What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger | Looking Back At My Journey To XLRI

MBA, a coveted word, which binds in itself varied meaning for different people. For some, it’s a gateway to the fascinating corporate world, for some it’s an escape from the existing mundane carrier path. Irrespective of the underlying reason, it’s a life-changing journey for everyone. Sitting in my room, in the sacred campus of XLRI, with the first year coming to an end, I look back at my own journey which started long back, when the word “MBA” was a just a black box for me. First year of bachelors, accompanied with newly discovered freedom, friends and an inherent desire to discover my identity, was the period when I got introduced to this very word, while discussions with seniors who were about to step into the outside world with a degree and plans for future ahead. I was fascinated with the very idea of pursuing MBA, without the slightest notion of the prospects of the course. But the idea remained in the hindsight until the time arrived for me to explore the corporate life. I was working in literal terms but inherently, I felt the need to pursue something else. MBA seemed the obvious choice, not because it was what everyone else looked forward to, but it was a fascinating field, which seemed to open new avenues for future. I started devoting time towards preparations, in bits and pieces after the usual work schedule on weekdays, while weekends were filled with sessions, mocks and their analysis. With disheartening scores in many tests, there were few specks of hope in between. The D-day arrived, and I was filled with excitement and fear and was able to do well or so I thought until the results came and the expectations were broken. With every passing entrance test, I felt the destination moving away from me at a rapid speed. “Next year, maybe”, the notion filled my though process gradually and I started looking forward to alternatives for the year ahead. “You have been selected for personal interview round of PGDM-HRM”, said the portal of XLRI. It brought in its wake another period of confusion with Human Resource Management, seeming as an unexplored domain. Exploring the field of HR, connecting with folks who had built their careers in the same field, though with little hopes of conversion of the interview call, the wait for the results seemed unending. “Congratulations!” the words popped on my laptop screen and the journey seemed to have reached its destination. The period that followed was filled with varied emotions - of leaving friends behind, of entering into a new arena, but experiencing the happiness on the faces of my parents was a newly explored treasure. A few months later, I found myself admiring one of the most beautiful campuses and trying to discover the way ahead. It seems difficult as you are challenged to stretch beyond your limits, learn realities you were unaware of, explore the present forth opportunities in every domain, but over all other learnings, it makes you discover yourself. With these thoughts, I switch back to the song, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger!” and dive back into my world of thoughts till the next time.