There are some who get into all these things (College Fests and all that jazz) purely for"Building their PROFILE" while others get into this purely because of passion. So, I shall share some personal reflections in my journey from a "Been there done that" perspective. I 'll take you through my "Been there..." journey and what I learnt from it. You've just come into an engineering college(My case -Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai (formerly known as UDCT),hence with reference to that) by locking yourself for two years in a room filled with books and misplacing the room keys(Most of us did) .You have heard a lot about college festivals,the cool stuff ,etc .Hence most of you would want that "Break Free" feeling and therefore you should sign up for anything and everything that comes up in the first year.
For the Freshie junta:
In the freshie year, you are introduced to all clubs, festivals, events and seniors in your institute. You should participate in all these events without giving it much of a thought and without any bias. Go with an open mind for all these things and explore. I might have never danced in my life but I did it on my Freshers' Day(The creepy video exists somewhere,but I wont tell you where). Walking with a girl down the aisle would have been a fantasy that we would have toyed only for the marriage day, but we did it during our Freshers' Day Fashion Show(Haan, main boys school se hoon).Through these events in your freshmen year, you get to meet all your classmates and socialize with them. This is a wonderful ice-breaker of a sort and such occasions make lasting friendships . These events are meant to make you identify your hidden talents and help you become more confident in life. Don't ever develop that "I don't give a damn attitude..."and I am too cool for this stuff " thing . There is a lot more to life than just calculating the efficiency of a heat -exchanger. (Hope the Chem Engg Professors are not reading this)*In those days, the LIT CLUB at ICT would have regular debating knock outs in A-152.I might have sat for almost all these debates in my freshmen year.(And so did Abhishek Hule ) How did it help me? Listening to each debate would keep me updated about global situations, strategic affairs, social problems ,making my mind reason by listening to arguments from both the sides.When my team was competing(Ammar Babar and me),we had to debate on "Judge System v/s Jury System"(we won). This made me watch the famous movie(As a part of preps) 12 Angry Men (1957 movie) before my debate.My second debate (we lost)"Nationalism is a Hangover of History", gave me lots of insights into happenings across the world.*I actively took part in the English Dramas, Rubik's Cube solving, elocution and public speaking events (IGNITE).How did it help me ? I no longer have stage fear. I could prepare for impromptu stuff without much hesitation. There are lots of technical events that come now and then (Intra and Inter Collegiate) like Industry Defined Problems and you should take part in them. Yes, they play a big role in your CV the main reason being you have to find a practical solution to a live industrial problem in a given time frame which invariably tests your mental acumen, agility,cognitive learning and problem solving abilities.There are many meetings that the festival committees have. And sitting for them would definitely give me the adrenaline gush. One reason why I chose ICT is because they have an excellent extra-curriculars set up that no Mumbai Engineering college has(leave aside IIT Bombay).So, you should eagerly watch how your seniors organize such meetings,how do they go about organizing events from scratch to totality. Work under smart seniors and acquire domain expertise in organizing. Don't be over smart.Always be humble throughout the process and keep an open mind. Remember , there is an ancient Sanskrit saying "Let knowledge flow through me from all sides". Respect each aspect of work and do it without inhibition. Be it lifting benches, cleaning the room for the participants during fest, hospitality, accompanying the VIPs to their seats, frisking people at security, climbing up the ladder to stick flexes, going to A2Z Andheri printers at 12:00 am to get some urgent posters, going from one college to another for campaigning, selling passes like a typical sales person (Not because the seniors promised you some Angoors),clerical excel typing work given by seniors for a festival,randomly calling participants,doing front office clerical jobs during the main events. Dont ever think that this is low category work. How did it help me? It taught me humility. It made me tougher.They broke a lot of barriers in me. Doing such activities makes you appreciate the thank less jobs that are done by the non-teaching staff 24/7.(As Narendra Modi who rose from a tea-seller to the PM of India, he knows that ground level work and grass root work teaches you a lot).And yes, watching your seniors sport the cool Walky Talky, wear the CORE T-shirts with their nick names during festivals would definitely give you the "Grass appears greener on the other side " feeling.
My Ignite ICT stints (First and Second Year)
Moving Ahead:
In the second year, with God's grace I was chosen as the Fresher's Day Overall Co-ordinator reporting directly to the then General Secretary Dhaval Dinani . Fresher's was perhaps one hell of an experience. You have complete ownership in doing whatever you wish to. It was my first lesson in leadership. It is a fairly difficult event to organize taking into consideration the limited time frame (1 month) and it is very very very demanding. How did it help me? It taught me the fine art of dealing with disruptive minds. Dealing with egos of others. It taught me how not to succumb under pressure. At first it was pretty frightening, but with gentle prodding,you start kicking stuff. Did it help me get a job ? Not really but the experience helped me tackle the situations I face now while on a job. I was also on the Core Group committee of the ICT Marathon and this was one of the most rugged badass events of the institute. How did it help me? It taught me 101 ways of selling a product and 101 ways of not selling the same product. It taught me that however demanding the situation may be, if you progress with a calm mind it will surely help. It taught me that things will not be in your favour always. You need to be accommodating at times. It taught me that difference of opinions and ego clashes exists in team working and mutual understanding is the only way of tackling it.
