Striking Gold

How did you feel when you first saw the Campus? I am a person who likes to explore, academically that is. So, my first thought was that I wanted to be the director of this campus someday. It felt like a world of possibilities. It was a great feeling.

What kept you motivated across the years in accomplishing such a high CGPA? I guess motivation is the wrong kind of thing to ascribe something to. Because, there was a phase when I was bothered by my performance. In the first year I happened to be one of those who performed well. We all come from the best of our schools and colleges. And it’s very competitive here. So, first year, I think was a little hard work and a lot of luck. But what really kept me going after that was that I loved my subjects. I want to do research and I will pursue a PhD. I chose most of the subjects I had, I took MSc Maths by choice and then BE. Computer Science too. It was never that I got this, I took this. My motivation is very simple: I love what I study.

What is one thing that you are proud of? It’s a little sad but I think this is the wildest thing I have done. My Algebra 2 Compre paper was scheduled for two hours and I finished the paper quite early. But I was very hungry as I had studied the whole night. So, that day I didn’t have the strength to pull through and check my paper. I got out of the hall, went to the cafeteria below, had some Masala Dosas and a milkshake. Came back to the hall, checked the paper, pointed out a couple of mistakes in the question paper, had a nice chat with the instructor and left. In all seriousness, though, the proudest things would be my relations here. I have met some of the nicest people on the planet here. I think, that is something that I will carry with me.

And one thing that you regret? Well, I wish I had auditioned for drama club. I am the sort of a person who is involved in very rigid, procedural things, be it academics or extracurricular activities. I would have liked to do something that involved some more physical expression. I was very famously known for not even swinging an arm at the DJ nights. I think that I should have loosened up a bit.

How do you see the Campus progressing in the near future? Students are absolutely getting brighter every year and the campus is growing in a lot of aspects. BITS produces great businessmen and technocrats. And a lot of work is going on with respect to start-ups, competitive coding, internships, etc. But I don’t see BITS growing in research any time soon and that’s something I would like our institute to progress in.

In a sentence, how would you describe your experience here? It has been a one hell of a ride. The person I am today, the kind of opportunities I have got, the kind of people I have met, I owe it all to this place and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Any message for your juniors? Stay in school. Don’t do drugs? Follow your dreams. I think it’s the most cliched thing to say. But, I’d say follow the clichés, there is a reason they work.

Article by Raman Sarda and edited by Musaiyab Ali Mirza