Walking past the old memory lanes again, my last year of MBA -By Abhishek Anand from IIM Nagpur
Life has been full of uncertainties for me in the past and has continued to be so. My first day of the hilly holiday had been finalized notwithstanding the last day of my summer internship was swinging like a pendulum. The corporate life, after a long span of time, which felt like a ship sailing at a constant speed in a single direction, was like a beacon of reality awaiting the near future. The last year of my MBA life was nearing.
The time which seems to disappear amidst the college chaos appeared again, staring at me with hope. Short and unknown hours suddenly transcended to long and obtrusive periods. The tickling of the clock needles became loud and visible. The excitement was at its threshold. The last page of my Mumbai internship was about to get over.
The rigorous club activities, limitless freedom, stressful nights and crazy celebrations awaited my arrival. There also will be responsibility to assure that the new batch gets accustomed to IIM Nagpur’s culture. Once again I shall be witnessing the intriguing faces filled with apprehension and ardour. There would be guidance accompanied with gratitude, new relations were to be formed and the knowledge sharing caravan was about to get new wheels.
How the campus welcomed me back
As I entered my MBA college gates one last time this year, I could feel the fresh vibes of the campus as I walked past the old memory lanes. The lush green leaves had lost its color, the smoke alley was deserted and our multi-utility ground appeared futile. I could see a few faces exuding a warm gesture of friendliness. As the clock ticked, footsteps strolled and in no time I could see the hustling crowd moving towards the registration office with a disgruntled look.
I could see a few friends carrying a heap of books heavier and taller than them, drenched in sweat, searching for a place to unload themselves. Looking at them, I wondered how many books will remain untouched this term and whether or not there would be enough space in our new rooms to accommodate the pile of books.
As my colleagues arrived, I noticed some exuberant faces dying to unravel their internship stories. The talks regarding the induction of the new batch had begun. Our campus life was reduced to half of what that was in the first year due to the shifting of hostels which was around two kilometers away from where classes were held. Many students have got two-wheelers for the ease of commuting and exploring the leftover Nagpur city.
Surprisingly, our renovated hostels were quite spacious but bitten by the scorching summer of Nagpur. Our first few days in the college campus went in filling water in the coolers and forming study groups for elective courses. Gradually, the clouds gathered and the first rain brought a respite from the long spell of heat.
Another term and the four major elements
The fourth term was different as the courses split according to individual preferences. Nevertheless, I know that my stance towards studies will remain the same. Even though my entrepreneurial dream was constant, I could see my goals changing as one year passed. I had planned multiple times and had failed in executing them. But I never had a sense of regret for that. I have never really believed in planning and schedules; in fact, I had always been a spontaneous person living in present. My thrill-seeking attitude and craving for novelty has always pushed me to take a bumpy path. I have always liked challenges as they bring me out of my comfort zone and push me to think differently.
In the one year of my MBA, my life primarily revolved around four major elements. These were my social life, studies, sleep and sports. As a future manager, my first managerial task will be to balance these four horizons. I can’t have bits and pieces of all if I want to experience the threshold of each. My first year went in balancing the three S, where I left my studies behind. This year definitely demands some sacrifice on my part, if I have to sync my curriculum with my future goals.
This article was submitted as an entry to Become an Author with Dare2Compete.