I was boarding a bus to Goa on the night of April 30th, when I received a seat confirmation for IIM Indore. The next three days were a roller coaster ride, and so was my first year as a PGP student.
My first term was about getting adjusted to the course structure, which I found to be hectic initially. The excitement of joining an IIM, and the enthusiasm to perform and make a mark, did wear me off. I had to read lengthy cases before attending 75 minute long lectures. Then there were the pre-processes (for clubs and committees), assignments, quizzes and exams. All of this changed my sleeping cycle, which was followed by frequent mid-lecture naps and swollen eyes. But, I eventually got used to the rigor. It made me come out of my comfort zone.
The bustling campus life of Planet-I, had a myriad of things to offer to pursue my interests. The activity clubs and committees played a major role with respect to this, by constantly tossing fun competitions and events. The college possesses well maintained hostel blocks, and other facilities like the sports complex (with an ‘Olympic size’ swimming pool), basketball court etc. Being a fitness enthusiast and a basketball player, I had the right opportunities to follow my hobbies, and socialize with students with similar interests.
I observed how the college functioned as a self sufficient society. Self sufficient because the graduates here always sought for chances to be occupied even after classes, which led to student run services and stores. The college has its own laundry service, retail store, food stall etc. operated by students.
The campus lights up in the evening, teeming with people moving to the food stalls. The eateries will be crowded with friend circles chattering and munching on their favorite snacks. The college remains alive throughout the night. There is always someone awake.
My first year was a great time for me to interact with students coming from different parts of the country and make new friends. All the major festivals are celebrated inside the campus and DJ nights are arranged for special occasions. This allows students to enjoy and indulge, and also meet new people. IRIS, IIM Indore’s annual festival, is a wonderful time for students to take a respite from their academics. Being an amateur DJ myself, I had a thrilling experience performing at the IRIS-2015 DJ night.
Events such as the Rural Immersion Program (RIP) and the Himalayan Outbound Program (HOP), which are incorporated as a part of our course, clearly validates IIM Indore’s mission to use contemporary participant-centric teaching models. RIP, which I attend during my second term, gave me valuable insights into current the rural environment existing in central India. I am eagerly waiting for the HOP, which will begin during my fifth term.
The campus, located on a hillock, surrounded by farmlands and pastures, is decorated with several pleasing view points. The college is packed with greenery, which when soaked in rain during the rainy season, is a delight to experience. The winter, I found to be raw and bitter, breaking the campus from the monsoon reverie. With so much of life around, students are allured to get out of their rooms every now and then. I often enjoyed going on long walks through the campus.
Having never lived in a hostel before, I understood the importance of being independent. I learned from my mistakes and also the things that I did right. I made a close set of friends in my first year, who have been very supportive and inspiring. I am constantly learning from them as well.
My summer internship was in a travel start-up, and it was a rewarding experience. I was able to apply the concepts which I learned over a year to solve my firm’s issues. Working on practical situations was challenging and fulfilling. I also learned where my interests lie after my internship, and I now have a clear picture about what I aspire to work on in the near future. This course has taught me the significance of adapting to changes, and time management. It has helped me gain a new perspective towards business operations.
So, this is the snapshot of my first year at Planet-I, and it was worth every bit of it!