Shine Your Way Through College

Remember how you were all jittery at the beginning of your elementary school? Just magnify that feeling by about a million times, and you will understand how it's going to be when you enter an engineering college. As soon as you secure admission to your dream college, you would definitely be asking yourself these questions - What will my class mates be like? How will my introduction with seniors be? Will I make friends?

There will be many more such questions waiting to be answered. When you walk through those hallowed gates of your college, you do want to put your best step forward. Don't you? So, here's some help!

 

Get over your school image

 

Perhaps you were the head boy/head girl in school or had the best grades in your class. Or maybe you were the shy cornered types. What you were in school doesn't really matter because you start college life afresh. Nobody in college knows about your past. College is a new world where you need to start things all over again. So just wear your confidence and an open mind set to adopt to this whole new world. 

 

Breaking the ice

 

Engineering colleges in India have some infamous stories that take place on the context of 'welcoming new students'. Be prepared for any ‘welcoming’ by seniors and try to break the ice with them through general interactions. Not just your seniors and classmates, you must meet with your professors once in a while for one-on-one interaction and create some good bonding. It will mean a lot if you are in the good books of your teachers.

 

Be Social

 

The most important part of the initial days of your college is meeting and interacting with new people everyday. Going to college parties, participating in games & extra-curricular activities are also great ways to see other students in a relaxed environment, where they are more open to interaction. Smiling is sometimes enough to strike a conversation. Build up your GK & conversational skills to find people with similar likes and dislikes. You never know who might become your friend at the end of the day.

Be spontaneous and humorous

 

Having the presence of mind and a good sense of humour can get you more friends than you would imagine. By cracking a joke about the mechanics of engineering could touch so many hearts! Literally! Spontaneity can also be a great way to get noticed in college. Turning awkward and tough situations in your favour spontaneously will get you all the attention you want.

 

Participate in fests, club activities or at least organize some

 

Another way you canget noticed on campus is by becoming a part of clubs or participating in fests that happen annually. Colleges festivals are a huge thing and taking the centre stage will definitely make you a popular face in college. Not just participation, you can be a part of the group that organises these festivals. Being an organiser, you will get to represent your college on a big platform. Your interaction level and organisational skills will also improve (which will come handy when you manage a team in future).

 

Be trendy

 

I mean, how can you just let the chance to dress up go waste after all those years of wearing boring school uniforms? It's time to strut your style! Yes, we know that after a point in time, pajamas & torn unwashed T-shirts become the style of the hour! But you could break that and create your own style. Who knows…you might just become a trendsetter in your college! 

 

Good Grades

 

Now, how can you miss this one?  Trust me on this. Getting good grades in semester exams will make you popular overnight. It will place you in the league of students who become an inspiration for others in college. Your peers would want to be in your company and they would come up to you for tips and solutions to problems they face academically. In addition, your professors will give your example to other students in college. (And no, you will not be typecast!)

 

Be active on social media

 

We are living in a world where we stay connected through social media all the time. Just for yourself, make use of social media actively to expand your connections, be visible and contribute or manage blogs. It need not be engineering related - focus on sports, music, forums or whatever floats your boat! If you get a good response, you are setting up a good background for yourself (you will thank us at the time of your placements). Besides, others might just start following you!

 

Display leadership skills

 

If you want to climb to the leader's post, then you have to move away from the herd. Keep a tab on cultural programmes or academic conferences planned by your institute. You can offer a helping hand to organisers. Eventually, you can become the go-to person for all initiatives in college. You can also be a leader whenever there is a team effort required in your class or college. Taking initiative is anyway an engineer's thing. Isn't it?

 

Be kind

 

If you sense or see a problem anywhere around the campus, look for a wise solution proactively. Also, if anybody is looking up to you for some help, be ready to offer help. Kindness will get you more friends and you might just end up becoming the ultimate problem-solver of your college.

 

Once you do become popular, don't forget to stay grounded. Attitude is good, but reasoning it with humility will help you learn and grow as an individual. Whatever decisions you take and opinions you form, it will shape the person you become tomorrow.