My Engineering days – The end ...

Final year is always the best and mine was no different. We had ensured Sudi became Departmental Secretary. And we had Manohar from IP who became General Secretary. We had our team in place and thus had the task of managing the college annual fest called Jnana Cauvery. Some 20 events spread over 3 days and participants from different engineering colleges and a mega cultural evening. I headed the Event Management Committee and things went pretty smooth mainly because we had a very good team. We had many off stage activities which included Rose King, Rose Queen, Bidding for the first rose, Dedicating songs to friends and loved ones all day.. I was also the Quiz master for the event. It was all fun. And guess what all the organizing committee members did a Fashion Show and I was part of it. It came out really well. On Friday 25th Sep 2009 I joined my IS students in the Fashion show and it reminded me of my good old days. Am glad I am with my students and it provides an opportunity to be still part of such events.

And then the final year trip. This time it was a 6 day trip to Goa, Gokarna, Yaana, Jog falls. Along with Sudi we booked a luxury bus from Mysore. 38 were on board which included 15 girls. And we were off to Goa. First 2 days at Goa. Churches and beaches… Then to Gokarna. Next Yaana.. Yaana is a stunning place and we had to walk a lot then. We reached at around 2 and I can never forget the lunch we had while coming down at 5.. All were hungry and we had ordered food at a local house and they served rice and Sambaar and it was tasty as well (partly because all were hungry like anything :-) )

Then off to Jog falls after halting at Sirsi. We got down and it took 2 hours to go near the falls by walk. Had a great time and then trekked back, had lunch at Hotel and then left for Mandya at around 4. Reached next day early morning at 4 AM.
It was a great experience in organizing the trip and we really had a time of our life. A special thanks to Shivaprasad whose handy camera came in handy and it brings back those good old days when I watch the CD of our trip.

Two good things happened related to academics. Did a paper presentation based on our 6th sem Project called Language interface ( translation from Dravidian languages to English and vice versa) along with Avinash and my first presentation fetched the first prize. We modified the paper and it was selected for poster presentation Symposium on Translation support systems held at IIT Kanpur. Along with Avinash and with support from Murali Sir and Suresh Sir went to Kanpur. It was a great experience. Also toured Agra and Delhi while returning.

Final year engineering.. Suddenly started thinking what next.. In a years time we will be passing out. Will I be a software engineer (the default option ) or will I pursue some higher studies or will I do something unconventional.

Read an article in a news paper about the District Commissioner of Trivandrum who was made the victim by politicians in a fraud case and was suspended. But he fought back and was reinstated as DC of Trivandrum. The amount of good work he had done and his simplicity and honesty moved me. Then I started collecting information on how to become a DC. We did not have something called as career counseling and getting information on anything was indeed a tough ask then. Then decided that I will become an IAS officer and had to clear Indian civil service (ICS) exam for this. The main driving factor was the zeal to do something for the common man.

Finished 7th and 8th semester. 8th sem I was the second topper with 93 % and had an overall aggregate of 78 %. It was a great achievement considering the amount of time I spent on studies :-)

I told my parents that I want to become an IAS officer. Becoming a Software engineer was the order of the day and they were not very happy with my decision. Told them that I would sit at home for an year and prepare for exams and requested dad to get me IAS books worth 9000Rs. It was a tough one for my dad. They expected me to get into a job and start earning but my idea stunned them. But my dad agreed and gave 9000Rs for the same.

From a parents perspective they were right. Dad had taken a loan for Hero Puch, Computer totaling 55000Rs and it was natural for them to expect me to start earning. Sister had also joined degree course in Mysore and she used to travel daily. Dad had taken a loan for TVS XL Super for her in II PUC..

I was under confusion. Whether to join industry as per parents wishes or to pursue my dreams. It was a tough choice and I couldn’t decide on it.

It was in 2002. 2001 was the Y2K and dot com bubble and IT industry had taken a severe beating. Companies had stopped recruitment. Things were slowly beginning to pick up as its happening now. No campus interviews. After the completion, attended one at NIE, Mysore. It was a combined interview for students of SJCE, NIE and PESCE Mandya. Honeywell had come. Didn’t clear the aptitude round.

Then took Infosys test. Was not at all sure whether I really wanted to become a Software Engineer or an IAS officer. Failed to get into Infosys.

Time had come to decide. I took a firm stand that I won’t get into industry and would rather pursue IAS goal. Told my parents about this. They agreed reluctantly. Never took any further tests. Friends started getting jobs and my parents had a worried look on their face. Doubts were creeping about my decision – whether I have let my parents down. Then came the opportunity at Nitte. I felt I could pursue my dreams parallel by joining teaching profession. They had called for Lecturer post in October. Attended interview on Oct 16th 2002 , was selected and joined as a lecturer on Oct 23rd.

I put my whole hearted effort for IAS exams. I had taken Psychology and Public Administration as optional. Worked really hard. Took the exam and was pretty confident of clearing it but was shocked to see the result. I couldn’t make it. Had put 3 years of preparation for the same and was feeling very low after the results. It hadn’t sunk in. Took almost 3 months to get back to normal state and then decided that I will continue in teaching profession. Decided to pursue my Ph.D

Looking back at how things panned out though am disappointed that I did not make it into IAS, I have no regrets. I did my best. Learnt a lot in preparing for the exams. Took up an unknown subject Psychology and mastered it. In fact can handle a subject for UG Psychology students. :-)

Am in this teaching profession, very passionate about what am doing and am enjoying it to the hilt. Still see a student in myself. Love interacting with students and enjoy making efforts to improve the delivery process.

To sum it up: Enjoy your college life. Get involved in many activities. Just being good in academics won’t do any good. Always put your best effort and leave the rest to destiny. I never thought that I would come and settle in Udupi. But whatever role we end up playing do justice to it. And don’t blame destiny or fate if things don’t go your way. Accept it and move on. What you should worry is lack of effort. Whatever you learn everything will come in handy one time or the other. So keep reading books, get involved with extra-curricular activities, be aware of the current happenings across the world and enjoy your life.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS WITH PASSION....

Friends with this I conclude my write-ups on engineering days. Hope you had a good time reading it.