Life At IIM Shillong - Vidhi Khabya

On 18th May, 2018 at 11:30 PM an email hit my mailbox that rocked me from deep inside. This email made me extremely joyful as well as sad at the same moment. Happy in the sense that I was going to join the prestigious IIM Shillong and gloomy for the cause that I will be 2333 km from Indore. I couldn’t sleep the entire night thinking about what to do, should I join the college or wait for some more results. But, deep inside I knew that joining this institute in the Scotland of the east will change the entire trajectory of my career.

After a few days of restlessness, I decided that Shillong will be my destination for the next 2 years. I have lived all my life in Central India so was excited about this new place with some minor apprehensions of leaving my hometown and family. While I was preparing for CAT, my motivation was to get as close as to my family but something else was written in my fate.

Anyways, overcoming all my nervousness and killing all my anxieties, I landed in Shillong. With the chill down my spine, I stepped in IIM Shillong campus. I couldn’t recall when did I saw such a beautiful place before. I saw my father’s face who accompanied me till here and at the same time I promised myself, “Papa, I will make this two years of sacrifice worthy and I will make the entire family proud”. A sense of belonging and ownership developed under me and I was filled with confidence from head to toe.

I could see a lot of students like me, completely clueless about where to go and what to do next. The senior batch’s attitude was overwhelming. They took great care of lodging, boarding, comforting us in the new environment and most importantly taking care of parents.

It is often said that taking the first step is the most difficult part of the journey. I could validate this quote from the initial ten days of my campus life. The learning that occurred in these initial days is so humongous that it will be with us throughout my life. It basically showed us the taste of the 2 year MBA life. I was thinking about things from a very closed perspective but I cleared my mindset and changed my view point in life making it more focused.

Being from a tier 2 engineering college, I could never see the student involvement in all the activities to such a great level. I could feel the sense of exhilaration in my veins seeing so my activities organised by all the clubs and committees all the time. One thing was sure, they will keep me on my toes all the time but I believe I will love it.

A few learnings I could gather that will be with me throughout my journey of 2 years. Of that “Deadlines and timings are sacrosanct” and I will adhere to it throughout my life.

I don’t know what turn my life will take in the coming time but I will enjoy this life to the fullest and live my B School life king size.

Vidhi Khabya

PGP 1st year

IIM Shillong