IIM Shillong - My Journey Till Here

Why IIM Shillong for me is a difficult question with an easy straightforward answer. Difficult because the answer may not woo you but I sincerely hope the ending might… So hold on!

Let me start from the beginning by telling you a little about myself – I am from Delhi and studied Economics in Delhi University and then went on to complete my Masters in International Relations from JNU. I was and am an idealist with the intention to make a difference and change the world, but with time have also have some reality checks in life.

I realised in the course of time, that one needs practical skills and know how not just theoretical knowledge and good intentions. So MBA seemed the natural progression. So, like the other 2 lakh students like me I also wrote CAT and got a relatively decent percentile and even managed some decent calls (IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Shillong etc.) and gave the interviews.

I confess IIM Shillong was not my first choice, it just happened to be the best call I converted. I had a lot of doubts before joining – the dilemma was unending – whether to join or to give another year. I came to Shillong with a heavy heart and mind full of doubts about my future stay here to start my journey in IIM Shillong

I know the above paragraphs have not been encouraging but “Mere dost kahani abhi baaki hai...” Despite my apprehensions, I started on a fresh note here… and to my surprise I actually began to like it. I feel the skills and rigour I went through in the past weeks made me a stronger and a far accomplished person than all my graduation and post-graduation combined. (No offense – I really loved my study in DU and JNU). It was not just work her but play too…I still remember my first trek here and the high I felt on completing it.

The students too are from diverse backgrounds me included (educational backgrounds, gender, work experience, hobbies etc) more than any place I have seen. People with technical backgrounds to fashion / International Relations majors; people from Jammu and Kashmir to Daman and Diu. I for the first time realized the true meaning of peer learning and the concept of a student driven campus.

The idealist in me is also very happy as I am getting the chance to actually put my knowledge and intentions to practice. The active projects in sustainability in social sectors – especially in Green Economics, sustainability which are areas of paramount importance to me.

Aditya Birla Group

Here, I also came to know about ABG and the tagline kind of stayed with me – THINK ABOUT TOMORROW TODAY! … So, hopefully I will get a chance to engage and with them on like-minded issues.

In one of my favourite poems by Robert Frost – “The Road not taken” –

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - took the one less travelled by and that made all the difference.”

Coming to IIM Shillong was and is shaping up to be one of the best decisions I have taken in my life that I hope makes all the difference. So, as you can see my story ends or to say has a new beginning not with my head in doubts but in a very beautiful ‘Campus in Clouds’.

  Shubhi Jhalani PGP 1st Year IIM Shillong