I feel like it was only yesterday when I drove past the main gate with my parents for the first time to have a look at the campus before I apply here. I was astonished by the infrastructure of this place, but I never realised that after four years, when I leave this very place, it’ll be so difficult to accept it.

IIITD is not just a college (or institute as we were corrected on the orientation day), it’s an experience, one that will build you as a human and then as an engineer. The best part that made me fall in love with this place were the people. The humbleness and love with which they welcome you to become a part of their family are beyond any words. I still remember the first day when I came across a senior, all nervous about how I am going to interact with them, should I call them by name or call them “Didi” or “Bhaiya”. Amidst all these thoughts, a friendly voice offered me her course book saying it might help me through the semester. From that moment, I realised how important it is for us, to understand how our seniors treated us and impart the same affection to our juniors. IIITD has taught me how to become a better version of myself, it has helped me understand what I’m good at and then helped me nurture that strength until I’m satisfied. For the first two years, I was in the 7-pointer lot of the batch, which is I guess the majority of the batch. During these two years, I also came across HSS courses, which made me realise how much I enjoy Humanities courses (made me rethink my stream choice in 11th)

IIITD has taught me how to become a better version of myself, it has helped me understand what I’m good at and then helped me nurture that strength until I’m satisfied. For the first two years, I was in the 7-pointer lot of the batch, which is I guess the majority of the batch. During these two years, I also came across HSS courses, which made me realise how much I enjoy Humanities courses (made me rethink my stream choice in 11th). The Institute asks us to complete 3 HSS courses by the end of graduation but I, on the other hand, have done 10, including two IS (Independent Studies) on Sanitation and Behavior Change Communication in India.

Foundation Day 2016, Dean’s List Awardees along with Dr Dheeraj Sanghi and Dr Vikram Goyal

Now, understand I’m a confused person who is still realising her future options, and then I come across the amazing variety of courses, and I go crazy. I want to try HCI, and Security, Cryptography and Database and everything until I talk to my seniors (believe me, hang with your senior friends, they are the best guides). I’m given ideas about how courses progress, the load and if you’ll get through the course or not (Given the fact that you’re friends with those seniors, they know what you’re capable of). That is the point I realised my liking for designing and how much it speaks to me.

For starters, I go for the HCI course (DHCS), a Designing course in Video Editing (NLE), a course on security, obviously an HSS course and my IS. Believe me, that semester I realised how much I could study and get positive results out of it. A 7-pointer pulled off a 9. I was seriously in shock but I realised that I didn’t expect anything less than that since I had put in so much effort. Cut to the end of 6th semester, where I again went with my choices and got a 9.4. Okay, that was the point I realised I guess efforts do give fruitful results. And the best point of my 4 years at IIITD came. The Foundation Day, when I was on Dean’s List for excellent academic performance (the only individual from the batch who was awarded an improvement award). Over the course of these four years, I’ve realised what I’m good at, and what lines I need to follow to achieve my passion. Only because of this institute and its professors, I came to know about CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design). I took the exam, and now after IIITD, I’d be joining IIT Delhi, to pursue Masters of Design. IIITD has helped me in ways I can’t explain, and changed my life only for the better, so thank you, thank you very much for making me realise what I want and need in life. Thank you 🙂

IIITD has helped me in ways I can’t explain and changed my life only for the better, so thank you, thank you very much for making me realize what I want and need in life. Thank you 🙂

Amya Rai
Class of 2017