I, for a long time wanted to pass on every little piece of wisdom I gathered in my collegiate life.

But, then again I procrastinated a lot.

I am now nearing the end of my journey and I have learned a lot, mostly what one should avoid doing in college. This letter is mostly focused towards the first and second year students but don’t fret pre-final year students you can still redeem the lost time.

Let me begin with a general timeline of a student in most colleges.

First year-

You are new here, with hopes and dreams for your future. Getting into Google and Microsoft isn’t just a figment of your imagination and you are actually looking forward for the classes.

But then somewhere in your mind a tiny voice says “it’s your first year! Have fun!” and the vicious cycle of procrastination kicks into motion.

Second year-

Finally! You are now free from the shackles of being ‘the first year’.

Maybe now you will take control of your life. But the little voice is back, “You are finally free to do whatever you please and you want to leave the opportunity?” So, you give yourself a free pass and convince your conscience “Just this year! I promise!”

Third year-

It’s the most important year, you must now be preparing for campus recruitments or GATE.

Well of course getting a job is one thing that you would expect out of this degree. You brush up your basics, get well prepared in high school math and hope for the best.

Final year-

Hopefully with a job, you start contemplating about these 3 years. Then like a tsunami it hits you, crushing your massive ego for getting placed. You tell yourself “I wasted the most important years in my life, didn’t I?”

In all these years, you forgot why you came here in the first place, you had dreams and hopes! How did they get reduced to such worthless goals? You are now content with whatever meager achievements you have amassed. You call yourself an engineer while simultaneously degrading what an engineer should actually be.

You might argue, “I have 8 or 9 GPA, how can you possibly tell me that I’m not a good enough engineer?”

Standardized tests are and always will be a way to assess your knowledge but I know from my experience it’s really easy to get a good enough pointer. So stop being fixated on getting a high GPA. I am not telling you to stop studying all together, a good pointer is important but don’t make it the sole purpose of your life.

“What should I do then?”

I want you to chisel this into your mind “First year is the most important year of my life”.

You are new. You are malleable. You are open to the unknown.

If you don’t have the flair for English, start working on it now. Read new articles, watch movies and shows but be consistent and ward off people who try to discourage you.

Pick up a language be it C, C++ or java begin learning its concepts. Remember language is just a tool to express your thoughts so don’t just solve the bookish questions and begin solving questions on websites such as codechef. Also, you don’t need a coaching just have a good study circle.

Start learning from books! They might be intimidating at first but in the end you will know the concepts and even ace your exams. Also, quit Question Banks, they will cripple your thought process.

If books aren’t enough or if you are disaffected , go on to edx or coursera or khan academy and pick up a free course by best teachers from all over the world.

“So I should only focus on academics?”

No, all work and no play will make your life a Chetan Bhagat novel. Yes, that boring.

Start with some side projects.

“Hold on! Isn’t it still academics?”

No. Never see your projects as academics. They are your ideas molded into reality. Projects are fun and challenging and after every small project you take a step closer to something grand. So, don’t wait for your minor or major project and start building! Maybe in future you can collaborate with your fellow students of different disciplines!

“So this is it? Everything I should do?”

No, not even close to the end.

Start taking part in extra co- curricular activities.

“But! I have never done anything like that before”

Everything has its first time and believe me you can never know what you are capable of until you give it a shot.

There are a lot of competitions both online and offline, try participating in them, especially in those which aren’t in your comfort zone. Organize events, start a group, work in a team, do anything and everything in your free time. Love acting? Start a YouTube channel put up your videos there!

If you followed these ‘commandments’, rest of the 2 years will be the best time of your life and working hard will be your second nature.

“But, what about having fun?”

I was coming to that.

Go out with your friends, socialize, have fun, although it’s a hackneyed statement but refrain yourself from alcohol, weed and other neuron killing substances. They have a tendency to make you spiral out of control and make you regret later.

Please don’t go around “searching” for love, trust me, it will find you. Also, having a girlfriend or a boyfriend isn’t a status symbol and stop making it appear so.

Also, make a network with your seniors, alumni they are the best sources of practical knowledge and help.

Seniors should be your source of inspiration and also a monument of failures that you should avoid. I hope this will help ameliorate your thoughts.