Time is a very strange dimension; you don't
realize the beauty of a moment until it is gone. As the year 2011 comes to a
close, I look back and am filled with delight for having lived the most
marvelous year of my life. From fulfilling dreams to creating new ones, from
discovering the world to realizing the beauty of my home land, from making new
friends to creating lasting relationships, from winning hearts to shouldering
responsibilities, this year has really given me a lot. Hence, even though I am
not very regular at writing blogs, this year deserves to be written about.
January 2011: The year started with me slogging nights to launch the
Cognizance 2011 website and was a very tiring experience. I could only achieve
60-70% of my expectations as the short deadlines didn't give me enough time to
bring out the best in me. Still it was an experience in itself to manage such
huge amount of data and to coordinate with my team and work together to produce
a durable website. Although, ridden with many hiccups and seemingly ridiculous
administrative problems, I was happy that I could be of service to my institute.
Still, The January had more in store for me. On
21st, I went to AIL Mohali Parliamentary Debate and participated after a hiatus of two years in
an inter collegiate debate with Kondy (a.k.a Anirudh Arun) and Sailee Rane as the two most brilliant teammates one could
get. After putting some of our best speeches, we were disappointed to have
finished with a win-loss record of 3-2 after the prelims. But the God was still
very gracious and we qualified to quarter finals as the 8th team or the highest
ranked team with a score line of 3-2. Thought, we lost in the quarters to
the team which eventually won the competition, it was still the most memorable
tournament of my life.
February 2011: The most remarkable thing about February was
that I got a mail stating that I had won the DAAD WISE scholarship (Phew!!) and
was finally equipped with sufficient funds to visit Europe and realise my dream
for which I had worked tirelessly for 2 years.
March 2011: Finally, Cognizance fever was reaching its critical
points and people were losing their tempers at more regular frequency. Still, I
could say after 3 sleepless and malnutrition days and nights, Cognizance was
successfully conducted from 11-13 March 2011 and I had somehow delivered my
duties without killing myself in the process.
April 2011: The Visa process and several trips to get
international student cards, youth hostel card, and the Eurail pass and i was
ready to go to Germany.
May 2011: The excitement was reaching fever pitch and i
was being asked to give exams - huge injustice. Always the exams before
anything good can take place. Damn, education system.
But, then it was 15th May, time to get on the flight (my first intl
flight \m/) and off I went to Germany :)
Landing in Germany, greeted with a warm welcome
at the airport and rushed to our house. And then began the most memorable days
of living in Europe for 11 weeks. Worked with Prof. Dr. Rainer Leisten and
Natalia Prischepov and discovered more about my discipline on the serious side.
And on the fun side, met Michael Pahs and Manuella Ganz who took me to my first
German college party - another beautiful experience to cherish for life.
June-July 2011: Then started the trips - Brussels, Amsterdam,
Switzerland, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Austria, Black forest, Cologne, Italy and
finally Aachen. Toured 7 countries, made numerous friends, saw the marvels,
appreciated the nature and cherished the life. I saw hills, seas, cultures and numerous types of cuisines, unfortunately being a vegetarian, I had to miss out on a lot of stuff.
They say as you meet many people,
some leave impressions and some become a part of your memoirs and stay in your
heart forever. Met three people of the latter kind and still cherish each
interaction with them. All in all, made some truly lasting memories and learnt
some valuable lessons for life. :)
August 2011: Ahh, returned to India and finally entered
the most awaited final year of my college life. Super excited, I was overcome
with a strong urge to forget all fears and do what my heart says. And hence, I went back home on the very first weekend to meet those three again and in the process, got a free dinner from the DAAD people again. Seems DAAD loves to treat me. :P
Returned, I was struck with an idea - "Why
not enter politics?". Never had any contact with any political person in
the campus and having ignored it for 3 years - I felt it was time to engulf it
with both hands. It all started with Anunaya - who made the secretary of a
seemingly unknown club called "Cinema Club" (with the only task of
screening movies) but which made you a nominated member of the senate. Hence, I
skipped the first phase of elections, but now faced the demon of the second
phase. Numerous ups and downs, ego clashes, treaties and many MOUs came my way,
but somehow I managed to surprise everyone by winning an Executive Member's
post.
September 2011: Though my political venture, burdened me with
two more posts, I was still able to somehow manage IMG recruitments, senate
meeting, cinema club meetings, debating events and my PR duties. This taught me
another lesson - "dont eat more than you can chew" but I managed.
October 2011: Fell ill for two weeks and was cut off from the
world, was rushed home and somehow recuperated. Then Dusehra, exams, Diwali and
internship seminar didn't leave much time to enjoy this month.
November 2011: Screened a movie by finally constituting a
few members of the Cinema Club and then began the placement fever -filling
forms, giving online exams and the like. Meanwhile, I was also continuously thinking
of something to send to a special friend for birthday. The end term exams went
like a breeze this time and weren't even noticed before their end marked the
beginning of the toughest three days of my life.
I was very confident because I felt I knew my
subjects, was good at expressing myself and seemed to have some luck too. ITC,
Schlum weren't even my dream and hence their rejection didn't matter but it was
Dec 1 which I had most waited for.
December 2011: Finally the day was here, I barely slept for
three hours and made full length notes for my technical interview and prepared
for all questions. I got ready and left, confident that today was the day when
I get placed. I gave the technical round of Shell and was sure I was through.
But still gave the 1st round of I-runway - a consultancy firm based in
Bangalore. Cleared the technical round of Shell, had lunch with them and then
began the 1.5 hrs 40-page case study exercise followed by a 1hr interview.
Their stress exercise finally crumpled me and I gave a less than perfect
interview but was still banking on my luck to get me through again.
Meanwhile, as I waited for the Shell results,
gave the second round of I-runway which I also cleared with ease and was
immediately scheduled for third round. I was praying to get the results of
Shell asap as I had a feeling that I could make it to I-runway but really
wanted to get into Shell. Then came the blast that shook me - I had finally run
out of luck and I wasn't selected in Shell. Broken though I was, I gathered
myself and cleared the final interview of I-runway in the best way I could and
was happy that at least I was placed on Day 1 which had always been my wish.
Then followed a few days of depression at
failing to achieve my goal of getting into "Shell" but I managed and
tried to enjoy other's happiness and revel in it. Finally returning back home,
could only get me out of it and give me some peace.
Now as I look ahead, I feel I have a perfectly
set stage to foray into the waiting real world and leave a mark as a
consultant(may be) but definitely as a "man of honor".
