These
two years have changed me - in a huge way. When I was to come here, I was told
that life will not be the same as it was all these years. And that has turned
out to be true. So, I am penning down the major things that I have learnt in
this journey at Planet I.
Fear
is the biggest handicap there can be. If you lose out on opportunities because
you are afraid, you are sure to regret that in life – sooner or later. So, if
there is any club, committee, interest club or sport that you are interested
in, give it a shot. Failing to get in is better than not attempting at all – my
personal experience.
You
define your own self. Amidst the rampant stereotyping and pressure that life keeps
putting us through, we have to make our
choices as to who we want to be and put efforts in that direction. And it pays
off in due time.
It is
vital to get out of your comfort zone. It is only when you push yourself that
you truly realize what you can achieve. Plus, it is what you do that defines
you – not just your intentions.
There
will be pitch dark days – when you feel utterly dejected and very lonely. What
is important to remember in those times is that those days will pass. A
positive attitude can make the dark days go away faster.
Everyone
has a story inside them - of struggle, of ambition, of passion and of love. And
they might be at different points in those stories. So, it is not right to
judge anyone.
People
are not black or white – there are shades of grey. Even in your own self. It is
advisable to not hate anyone for anything that they have done.
You
are bound to get hurt by someone or the other. When the storm gets too hard, it
is best to keep your head low and let it pass. Fight after you have recuperated
your strength and composure.
In
the real world, more important than execution of plans is your ability to
manage when your plans fail. Patience is an irreplaceable and an underestimated
virtue. All good things need patience.
Some
things will stay out of your reach. And this is true for everyone. You can do
anything, but not everything. But this should not let the other things that you
do have be disregarded.
It is
crucial to differentiate between what you can control and what is beyond your
control. The more time you spend on the former, the happier you will be.
One
has to take care to not discount self. If you don’t realize your worth, chances
are no one will. This is detrimental to life in a broad sense.
More
than anything else, keeping yourself grounded is necessary. Overconfidence and an
egotistic attitude are fatal to happiness in the long run.
It is
important to take time to relax. Short
breaks make herculean tasks become doable.
Some
of your best friendships will collapse. It will hurt and sting. People without whom
you could not imagine a day will move away.
But
then, you will find friends in people you did not expect. That will restore the
belief in goodness of life.
At
some point or other, you will realize that time is the only remedy to some of your
troubles.
Term
6 will give you more time to relax than all 5 previous terms put together. So,
keep yourself going till this term no matter how hard it may get in the
meanwhile.
What
will matter the most at the end is what you created for others and how you treated
them. No one is fond of a person who did everything for his own self.
You
will develop an attachment to college even if you think you had a hard time
here. I am one of those people – I thought I would not mind it when the MBA
will end. But I am already feeling miserable about it getting over.
And
so now I truly realize that all good things come to an end. That is a fact no
one can change.
But
then, some other good things begin. So, the patience is worth it.
As
one of the 450 odd students who will graduate from IIM Indore this March, I am
happy to have lived this dream. I did not write the article as any advice – I just
shared a few of my learnings. I urge you all to take it in that spirit alone.
Wishing
all of you many cherish-able moments ahead!