I am already in the final year of my engineering career here at NIT Surat. Come May’06 and I will be one of the thousands of engineers embarking upon a new journey of life. I will be among the few thousands who will be proudly donning the NIT tag. I often look back and wonder how these three and half years passed by. This period has been the most enriching experience of my life as it helped me become a person as a whole. Apart from the academic qualifications that I have gained, the most important thing that I could understand is life. Staying away from home has made me understand and see life better and from a very close angle. I stand on my own now and I feel confident about facing the world. I am fortunate that I am in an institute where students from all over the country come to study. This multicultural diversity and the realization of mini India in my campus is also unique.
Being in the twilight of my engineering career, I suppose I am capable enough to comment upon the life of an engineering student in general. I will divide this remarkable journey into four different parts on the basis of the four years that we spend in college as a student. I am writing this on the basis of my perception. It may vary from person to person but it’s my prerogative to write what I wish to here.
First Year:
The first year is the year of excitement, thrill and expectations. You set your foot in the campus and the tag of being a “Fresher” follows you for the year. That is accompanied by the fear of ragging by the seniors. The formal dresses, the full sleeve shirts during the summers, the fear of the presence of some seniors are part of the life of a first yearite. Most of us come here with lots of expectations from the institute. Expectations may vary from the dreams of a nice future to the fun expected from a typical college life. One thing that is very common during the first few months is home sickness. Many of the students who come here are outside home for the first time in life. New friends are made and new relationships come up. This helps in feeling the campus homely. A sense of responsibility grows and one starts feeling GROWN UP! This is accompanied by a feeling of independence. Independence for what you want to do, where & when you want to go…For many, bunks become a daily habit. You are your own guide and no one can stop you here. Many new habits start taking shape. Many of the students see the adult movies for the first time in life. Many start boozing and smoking for the first time. Using the words like f**k becomes a culture. Studies are mostly forgotten and only the 11th hour preparation for the exams fetches the marks. By the time one again gets time to think, he /she is in the most beautiful second year.
Second Year:
The best year of my engineering career is the second year. After the initial hiccups and setbacks in the first year, one starts looking into the first year with a new anticipation. This is accompanied by new expectations from the department. In this year, the friendship becomes deeper. The group that was made in the first year takes the shape of a gang and this continues for the rest of the days in the college. New “frustapa” comes into the picture…may be one becomes more interested in some new found crush or some college activities. Studies get the lowest among priorities. One gets more involved in the college activities and the excitement of showing superiority before the juniors grows. One starts taking enjoyment in screwing the juniors. The image created in the second year is usually the permanent one in one’s college life. Exams came and gone by and without even the slightest hint, the second year got over within no time.
Third Year:
After the excitement of the second year fades away and the students come back from home, one suddenly finds himself in a great quagmire. The studies are lagging behind and the previous year seems to be an utter waste. Being in the third year of engineering, it is not digestible that one’s technical knowledge is not up to the mark. Classes start and the usual murmuring, gossiping in the canteens are accompanied by a sense of sincerity towards work. “Kya meri job ho jayegi…?” is always there at the back of one’s mind. Many of the enthusiastic students join different coaching centers for MBA entrance examinations or GRE tests. Suddenly the career seems more important tops the list of different priorities albeit for a few days. This enthusiasm lasts only for a few days and life goes back to its normal state again. The high level of entropy diminishes and the students are back to the good old days. This year is usually a dull one because one is more confined to his room and starts thinking but doing nothing. This helps one in becoming more matured. And it is true that one gets more maturity during the third year. By this time, one will be having either of the two extreme opinions about the college: Either he will like the college or will be fed up of the entire system. As the time of placement approaches, the fear again comes back. The mock tests and the GDs and the PIs seem more important once again. Suddenly the book seems fascinating and technical studies become interesting. By the third year ends, many will be having jobs in their kitty yet many will have to be contended with bad experiences of missed interview chances. In this way, one of the most crucial year ends and one does not come into terms of the reality i.e. LIFE.
Final Year:
The last year is a year of realization, emotions and sentiments. The future attracts all, but with a warning that the life is never going to be the same again. This is a year of frustu life where senti gets more share. One starts realizing that he is going to lose all the things related to the last four years. The career path becomes clearer and confusing. The last days are characterized by the rambling days like picnics, group day, graffiti day etc. Seminar, projects take most of the time but studies get the lowest priority usually. Farewell, cultural festivals and college fests seem dearer to the hearts. Every thing that one neglected during the last three and half years seems more beautiful and one starts thinking is it worthwhile leaving this beautiful place. Sine time never waits, the D-Day comes and one has to leave the college forever. A new story of life unfolds here and I am not in a position to comment upon that.
Panache 