It has been only 45 days since I joined campus, but I am already in love with its greenery and architecture. But the most disheartening fact about any IIM is that even though it’s beautiful you won’t be having any time to enjoy its beauty.
Being from South India, the thing which I felt remarkably different is the Shillong’s weather. The highest temperature here in Shillong is lower than the lowest temperature I had ever experienced in my home state. It is also the most unpredictable thing you will ever see. You will be experiencing all the seasons in a single day. When you just feel that the weather was warm and try to enjoy the moment, it all changes in an instant and you will be feeling cold or will be completely drenched in the rain.
In the early morning when you are getting ready for the classes, the cold and humid clothes will send shivers across your spine. The classes will be following a weekly schedule, and you have to be aware of when you have your classes. Otherwise, you will end up losing precious sleeping time.
The first lesson the institute teaches you is the importance of sleep. You will be called at odd hours in the night and made to stay awake for extraordinary lengths which you previously thought as impossible. The Institute will also inculcate you the art of peer learning and smart work.
If you think that one can gain knowledge only when one reads the prescribed books, then you are completely wrong. Here, you will learn more from friends than from the books. In a typical day, you will be having loads of assignment, clubs/committees activities, KT sessions, group project and you have to complete them within the specified deadline. You will be multitasking across all the activities without ever knowing it. This is how you will learn how to lead a Corporate’s life. IIM Shillong encourages fun but also takes academics and behavior very seriously and won’t hesitate to detain the candidate if needed.
The best part about the campus is, you will know all the 180 students in the batch. The entire batch feels like a family, and you will always find help from someone whenever needed. You can always count on your batch, be it in academics, or shopping or partying; there will help someone in the batch to be with you. Your seniors will also be there to assist you in the academics.
At times your batch mates become your mentors, and they will be teaching you 3-4 class sessions in one hour or less. The interesting thing is you will be able to completely understand the same concepts which you felt clueless when being taught in the classroom. You will be a mentor and a student at the same time. This peer learning will complement your strengths and helps you work on your weakness.
Campus life, even though having a rigorous schedule, will make you feel like you are living in a home away from home.