It feels like only yesterday when I was trying to settle in my room, the environment, seeing off my parents and running around for the orientation week and working with Mr. Mike Valenti for the first consultation that we had to do (Read first Case analysis). In a blink of an eye, I am sitting in my room, after a long 5-hour nap, sipping my tea and writing this post here. Everything just seems like a blur, too much happening in too little time. Each and every moment is a special one. Let's me recapture all the highlights that entail if you join XLRI or for that matter any premier Bschool.
1. "Bhasad" is an undeniable truth of the B-School life
Only an XLer can decipher the true meaning of the "bhasad", meaning unequivocally the same as the traditional one but is something most people fail to experience. I got to know how to deal with stuff that is about to come, a glimpse of the Bschool life before it begins in its true sense. You get your first taste at the
"XL culture"
A few messages that are embedded in our minds in the very first week, namely,
a. "Brands have needs"
b. "Light lo"
C. "Hopefully this year"
2. Sports and XL, match made in heaven
Trials for sports teams begin, and you get your first taste of competition at a Bschool. Everyone toiling hard to get a place in the team knowing full well that they won't have time to breathe in the coming weeks. In a weeks time, I too was running at 6 in the morning, practicing till 8 AM and running to the 9 AM class. I hardly realized that the was just beginning.
It gives you an escape from the academic rigor that you face at XL, easily comparable to that at B-schools like IIM A. Competitions come and go and it actually feels amazing being able to represent your college and you know this all is just practice for the big event that everyone is eagerly waiting for. You know it, I know it, the entire B-school fraternity knows it when the two oldest B-schools in the country come face to face in a sporting event.
3. The Outbound and the village exposure Program
The best 6 Days of your B-school life! You will make friends here who will be there with you throughout your B-school journey and beyond. This is something unique that really I admire about this place, academics though rigorous and invariably, very crucial, are not the end of the learning. The focus on personal growth, on social causes really sets the stage for growth on all fronts. I can still clearly recall each and every moment of the outbound program from mountain climbing to rappelling, from cave exploration to the obstacle course and the best part, Dimna lake.
Then, the village exposure program, away from the hustle and bustle of the steel city, away from the regular life, under the sky as clear as the glacier water and being on ground, talking to the people, the other side, how they live, what challenges they face really gives you a new perspective on the life here in India. With no signal to be found at the place you stay, you talk, you interact, bond with some on a whole different level and how can I not mention, long hours of philosophical chat and hours and hours of playing
Mafia!
No words can justify what effect these two programs have had on me and what I will give to relive these days back again.
4. Classes by God(s), Awe-inspiring sessions like never seen before
The teacher here at XLRI, some good and some not so good, just like any other B-school. But then there are teachers who play on God level and can just sit there admire them, be spellbound in their lectures. they leave a lasting imprint on your mind, the subject, no matter how good you are at it (read accounting), you enjoy each one of their lectures, be mesmerized by their teaching style and the persona that they have.
"Profit is Sanity but cash flow is reality"
Embed this in your minds all you MBA aspirants.
You will fall in love with accounting here at XLRI, that much I can assure everyone who will be joining XLRI in the times to come. Honestly, it won't even matter if you do well in the subject or not, you will enjoy as well as understand each and every class. You will come to know that
"M/s Pain continues limited" has some amazing accounts which are not very easy to understand!
5. The trailer to SIPs, the committee selection process
Committee selections begin and don't underestimate when I say that they are the trailers to what is to come, the SIPs. All of a sudden, you are showered with all these shortlists, interviews at 3 and 4 AM. Having 4 fifteen minute interview, compressed in a one hour slot and each interview happening at a different location, you are running with speeds rivaling that of Usain Bolt (okay, exaggeration) to reach the next interview, doing tasks, getting rejected, getting selected and before you know it, you are selected for one of the committees and believe me, at XL, we have a committee for everyone,
EVERYONE.
Well, not really. But it is a stressful yet fun part of Term 1 which takes place at every B-school in the country.
6. End Terms - The Time has come
After all the assignments, group projects, case studies, parties, the day of reconning come. It is time for the final exams. You are running frantically around to friend to understand that one concept, sleeping at 4 AM with an alarm for 6 AM so as to finish your syllabus for the end term. It is not something you are doing extra to get the best grades, this is the minimum required to stay in the competition as not a single person is willing to loosen the grip. The competition is fierce. You snooze, you lose. It is that simple.
But the last exam, the last day, all you care is about is getting over with it and finally getting some good sleep, go out,
write a post on insideIIM and enjoy for sometime before everything goes back to the way it was in the last term, even more hectic, more challenging and before the big daddy of all events begins.
The SIPs.
It is truly a challenging time, a time of personal growth, a time where you push your limits and go beyond them, only to emerge victorious on the other end. All of it went by in a flash and I can say that this is the time you will remember for the rest fo your B-school life!