a look back after 4 years
The four years in NITK is a microcosm of life. It’s a world within a world. The great poem by Shakespeare strikes my mind as I prepare to leave my alma mater and look back at the four years that just dusked.
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.”
In my view, each of us experiences the seven stages through the NITK journey. And this is what makes it the most eventful one.
Stage 1: The infant.
This depicts the first couple of weeks in college. You know little and you feel helpless. New place, new faces and of course the new weather. This period is often spent trying to master the NITK lingo, from tripC (CCC) to GNPD to MSH. Well, even Google wouldn’t be of much use here.
Stage 2: The schoolboy
A large part of your first year falls in this domain. You slowly gear up to face the new environment and are willing to explore, leaving the protected abode behind. The first dinner at Suraj with friends, the walk down the beach, the first musical night (along with the first block timing extension) will be cherished for long. The first dose of being a part of a premier technical institute comes during Engineer, the insti’s technical fest. Soon, the rains would have subsided and within no time exams shall await you. The second semester starts with the usual New Year resolutions. “I shall study every day this sem”. Incident, the cultural fest is the highlight of this semester. Though many of you would like to spend this rather long mid-semester vacation at home, I would suggest you stay back and experience the late night concerts, the floodlit basketball matches and host of things that Inci has to offer. These will invigorate you.
Stage 3: The lover
This depicts an interesting stage beginning at the end of your first year. Emotions run high as you begin to miss your college. While spending your holidays at home, you realize that you cannot order from the night canteen if you feel hungry at 1 AM, nor can you chat with your buddies all night. You realize that the traits you picked up at NITK have become an integral part of you. There is also a sense of pride in wearing that NITK t-shirt or jersey when you go out. A romantic period indeed.
Stage 4: Soldier
The poem describes the soldier as one who is always working towards making a reputation for him, however short-lived it may be, even at the cost of foolish risks. The second year will resemble this. You enter your department for the first time. Getting into the club that you desire, joining the Engi committee that you love and earning the dream internship takes a strong seat in this period.
Stage 5: Justice
The third year of your undergrad education is ought to be a serious one. A make or break year. Academics, projects and building a good profile become the mantra. The year ends with organizing farewells for beloved seniors and taking up responsibility on your shoulders. You will soon be christened ‘Final year student’.
Stage 6: Old Age
This stage dawns as soon as you get placed. With the so called aim of engineering achieved, you begin to take time to enjoy the finer things in life (read trips, night-outs). With just a couple of subjects to be concerned about, long forgotten hobbies get back into limelight. The painting brushes, the DSLR camera and the dancing shoes get their due attention.
Stage 7: Oblivion
At the end of four years, NITK would have influenced each and every sphere of your life in such a way that parting from it would leave you handicapped and in oblivion.
As the most memorable journey that I have ever embarked on comes to an end, I can only be grateful that it occurred. To the freshmen, if you have bought (correction earned) yourself a ticket to experience this wonderful journey, enjoy it to the fullest. This will be once in a lifetime experience. Cherish every moment of it. Bon Voyage.
Girish Kini,
Batch of 2015, Mechanical Engineering, NITK
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.”
In my view, each of us experiences the seven stages through the NITK journey. And this is what makes it the most eventful one.
Stage 1: The infant.
This depicts the first couple of weeks in college. You know little and you feel helpless. New place, new faces and of course the new weather. This period is often spent trying to master the NITK lingo, from tripC (CCC) to GNPD to MSH. Well, even Google wouldn’t be of much use here.
Stage 2: The schoolboy
A large part of your first year falls in this domain. You slowly gear up to face the new environment and are willing to explore, leaving the protected abode behind. The first dinner at Suraj with friends, the walk down the beach, the first musical night (along with the first block timing extension) will be cherished for long. The first dose of being a part of a premier technical institute comes during Engineer, the insti’s technical fest. Soon, the rains would have subsided and within no time exams shall await you. The second semester starts with the usual New Year resolutions. “I shall study every day this sem”. Incident, the cultural fest is the highlight of this semester. Though many of you would like to spend this rather long mid-semester vacation at home, I would suggest you stay back and experience the late night concerts, the floodlit basketball matches and host of things that Inci has to offer. These will invigorate you.
Stage 3: The lover
This depicts an interesting stage beginning at the end of your first year. Emotions run high as you begin to miss your college. While spending your holidays at home, you realize that you cannot order from the night canteen if you feel hungry at 1 AM, nor can you chat with your buddies all night. You realize that the traits you picked up at NITK have become an integral part of you. There is also a sense of pride in wearing that NITK t-shirt or jersey when you go out. A romantic period indeed.
Stage 4: Soldier
The poem describes the soldier as one who is always working towards making a reputation for him, however short-lived it may be, even at the cost of foolish risks. The second year will resemble this. You enter your department for the first time. Getting into the club that you desire, joining the Engi committee that you love and earning the dream internship takes a strong seat in this period.
Stage 5: Justice
The third year of your undergrad education is ought to be a serious one. A make or break year. Academics, projects and building a good profile become the mantra. The year ends with organizing farewells for beloved seniors and taking up responsibility on your shoulders. You will soon be christened ‘Final year student’.
Stage 6: Old Age
This stage dawns as soon as you get placed. With the so called aim of engineering achieved, you begin to take time to enjoy the finer things in life (read trips, night-outs). With just a couple of subjects to be concerned about, long forgotten hobbies get back into limelight. The painting brushes, the DSLR camera and the dancing shoes get their due attention.
Stage 7: Oblivion
At the end of four years, NITK would have influenced each and every sphere of your life in such a way that parting from it would leave you handicapped and in oblivion.
As the most memorable journey that I have ever embarked on comes to an end, I can only be grateful that it occurred. To the freshmen, if you have bought (correction earned) yourself a ticket to experience this wonderful journey, enjoy it to the fullest. This will be once in a lifetime experience. Cherish every moment of it. Bon Voyage.
Girish Kini,
Batch of 2015, Mechanical Engineering, NITK