Back when I was still an MBA aspirant, words like prioritization and time management always made their way into discussions about life at B-school.
Discussions about how you’ll be bombarded with assignments, presentations, case studies, live projects, committee responsibilities, cultural events, competitions, internal assessments, examinations, (
this list seems endless, I know!) summer internship placement interviews, international exchange programs, and then final placements followed by final examinations will keep your schedule so jam-packed that you will forget to take a minute and breathe, let alone sleep!
After a year of hard work, research and hundreds of discussions not different from the one above, I have finally upgraded from the aspirant status to student status. Now that I am here, at
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, in Mumbai, and have already spent close to three months adjusting (read - still trying to adjust) to MBA and hostel life, the only thing that comes to mind is that all those big words about all the things that will eat up your time are very real and very true.
The first week was all about slowly easing into campus life and getting to know our peers and the campus. The grind began with the start of week two when committee selections loomed over us, processes for which seemed to begin only at 2 am in the morning! Along with this came group tasks, presentations and extensive interviews with deadlines that seemed to be impossible to meet. And then with the annual juniors’ cultural fest in week 3, I think all us juniors managed to get about 3 hours of sleep a day. And then began the routine of classes, assignments, presentations, guest lectures, tests and exams that ensure that you are on your toes at all times.
“It is not enough to be busy. The question is – What are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau (American author and philosopher)
What I take away from my first 3 months at b-school is that prioritization and time-management are truly the most important things you need to figure out, to be able to derive maximum value out of your MBA. I am thankful and honoured to be a student at
one of the top-ranked B-schools in the country, an institute that is dedicated to providing its students with the finest quality education and ample opportunities to explore one’s interests. The lush campus with every facility you can think of, the 28 student-driven clubs and committees, guest lectures by eminent industry professionals, live projects from notable companies, opportunities to participate in the best competitions in the country, to name a few, are just some of the things on offer.
Time is something that is always elusive and managing it is a skill. However much of it you have, it is still not enough. Never procrastinate, make a to-do list (
as tempting as “going with the flow” sounds), stay confident and positive, and it will come to you naturally!