IITM, Here I Come!

A note to freshies from a benevolent senior! 😛

It’s that time of the year when the whole campus is literally brimming over with new students and of course their parents! IITM! Finally! College life is, no doubt, is one of the most significant and memorable period of life, as acknowledged by every sane person you know of. New city, different surroundings, unknown people and a sudden new found freedom! It’s a teenage dream come true. But at the same time, leaving the safe and secure covet of family and staying miles away in some undersized space is painful and agonizing.

Now you here at the Indian Institute of Technology – the most prestigious engineering institute of the country. All by yourself! Oh no wait, you have the GCU! And you have your roommates too! These are probably your first set of people you would come face to face apart from your old school friends who happen to be in the same institution. Open up and talk to them as much as possible because now they are your immediate family, next to your real family. This will also help you to get over your homesickness. Over the time, you might realize that they do not belong to the same school of thought but then adjusting is a great skill in itself. Maintain a friendly contact, nevertheless.

Next come friends. These are those with whom you are going to some of the most wonderful moments for your life. It is very common for freshmen to befriend only those who are in the same department. My advice: Don’t restrict yourself to your discipline. Make friends from other departments as well. But at the same time, don’t go on adding everyone you meet on your way to CRC to your friend list. Choose your buddies because they say, “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. But friends are the family we choose for ourselves.”

Last but not the least, amidst all the awesome things that a college life guarantees you, academics should always be there at the back of your head. That is precisely for what you have toiled and slogged day and night for 2 years. Contrary to what people say, academics in college is lot more demanding than that in school. However, demanding does not mean you lock yourself in your room and stick your big nose to your books with Fevikwik. Activities other than studies are equally important. They act as stress busters and sometimes, double up as exciting avenues to meet new people. Prioritize and involve yourself in some non academic activities. This is only time when you can explore a lot of interesting extracurricular activities which will help you realize what you actually love to do and would like to pursue, along with your academics, in the future.

College is fun. Hope you have the best times of your life here at IIT Madras!