A beginner’s guide to #Life@SPJIMR

The word ‘fresher’ applied to me in more ways than one when I walked through the gates of SPJIMR for the first time. Most of my undergraduate tenure comprised sitting through online classes in the comfort of my home, and I decided to pursue my postgraduate degree before venturing into the corporate arena. Therefore, with virtually no exposure to the harsh realities of life outside the home, I decided to step into the PGDM programme at SPJIMR.

A five-hour test awaited us on the first day we were on campus, and assignments were due even before we could unpack our bags! The programme really does commence at the speed of light, as late-night meetings, impending deadlines, and the pressure to perform start mounting before one even has the chance to settle into the new environment. I was due a couple of hits from life at breakneck speed, and the PGDM programme definitely gave me this shot in the arm, and then some more.

As we were just getting used to the pace of quizzes, mid-terms, and assignments, the fabled placement season arrived. There truly is no ‘comfort zone’ in this programme! The placement season, with its mental, physical, and emotional rigour, is definitely frenzied enough to make even the best of people start questioning their life decisions.

However, at the time of writing this article, all of these struggles seem like they are quite far behind in the rear-view mirror!

Today, I can confidently say that #IamSPJIMR and I have found my tribe here. In fact, it is in those frantic periods of vibrant hustle that you truly discover more about yourself and the people you are around. The support system at SPJIMR shines brighter than ever when the going gets tough. The help we get from the experienced faculty members, the guidance from our seniors, and the unconditional love from our batchmates become guiding lights that carry us through these testing times.

It is said that one of the most important factors that mould leaders is the “air they breathe.” I realised the meaning of this adage at SPJIMR. Here, you truly breathe innovation, you breathe companionship, and you breathe greatness. The campus, which has consistently cultivated great leaders, is primed to imbibe in you all that you need for a great life ahead. All you need to do is breathe in as much as you can!

To summarise the beginner’s guide to #Life@SPJIMR, just remember that it is challenging, demanding, and rigorous, but you are never alone. Just put one foot in front of the other, leverage your support system, and be optimistic. There is greatness waiting to find you at every nook and corner, and you are part of one big #SPJIMRFamily once you’re here.