An MBA program is not just about academics, it is also about getting accustomed to multi-tasking with careful planning and execution. Therefore, it was clear in my mind that I must be a part of something like this once I am in a B-School.
When the Class representative (CR) election notification was issued, I was reluctant to contest in the election. However, when people from the PGP 2019-21 batch at IIM N persuaded me to contest the polls, I sensed a kind of trust and faith that they showed in me. After rounds of self-assessment and internal thinking, I decided to go for it. Election of a CR is a rigorous process because the person elected will be the face of the batch and must manage to get consensus between all the students on vital issues. He/she must negotiate with the management keeping the interests of the students in mind. At IIM N, one student can be part of only one club/committee/special interest group (SIG). One of the perks of being a CR is that he/she will be an ex-officio member of every club/committee/SIG and can actively participate in all the club events.
The experience of contesting in a CR Election gives us a scope to learn a lot. Every contestant prepares a write-up highlighting the current problems faced by the students and mentions their approach towards finding a feasible solution. He/she can write about themselves and how they will be a perfect fit for the role. These write-ups were shared with the entire batch, and then a final shortlist of candidates is prepared after a round of personal interviews conducted by the SAC (Students Affairs Council) body. These candidates will go through a Soapbox, followed by democratic voting.
Soapbox at IIM Nagpur was one of the most enthralling experiences of my life. It was almost an hour-long process, which involved make or break situations, where I emerged as a dark horse. During the Soapbox, people get to evaluate each contestant carefully. Eventually, after every round, I emerged victorious with the maximum number of votes. In this process, I was able to discover my true potential, and I was able to display the same to my batch mates.
In the initial days after assuming the post, I felt as if a storm hit me, and everything was happening so quickly. I was at the centre of so many things happening around. It was something entirely new to me, and I managed it quite comfortably with the inputs from my seniors and support from my batch mates. The day-to-day interaction I have with students, faculty, and management has been helping me in looking at things from a different perspective. It has been a roller coaster ride, and I am completely in love with it. This sense of responsibility is making me perform even better, keeping me on my toes, not letting me become complacent.
I am looking forward to different challenges that are going to come up my way in this two-year tale of my MBA at IIM Nagpur!
About the Author
Fareed Ahmad is a PGP 1 student at IIM Nagpur. Before Joining IIM Nagpur he worked as a software engineer at Tech Mahindra. He follows cricket and is a bike enthusiast.
