Hey, this is Ashay. I just completed my first year here. Looking back, I cannot believe that it’s been a year already. The transition from the monotonous JEE preparation to the dynamic life at IIT Ropar was exhilarating. While we’re here, let me take you through my journey!

IIT Ropar seemed like a perfect fit for me. It was close to home, and I loved the campus tour videos I saw online. With the excitement bubbling inside me, I packed my bags and drove to Ropar with my family. The moment I arrived, I was mesmerised by the four pillars. As one does, I took a photo with the board outside and went to get a hostel room assigned.

As excited as I was, I also felt a tinge of fear. It was daunting because I’d never lived away from my family. I reassured myself that it would be alright and prepared myself for all the homesickness, responsibilities, uncertainties, budgeting and rigorous coursework. But it turns out it’s pretty easy to find comfort when you’re surrounded by people who are in the same boat.

The hustle and bustle was all new for me. Over the first month, I became familiar with this place. This vast campus became my second home. I learnt to adjust and tackle my problems head-on. I made many friends and lived that classic “Three Idiots” hostel life with them.

I could never see myself doing random hangouts at 4 A.M., but here I am. The hostel changes you into an entirely different person. You learn to take care of yourself away from home and face any hardship that comes your way. It’s where you form friendships that are going to last a lifetime.

The diversity of students surprised me (although I should’ve expected it). You get to experience so many different cultures, and it’s never not fun. I mean, my first friend was an Assamese guy. It feels nice to learn new things about one’s culture and celebrate festivals that you’ve never heard of. From Pongal to Lohri, we celebrate almost every festival here.

Going to a college class is an experience in itself. It’s somewhat different from a school class. It is an interactive classroom where the students learn together. The feeling of competing to get better marks is not there but rather that of collective learning. Whenever the mid/end semester exams crept up, we studied the entire night, with ten people studying in a single hostel room. It’s a pretty unique experience!

What I love the most about IIT Ropar is the abundance of opportunities. It’s such a vibrant lifestyle - you can do whatever you want to. Be it something unconventional, there’s probably a club for that.

Clubs are a great way to interact with other students. There’s always something going on, and it’s not just study that you have to do. Take part in activities, conduct events with a team, and sing your heart out in the music room - it’s all there; you just have to go and explore. Never think that you’re here just to study. You’re here to study AND develop your personality.

Clubs are one thing, but college fests/events are another. We celebrate many festivals in our college, including Zeitgeist (cultural fest) and Advitya (tech fest). It is solely the students who organise these fests. From sponsorship to event management, the students divide work amongst themselves and work as a team. It is an incredible opportunity to form great bonds with your seniors. Seniors that could change your life, literally. They’ll guide you about everything you should and should not do and how to survive through college.

As I look forward to the next three years, I want to spend them in the same way: improving myself, developing skills, forming new friendships and studying hard. IIT Ropar gave me a chance to experience it all. This place is very close to my heart, and I plan to make the best of my time here. These four years of college life are something you’ll never experience again.