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Dreams - Aiswarya Mohanty, XIMB
It's Possible! Right after 12th-grade people move out for their graduation. For most of them, that’s the first time they move away from home and my case was no different. 2013, I moved from Rourkela to Vellore, a place 1500 km away. I couldn’t even imagine staying that far away from my family. Yet, with loads of excitement and anxiety, I started my journey. New people, different food, alien language, and academic rigor, I felt abandoned in a swarm of the unknown, soon to be crushed. I went for my classes every day, meeting familiar faces with a succession of greetings in the corridors, but didn’t have any friends yet. Then came the second week, where shadow applications for “The Electronics Committee” were open. They had a written round, GD and an Interview. I was excited because I really wanted to join them but in the back of my mind I knew, I have never faced a GD before nor did I know how to face an Interview. Apprehensive, anxious and keen, I applied for the committee. The next thing I remember is the consternation I had when we got the results for the written round. I was through and had to face the GD now. I had seen them on Television, the news hour debates, and discussions, but did I have it in me to put my points forward and substantiate them. “Worthless!” I thought, “I am just wasting my time. Presuming or Imagining is not going to help. I should do my research. If I do not know something I should learn”. I spent the next two days reading anything and everything about group discussions that I could find on the Internet, saw videos on YouTube to observe and educate myself. The D-day came and I went ahead for my selection process. “There is no right way to do a wrong thing, that’s the topic,” my moderator said. I knew, I was nervous but prepared. I resonated with the topic and knew I could put my view forward. That was not the best but was amongst the first few memories that made me confident in the alien land. I learned that it is not necessary to know everything, but it’s necessary not to give up. The courage to fight back keeps us going. Trust in ourselves and the almighty is all that it takes. Three weeks! And now I was part of a well-known committee, had friends who were fellow shadow members and a group to hang out with. It's true. “Doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”. Breakthrough the cocoon of comfort and explore. Life is about the difficult roads that lead to beautiful destinations. #ABGLP #ABGWOOME #XIMB