Mystory@Avi Shekhar: How I chose my course and college

Mystory@Avi Shekhar

I had always been interested in Biology and Chemistry – learning about different systems in the body, symptoms of a disease, reactions between various compounds and much more. So, by the time I wrote my tenth board exams, it was very much clear that I would opt for the Science stream. Sounds smooth enough, isn’t it? But, there was a confusion. The dilemma of whether I should go for pure Biology stream or should I keep Mathematics as an option.

Mathematics still haunts me. I hated this subject back then and I hate it still. My father wanted me to opt for a Bio-Maths combination as he knew that medicine has lesser no. of seats and chances of admission in one of the government colleges is bleak, especially for a girl like me who only studies at the eleventh hour. After he pressurised me, I opted for Bio-Maths combination.

How I prepared for college admission

Finally, when I was writing my entrance exams, I wrote all the entrance exams for medicine and purposely wrote only one entrance exam for engineering (as I didn’t want to be an engineer). But fate has its own story. I kept qualifying for dental courses but never for pure medicine stream. I remember, I was so depressed of the limitations of seats that at one point of time, I felt like jumping off the terrace of my house. I wanted to die because it was my father’s dream to become a doctor, and since my father couldn’t achieve his dream, I wanted to be a doctor and fulfil his dream. Unfortunately, I was the unlucky daughter who couldn’t achieve her dreams. Sooner, my father sensed my depression and started consoling me. He just told me this, “Whatever happens, it happens for the good, you just have to believe in yourself.” With his words, I accepted to pursue engineering course. Luckily, I got a stream related to my field of interest – Biotechnology. As it is said, that after one becomes an engineer, he/she actually finds out what they want to become in life. So, I figured out that I am good at managing people and I saw business development is one such area where the demand for people will never fade out. And this is why I am here in IIT(ISM), studying MBA so that I can use my knowledge for the betterment of the organization.

Well, cracking CAT exam is never easy. We put in a lot of effort. For me, it happened just by chance. One day, sitting with my friends in my college canteen, I asked my friend, “which form are you filling?” He told me, “I am writing CAT exam this year”. He suggested me to take up the test just to gain experience about CAT exam pattern as I planned to take up the test after two years of job experience, so taking the test would have helped. It was the last day to submit the form online. I rushed to the cyber centre of my college and filled my form at the eleventh hour. My friend suggested that since we had filled up the form, we should prepare for it. But, I couldn’t get extra time to prepare for it as after college I used to stay back in laboratory and do my research work. By the time I reached hostel, I was too exhausted to study anything. If I could get even 5 minutes, I tried to solve one verbal question.

I never intended to join any MBA college in the year I first appeared for CAT. But destiny played its role. I wrote CAT and was able to score fairly well compared to the minimum level of my preparation for the test. I had lost hope and I knew I wouldn’t get many good colleges but only average colleges. So I moved on with my life and the job I had in hand. One day, my father called me and said that IIT(ISM) admissions are going on, fill the form to at least get an experience about how group discussion and personality interview is. I filled up the form, and to my surprise, I was shortlisted for further rounds of GD-PI. I had applied to only this college. When the results were out, I was surprised and happy to be selected for the MBA programme. Finally, I decided to take up the course and leave the job offer I had in hand.

My college experience

Attending classes takes up most of my time. After classes, we have sessions where we perform different activities like JAM, Air crash, turn coat, group discussion etc. to improve our communication skills. We also hang out in groups to interact more with classmates and to know each other better.

I love to attend all the classes. Teaching here makes the subject interesting. Curiosity makes us more sincere towards studies. My teachers here keep inspiring us to perform well in exams and gain overall excellence not only in academics, but also in other activities. I have joined art club of my college, as art has always been my topmost hobby. If given a chance, I would love to have more sessions on personality development here and more exposure to industries, their work culture etc.

My college experience at IIT(ISM) has changed me as a person. When I came here, I was one bubbly girl, carefree and too emotional. But with the passage of time, I am becoming more reserved, responsible and serious about my career. I try to take decisions and stick to them. My college experience teaches me every day, that no matter what happens, we have an aim in our life, and we have come here to fulfil our aims.

About the Author:

I have always been a girl who believes in living life to the fullest. Thankfully, my parents never forced me to top exams and score 100% marks. Probably, this is the reason whatever turn my life has taken, I believe it’s good for me. Pursuing MBA, my aim is to join an organization where learning never stops. I have always been interested in meeting new people and I love interacting with them, knowing and figuring out the thoughts and opinions of people. My hobbies include playing badminton and discovering new places. Traveling is basically one of the reasons why I have taken “marketing” as my specialization in MBA.