My advice to Biotechnology students is that know your area of interest and be dedicated to it, says Saksham

I did my schooling from St. Francis’ College and opted to study in the Science field. During my school days, I was more inclined towards Biology and used to score well in that subject. I always wanted to work in the research field on various latest innovations such as in Biophysics, recombinant DNA technology, microbiology, etc. One piece of advice to Biotechnology students is that know your area of interest and be dedicated to it. 

After my schooling, I choose NIIT University as this college had a well-developed lab facility, faculties who were well informed with the recent developments in the field of Biotechnology.

The lab facilities at NIIT University were developed to such an extent as to provide a piece of basic knowledge to the students who are planning to pursue a degree in this college. Other reasons why I opted for this college are a vast alumni network, a greater number of choices for specialisations, more networks to help land opportunities and jobs, and greater flexibility for students. 

Being a nature lover, the greenery of this campus was one of the reasons that also captivated my attention. The scenic beauty around the campus mesmerised me and the way the faculties are involved in creating awareness programmes to maintain a green campus.

I gave a short examination conducted by NIIT University which was followed by a personal interview. During the interview I was asked several questions related to my field and why do I want to pursue my career in this field. There were other colleges that I tried for in the beginning but because of the vast scope in Biotechnology that this University promised, I ended up choosing it. As such there were no challenges that I faced while opting for this college.

When selecting a major, one should consider not only their scope but also their talents and interests. Many students focus too much on current statistics regarding industries with high employment rates and high salaries.

While this is important, it shouldn’t be the only option. For example, you may be fascinated with Robotics; if you had trouble passing math and science classes in high school, Robotics might not be the best option for you.

It’s also important to note that people often have a simplistic and distorted view of what subjects and majors are ‘practical’. There are many possible career paths. For example, there is currently a lot of hype around Biotechnology, keeping in view the current lockdown situation; great for those who have an aptitude and interest in these subjects; however, it does not mean they are right for everybody.

Every college has a transforming ability in a way that a students’ mindset changes as they develop a different ideology after entering a University. I still remember how I used to spend my time in college. Overall, it was a fun time with friends, clicking pictures, going on long walks, etc. There are various cafes present in the university where all of us used to chat and have a gala time with friends. I loved to attend Chemistry and Biotechnology lectures but sometimes I even missed my lectures because of the other co-curricular I was a part of such as Theatre, Sports, and fitness coordinator. I was also a part of various monologue events, standups, and also an impressionist. I volunteered in various exchange programs such as AIESEC and am thankful to this university for making it happen and let some of the students live a life beyond their comfort zone. If given a chance then I would love to work for the needy and poor who are currently living in a debilitating situation. I just want to add that you should try stepping outside of your comfort zone. You should always feel comfortable in your work situation that sounds nice, doesn’t it? But this would also mean you saying no to some challenges and the opportunities that come with them. There is an expression that goes, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got”. If you want to reach new and improved results, you occasionally have to take some risks.

I believe college affects the personality of every person to a little extent. Some of the points I would like to list down below:

1. I can handle criticism better now as compared to the time I entered this university
2. I learned to control my anger, thanks to a handful of annoying seniors (laughs)
3. I understood there's more to life than marks and good grades
4. No offence intended, but I realised that the grades are not necessarily the clear measures of a person's intellect
5. Most importantly, college is not just about academics, but also about the friends and the memories we make and the life lessons we gather along the journey.

There is an expression that goes, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got”. If you want to reach new and improved results, you occasionally have to take some risks.

I had a vision working in the Biotechnical and charcoal sector making use of the skills I have learned in this college.

Later, I plan to pursue my PhD in the Research sector.

About the author:

Saksham is an alumnus of NIIT University. He pursued BTech in Biotechnology. At present, he is working as a Research Engineer at IIT Delhi in the Biosensor department. This is his first step towards a career in the research domain. Saksham is a creative student and has a keen interest in Cycling, Yoga and Sketching.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha