Mystory@Yakavi M P: How I chose my course and college

Mystory@Yakavi.M.P

At some point of time, everybody comes across a situation that helps them find out what they can do or what they can be. I too had such a day in my life and that was during my childhood. I can still very well visualise that scene – I was in class 3, and one day after dinner, everyone at home was busy watching a show on the television, something in which I was not at all interested. I had the urge to draw something and I took out my drawing sheets. In no time, I copied a drawing identically and enthusiastically went to show it to my mom who however, disappointed me by just shaking her head. I expected a great response to it but didn’t get one. From then I wanted to prove who I am to everyone. I kept practicing and got my drawings published in school magazine and newspaper. When I was in class 10, one day I was having a word with my class teacher, and it was then that I found out what I want to be. She encouraged me and gave me an idea of all the courses that I could pursue keeping in mind my interest. I was interested in the designing field. My parents wanted me to be a doctor, but I very well knew that it was not my cup of tea.

I purposely took Computer Science instead of Biology because I was afraid that in future they might force me to opt for Medical field. From that day onwards, I knew what my dream was. I wanted to be a business woman, but most of all, I wanted to be an influencer for the future generation. I wanted to set up my own garments manufacturing unit and design my exclusive brand. I did my schooling from The Indian Public School, Erode (TIPS). After successfully clearing class 12, I focused on some serious college hunt. I had already applied for NIFT, NID, Pearl and other reputed Fashion Designing institutes, but just then another discussion started at my home where they were of the opinion that I will forget my culture and tradition if I happen to join this course. I got a call from The TIPSGlobal Institute as I had been part of TIPS team.  I went on a campus visit with my family, and I actually felt like this is what I wanted – a dual degree course of MSc Fashion Design and MBA. I felt like I have to go for it and so I appeared for the admission test, and finally joined here to build a foundation for achieving my dream.

How I cracked college admission

I visited the campus of The TIPS Global Institute just to have a look at it as we had fixed an appointment earlier. Mr. Chokkalingam, one of the Directors spoke to us and we were taken on a campus tour. It was just a startup college with one batch of students; I was able to interact with them to know more about the college. They told us everything about the course 5 year Integrated MSc in Fashion design and MBA. The college is more concerned about the field knowledge more than the theory so they provide more field visits, guest lectures, workshops and internship every year. Also in the 4^th year, one full semester is dedicated to internship, so by the time one completes the course, he/she gets an experience of up to one year in different companies – this is a great opportunity for ambitious people. Another good thing about the college is that they also do not enroll a huge number of students so that they can concentrate fully on only a limited number of people. I was also asked to appear for the SAT exam conducted by the institute. I was not even prepared for it, but since everyone insisted, I thought I will give it a try.

On one hand I was confident that I’ll be able to crack the exam, but on the other hand, I was afraid that in case I mess up, I would not be able to get admission into the college. After a while I was sitting in front of a monitor and attempting the exam paper. I was blank, still I wanted to give my best. Somehow, I managed to answer all the questions. Then I was asked to wait for a while during which I kept thinking of how I must have performed, will I clear the test or not etc. Then I was called for a personal interview with the academic Director. It was basically to know whether I’m actually interested in the course or not. I answered all his questions and tried to impress him but something which really impressed him was the fact that I instantly had the answer to the questions what I wanted to become in life and what my dreams were. This is how I got enrolled into the college.

What I gained from my college experience

When I joined the institute, there were only round 100 students – this included students of all streams as well as my seniors. The first two days were spent at NALS- National Adventure and Leadership School, Nilgiris, and were memorable. It was fun learning there. I was actually on cloud nine, feeling on top of the world as I was into a college to build up foundation for a career of my choice. The seniors were really caring and the institute became a second family.

The main motto here was to educate us rather than teach us. Being in the second year of college I can boast of the wide knowledge I have gained with the field visits to reputed organisations and guest lectures conducted by reputed industrialists. I along with my friends have organised 2 fashion shows, 1 fashion fest and we have also designed and sampled for the school fest. I was also offered a job from a company for that. One of the student’s parent called me to ask whether we had actually designed those and said his company was producing for Walmart and he was going to start a domestic brand. He wanted me and my friend to design for the same. We didn’t want to risk with his startup venture. Other than that, we also had many offers for designing. I can surely say that no other college students will get such an exposure in the field this soon. Subjects are just 40% of what we learn here but our DIY works teaches us much more than just academics. They do not burden us, rather let us work and learn gradually. The management is not concerned with our marks, rather focuses more on the subject knowledge we have gained. The institute molds you and helps in transforming you into a different person.

About the Author:

I would like to express who I am with the help of Simone de Beauvoir‘s words, which goes like “I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life. I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends and to have loneliness, to work much and write good books, to travel and enjoy myself, to be selfish and to be unselfish… You see, it is difficult to get all which I want. And then when I do not succeed I get mad with anger.” You will be able to get to know the interpretation of those words in my life by further reading my story.  I am very determined girl with a beautiful family of five, which comprises me, my dad, mom, an elder and a younger sister. My dad is a business man, my mom is a great artist, elder sister is doing her MBBS abroad, my younger sister is in class 9, and I am doing Entrepreneurship in Fashion Design from The TipsGlobal Institute, Coimbatore.