The new normal of starting my virtual life at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad -By Saurav Jha
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, life, as we know it, has shifted to online platforms. This included my college induction, which happened virtually on 28th August 2020. Considering this is the new normal, several efforts were made by the college itself to ensure that the induction was quite interactive and successful in giving us an idea of how life at IIT ISM Dhanbad is like.
The college made sure that the new batch would not face any issues in connectivity and communication during the online induction program. And though it was online, that did not stop us from having fun and interacting with our fellow seniors. We also got the opportunity to meet several members of the faculty, and ask them any doubts or questions we had.
Being an IITian during the pandemic
The induction kicked off with a speech from our Head of Department, who welcomed us all and talked about the recent achievements of this department. Her inspiring words motivated us and finally made us feel like IITians, especially after all the hard work we put in. The wonderful speech also made us realise about the changes we will be bringing as fellow IITians in the post-COVID world.
Our institute Director addressed us later on, highlighting the legacy of, and life at IIT ISM Dhanbad, which dates back to more than a hundred years ago. Emphasising on past achievements made us look forward to walking on the campus, and contributing to its outstanding legacy. This was followed by an interaction with industry experts from Jindal Steels and Capgemini, who talked about the changing industrial world amidst the pandemic. They continued by talking about how we as IITians during the pandemic will be graduating with better crisis management skills, as compared to our previous batches.
Life at IIT ISM Dhanbad is not complete without knowledge of the different clubs, societies, and facilities it provides. We had an informal session with our seniors who talked about the various opportunities present on campus and encouraged us to take part in upcoming challenges. The evening came to an end with our batch getting acquainted with each other and starting a life-changing journey together.
Adapting to virtual classrooms
For a sneak peek at what life at IIT ISM Dhanbad looks like, the classes can start as early as 8:00 am, and end around seven in the evening. All this sounds pretty standard. However, we were told by our seniors about club meetings and B-School competitions which will take place in between. It is definitely an exciting journey with several challenges ahead.
One challenge which I have come across is managing to make notes for virtual classrooms. Keeping track of what your professor says is crucial, but in the online world, there are certain hindrances. Nevertheless, what is important when it comes to adapting to virtual classrooms is to keep yourself motivated. Keep reminding yourself about why you are here. For me, it is to increase my understanding and be future-ready for the corporate world or even being an entrepreneur.
Another challenge the online portal faces is making space for informal conversations amongst batchmates, which are necessary for building bonds. Fortunately, arrangements were made to ensure that the new batch was acquainted with their peers. One such arrangement was an informal competition hosted by the Media Public Relations Club of our college, where we had to make a minute-long introduction video. The top 3 introduction videos were featured on their social media handles.
There is no doubt that the new normal has its set of challenges. Nevertheless, with the eventful induction program I attended, I am confident about starting my life at IIT ISM Dhanbad!