Pic: ICT Marathon 2013 Core Group
Pic: Freshers' Day 2012 Core Group
And now its your turn to call the shots:
In the last phase of my second year(Time for applying for the BIG DADDY STUDENT COUNCIL), I was literally tired. I had really worked a lot in each festival. Volunteered in every activity. Never said NO to any senior. Did all the ground work that a junior needed to do. I was rather frustrated looking at the politics, negative things that take place in organizing events. Lots of groupism existed and I just wanted to stay ALOOF. I had decided that I am not going to apply for any post next year, reason being "Didn't want to face the political muck, I have seen a lot", " I WANT TO FOCUS ON MY STUDIES"(My GPA was stuck at an 8. someone and I really really needed to increase it). And I told myself, why do you want to get your hands dirty in such stuff. Aren't you already cool enough and would be better off if you focus on worthwhile things (Read -GRE, Hoping for a 9.XX). I refused to speak to anyone and would rubbish off all the rumours that were doing the rounds of the campus that " I will apply for the X position".I was mistaken. I was covered with a false veil of ignorance. My mother told me one thing which I shall never forget(Circa March 28,2013) "What do you want to become? A leader? Do you want somebody else to call the shots? You want to become the boss right? And what are you getting scared of? Son, politics exists everywhere. It exists in the corporate world, It exists in governance, it exists in whatever activity you wish to do. You need to face it smartly with a lot of yukti(skill) and that is when you develop your capabilities and become more strong and smart."After listening to this there was no turning back second thoughts.Made my video essay,wrote my Dhinchak SOP, sent my application. Prayed to Guruji (My Spiritual Master-H.H.Sri Sri Ravishankar ji). Did the Sudarshan Kriya (I wouldn't have survived without meditation)Cleared the written round. Kicked ass in the interview stage.AND became the GSec.How did it help me?It taught me to be brave and not a bully. It taught me to be kind but not give into weakness. It taught me that leadership is not a 9-5 job but a 24/7 responsibility (Courtesy: Abraham Lincoln). It made me interact with so many different people. I have personal contact numbers of the WHOS WHO in the chemical industry. I delivered speeches in front of industry captains, emeritus professors and intellectuals. My network based increased manifolds. Had the privilege of learning a lot under many UDCT alums, senior professors. It gave me an excellent access base to many opportunities that I doubt any student can get. Knew every POR in the institute on a personal level.
Pic: Receiving the General Secretary Certificate from Prof.Dr.G.D.Yadav
(Vice Chancellor-ICT Mumbai)
Did it help me in getting a job?
Oh yes it did(Non -Technical,mind you !). In the CEO round of interviews , they asked me a lot about the things I did as a GSec. Leadership,managing acads and extra stuff, handling responsibilities definitely pitches you way better than the other candidate for a job like Sales and Marketing(Non-technical,mind you !)
Conclusions:
For those who wish to apply for MS/PhD:Do these things matter:
No it doesn't. Period.There is no harm in doing these things but you would might as well spend time in hunting for a research internship, increasing your GPA, researching on top schools abroad,thinking of publishing a paper/applying for a patent. Because, these are the skill sets required for a researcher. Most of my friends from ICT who have gone abroad for an integrated PhD(full fellowship) rarely were involved in organizing events,festivals. (For those who wish to apply for MBA: Definitely
For those who wish to sit for campus placements:Depends upon which profile and industry you are applying for. If its a technical job, all they see is your technical know-how and hence how to calculate the efficiency of a heat exchanger is quintessential !!! They don't care much if you have been the Cult Fest Head, or you brought "X0000000 Rs" sponsorship for the festivals. All they see is how much you know your basics well and yes GPA also.For a non-technical /techno-commercial job (Like Sales and Marketing, Consultancy), yes they do consider all these things. And it all boils down to how you sell yourself to the company and does your profile match with the the company's needs.But, in hindsight are you doing all these awesome things just for the JOB/apping or do you really want to experience the thrill of getting your hands dirty, calling the shots? These things, you will not realise the benefits immediately, but down the line, it will reflect in how you deal with things, the magnanimity through which you see events, the efficiency by which you get things done and you become a valued asset wherever you go.
Soham D'Souza
Ex General Secretary (2013-2014) of the Institute of Chemical Technology(erstwhile UDCT,Matunga)
File Pic-Student Council(Technological Association) ICT Mumbai 2013-2014
