My life as an engineering student

“Engineering” considered being a field of brain, technical knowledge and day and night study. With hundreds of engineering colleges budding in every nook and corner of the states, it has merely become a misnomer now. Moreover the level of education is not at all qualitative; it is just certifying one as an engineer with the caliber not more than a senior secondary pass. It is the field that every math’s student views as his/her career option. And with me being no exception even I opted for the same.

It was June 2008, packed up with all competitive and board results and just enjoying the vacations as if life would be the same in the coming months and years. Hardly, aware where I would get finally landed up and which engineering college had the destiny decided for me. Cautious about the career but not that much really, thinking that life would be easier and free, as it was the college time, free from all stringent school rules and daily punishments. Neither homework, nor a bulky bags just a thin notebook and pen. Fewer lectures and more bunks, and having fun all the day with the fellow peers. June passed with the same thoughts and enthusiasm. Finally I had my counseling and got SBCET, the name of the college located at a distance of 17kms from jaipur (the capital of rajasthan). I was lucky to get discipline of my choice that was computers.

Finally the day arrived when my mom and dad came and made me shift in the college hostel. The place was new and I could hardly find anything familiar. My mom and dad helped me in shifting my stuffs in my so called ‘new room’ and then after handing over few thousands to me they returned home. It was dusk; I settled my bags and other items. Internally, I was little upset and afraid but externally pretended to be strong and comfortable with the situation. I had come 7 days before my classes would start. So there were no as such fellow mates except my roomy. My roomy was from Mumbai, the heart of Maharashtra. She was sweet enough to me. I found myself comfortable talking to her. The initial 7days were kind of tough for both of us as our classes had not started so we stayed in our room for the full day and all we did was just waited for the tasteless food.

I had many questions inside me… like how will be going to college? How will my new batch mates and teachers be? And will I find some really good friend in college... Etc... Etc...

Muddled up with these thoughts the initial 7 days passed and finally the day arrived when our classes started. I took care to dress up like a complete idiot for the 1st day of college. I wore an ill fitted salwal suit with normal slippers. I took care to oil my hair and make a pony which somehow looked like dog’s tail ;)

Ragging is something every engineering student is scared of and we were no exception. We were the prey for our predator seniors. They ragged us in the best possible way. Dancing, doing weird stuffs, oiling our hair, dressing up like fools, wearing bathroom slipper in college and wishing everyone started coming naturally to us. This all continued for around a month. We all always tried to escape from ragging by making stupid excuses but none of us succeeded.

The whole month passed in the same confusion, searching classrooms and getting ragged every now and then. Finally the month came to an end with our Fresher’s Party. I was the lucky girl scholar as I was chosen for the title of “Miss Fresher”. After getting the title of “Miss Wave 2008” things did changed a lot in college.

Everyone started knowing me… and yeah... a lot of proposals did flow in. I came out as one of the most popular students in college and of course it had its own sets disadvantages, like... I was easily caught bunking my classes, I was the one who was supposed to give an answer for every mass bunks... etc...Etc...Etc... The list is endless..

At the mean time college continued and ragging wasn’t in vogue anymore. It was hard to cope up with the studies. I was totally in a situation of dilemma where life had left me. It was time when I learned to eat tasteless food, to wash clothes, and to do little works which became mandatory. Every morning I had to wake up at six, and then wait in queue to get a chance to take a shower in the bathroom. Many a time we used to run out of water amidst our showering program, and then we used to struggle for water. By hook or by crook we used to reach college and often late for 1st lecture. Our soporific schedule made us sleep like rhinos, weekends for me was meant for washing clothes, completing the written work not only for myself but also for my seniors. Life continued in the same manner and slowly and gradually time passed and even we became ‘seniors’. Situations were little better now but we were totally exhausted.

Till then it has been three long years now. We are still struggling with life everyday but habituated now and have become more tough and strong with the circumstances. The entire semester completes with the same struggle and the actual study is a day before the finals. Thus from my point of view, a B.Tech Degree is not a matter of 48 months(4 years) but a matter 48 nights(48 subjects in total degree , hence 48 nights before each exam.) A lesson it has taught is that life is not that easy always. Time is one of the best teachers. And of course ‘engineers’ rock’..!!!