class, so I listened carefully to everybody during introductions. I found out I was one of the youngest in class, and it was not something that made me feel good. I got nervous for the first time on campus. Hearing about everybody’s work experience made me doubt myself. I sat down twice that day to think if I made the right choice to join the MBA program instead of taking up a job. I was taking a walk after dinner when I looked at the beautiful campus and asked if I belonged there. I was confused and felt bad for being confused because I was where I had always wanted to be; still, my confidence level had already come down on the very first day.

The next day, a fresh morning, I was ready for class, but I looked dull. We had to attend the club orientations late at night, due to which everybody seemed sleep deprived, and so was how I looked. Marketing Management became the lecture I started waiting for within a week. Organizational Behavior was fascinating too. Being an art student, I struggled with Accountancy and Business Statistics. As classes progressed and I started comprehending stuff, I could see my confidence returning. Not all days were happy; some were bad, wherein I struggled with little tasks, but some days were the best, where I passed the challenges with all my energy. I could see myself adapting to the demanding environment when I started interacting with my peers. Asking about their overall professional experience gave me get many insights. Things started becoming better, and one fine evening while looking at the beautiful view from my balcony, I told myself, “Just Keep Swimming!”

Things are challenging, but when were they not? If my abilities have got me here, my strength and willpower can also make me survive the MBA life. I can and I will.

Twinkle is a PGP1 student of IIM Nagpur. She is a literature graduate, a passionate writer, and an avid reader. She has never taken more than a day to complete reading a novel. She is looking forward to explore MBA life and doing her best.