I was all agog to hear that my college farewell is to be held at one of the poshest hotels in the city. The college days are full of life and excitement. But sometimes things can go awry from what one has expected. Like any other student, I wanted to impress others in the farewell. A night to be cherished and remembered throughout my life.
As it was the last days of the college, everyone was excited and planning for the upcoming farewell. Some were preparing for their group or individual performance; some were focused on how to express their emotions to their special ones while others were focused on what to wear for the dress competition. I was one of them who was focused on what to wear for the dress competition. I chose to go with the formal attire for the special occasion. I discussed with my friends and enquired about their plans for the farewell. There was myriad of options in the market such as Blackberry, Arrow, Louise Philippe, Van Heusen, Peter England, Raymond, etc. I came back home and told my parents about the farewell. The answer which I got for the formal attire was, “Buy an inexpensive one, it’s just for one occasion”. But I was not contended. I told my parents how important it was for me. For a couple of days, I was sad. The thought of skipping the farewell altogether started to pop up in my mind. I believe my parents saw what I was going through. They agreed to buy me a new suit of my choice. I was overjoyed and started planning to shop for the suit.
After looking at a number of outlets I finally zeroed down to a navy blue 2 piece suit from the house of Louise Philippe with a tagline ‘The upper crest’. I felt like this was the one I always wanted to adorn. I was now so excited about farewell. And finally, the day came. I am usually a bit self-conscious about my looks, but that day I felt confident from within. I looked dapper and reflected a look of sophistication. I was simply full of emotions. Finally, when I reached my college, everyone complimented me about my looks.
There was something more to happen that day. I was awarded the title of ‘Best Dressed Man’ on that day. It couldn’t have gone better than that. I was a sublime feeling and felt like being at the top of the world. I couldn’t figure out what to say at that time. But I do know what to say now. The most ironical part of the story is that I got to know that Louise Philippe is a part of Aditya Birla Group just before I began writing this article.
That’s how big Aditya Birla Group is in my life.
Is there anyone who has never faced any challenge in his life? Of course not. Challenges are a part and parcel of life which make us learn our strengths and weaknesses and work on them for the upcoming challenges. If a person is not aware of his weaknesses, then how can he overcome to reach greater heights? Challenges help a person to become strong and resilient. It helps you evolve overtime to become a better version of yourself. A life without challenges is pointless.
Most of us have faced the dilemma of choosing a carrier path in life. I was no different. I, Rohit Singh, completed my B. Tech from NIT Bhopal in 2016. During the final year, there were people who were satisfied with the job in hand and looking forward to making their carrier in that domain of their choice. Others like me were amongst those who were confused which would be a better path to opt at that time. Eventually, I decided to appear for CAT. I felt to be more inclined towards CAT vis a vis the job. I scored a decent percentile and was eligible for good B-school interviews. But still, I wasn’t sure that I should be opting for the B-school as a fresher so, I decided to get a job.
Once the job started, it took pace in no time. I was preoccupied in the shifts and the time flew at an extremely fast pace. I was clueless. It went on for a year and a half. Then the realization again struck me that this was not I am supposed to do my entire life. I had abandoned my plans for pursuing post-graduation and completely engrossed in my job. I realized that it is high time that I need to get back on the right track, which I was earlier determined to traverse. I once again started to prepare for. But studying while working alongside was not a cake walk. As I had shifts in my job, I had to change my routine from time to time. Then came the most challenging part where I had to choose between quitting my job or not. I decided to focus mainly on the MBA and for that, I needed to spend more time on studies. I made decisive plan and resigned from my job. Everyone said, “It is a risky move”. But now when I look back, I feel delighted about the choice I made. Now I am very proud to be a part of IIM Raipur. There is a lot to learn from the faculty and peers. It has opened new avenues and I have now started walking on the path I always wanted to. Afterall, facing challenges and learning from them is what life is all about.
#IIMRaipur #ABGLPWooMe