Second year of MBA is all about experiences and new learning -By Divyanshi Srivastava from XAHR Bhubaneswar

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Around a year back, when I had to join this college, many people told me things about what a B-school life is going to be like. Of all the doled out advice, I starkly remember one. It has proved itself unerring, time and again: "MBA is all about experiences!" Today when I look back to the year that has lapsed, I feel it was an amazing journey. I found my life amidst tiring days and sleepless nights, assignments, presentations, quizzes and what not!

Second, but still better!

The second year of college has a totally different vibe to it. After the rigorous testing experience at our summer internship, the batch arrives at the campus. On the one hand, we are slightly dispirited. We have to bid goodbyes to our families to spend the rest of the torrid summer at college. But on the other hand, we are excited and buoyant to unite with our friends after a total of two and a half months.

One step for man, one giant step for mankind

As I entered the college campus and rushed around for various preliminary formalities, the first thing that hit me was nostalgia! I see groups of students sitting in the college mess, pavements and other places. They are desperately trying to make sense out of assignments. They have been assigned home-work even before officially attending lectures!

I see them panicking, they have a lot on their plate. Adjusting to the new place, creating and managing unnumbered Whatsapp groups, attending college orientation during the day, batch meets during the evening and finishing up assignments at night, with midnight being the deadline! I could vividly remember my days when I was in their shoes.

Always have a Plan C

But now I get a totally different feeling. This one year of MBA has taught me more than I had ever expected. I came to know my strengths and how to make the best use of them. I identified my weaknesses and learned to overcome them. This one year taught me how planning is a prerequisite but improvising is also an art. It made me understand how hard work is irreplaceable but learning smart work is also a must.

Alls well ends well

All of this undoubtedly helped me to a great extent during my internship. Be it approaching and networking with new people, trying to make the best out of minimum resources or giving presentations before the senior managers of the company, my learnings from college helped me smoothly sail through all of this.

The second year of MBA has welcomed us yet again with equally arduous challenges. While we try to settle down again in the college atmosphere, we now have an added responsibility on our shoulders towards our juniors! We have to collectively ensure to introduce them to the grueling rigor of MBA. We have to keep guiding and supporting them side by side. Meanwhile, we have so much to do on our own. The rigor is back for us as well. New elective courses, assignments, reports, and classes on weekends! It will just be a matter of time that the final placements will hit us. Being well prepared for it is the key.

Let's make an MBA great again!

This year is going to be significant for all of us. The dawn of our careers depends on how much we are willing to grind ourselves. Even though this is just the beginning, I assuredly know that this year too shall pass in the blink of an eye. But we for sure are going to make it count. Amidst its onerous curriculum, grinding schedule and, once again, sleepless nights, the second year of MBA has welcomed us. We have to fight tooth and nail for it. MBA is all about experiences and I want to make it an unforgettable one!

This article was submitted as an entry to Become an Author with Dare2Compete.