'We overestimate what we can do in a day, and we underestimate what we can do in a lifetime.' - From 'Little Women'
My under-graduation in IIT Guwahati gave me the right opportunities for my career to take off in the right direction. The IIT Culture made me ready to take on the professional world with the right skill-sets. I worked for two years henceforth to further polish myself learning the fundamental mantras of the corporate culture. Performing academically as well as finding and pursuing interests in extracurricular activities made my overall personality grow. Hence, through my work of 2 years, I felt the need for professional management education, and also, to be honest, I wanted to live the best of institutional cultures all over again! So, I found my way into IIM Rohtak, a land which I considered to replenish my wings even more, and I was ready to cross the bridge from academic theory to management practice at IIM Rohtak.
The two-year journey came up with different kinds of opportunities and challenges. Just the way stated by the opening statement from 'Little Women,' our initial guidance started with the Induction Program. It made me realize my strengths and weaknesses as I was amongst one of the most academically competent batchmates. The sessions were as gruelling as I had ever faced, but later I understood how important these were as it made me ready to take head-on any stressful situations. Challenges started turning into pleasant learning experiences with new friends discovered in the IIM Rohtak campus. We started focusing on group assignments and peer learning, which surprisingly made us achieve tight deadlines.
Slowly the late-night submissions turned out delightful, and I started applying my management skills outside books and classrooms. I became captain of my section in 'War of Sections,' which we also went ahead to win! This 'War of Sections' was indeed a challenge as it needed the best of my leadership skills. We had around 60 participants in our section. All were incredible in some or other fields, and this was my challenge to channel and match all strength of my team, making everyone collaborate to create a team worth winning heart. It made me confident in applying my knowledge and leadership skills in the future.
Through this creative work, I befriended some like-minded classmates whom I can call friends for life. We shared plenty of memories for the rest of my journey at IIM Rohtak. From getting through tough parts of learning to support each other on every steep turn, we have lived each day at least twice and grew up together. Those late-night cooking sessions and partying without any reason has made us witness some of the golden moments.
IIM Rohtak's STORE has a special place in our hearts. This student tailored café made us available a place to hang out and socialize. This experience made me understand why food is indeed so much associated with a happy disposition of self. Perhaps, every day-night and a simple discussion with other accomplished friends of mine was a learning experience. Things that drove us in the tight schedule was a badminton game with my friends after a submission which had a sacrosanct deadline of Midnight. All this together worked to make me push limits of possibilities I could visualize. Now I envision my strengths and abilities with much clarity to work with utmost efficiency.
The times of placements were critical for all of us. Working together for each other and talking through our weaknesses for preparation of the placement process was indeed helpful. Getting ready for group discussions, interviews, and updating current affairs became a day to day activity for us. Our professors were there for us through these two years whenever we required any academic expertise.
Hence, I cannot keep enforcing the fact of how each day has made me better and opened new doors of opportunities for me. I am grateful for this plenty of experiences I have had here and hope to make achievements worth making my institution proud. I have understood quite well that
'Resilience is like a muscle. The more you train, the better it becomes.'
IIM life is known to be full of Guest Lectures. Initially, I used to think about how will these GLs be ever useful to us. It was inspiring to listen to the journey of top leaders from renowned companies across India and abroad. It is through these lectures that we got to know how to prescribe implementation of the frameworks we study is done. I must say that the knowledge gained in such guest lectures has helped new most in cracking interviews, be it for SIP or finals.
One of the most significant events in IIM Rohtak is Infusion, which is the largest B-school Fest in North India and 72 hours non-stop extravaganza. One of the sub-event is a Mini Marathon having 2000+ participants from the city, schools, and colleges across the place, and being the chief coordinator was a challenging experience. Still, in the Land of Kathors, we believe in making the toughest things possible by our perseverance to achieve new heights.
The two years journey is something that brings a lot of memories and experience for a lifetime. Make sure you make the best out to you.