Back to the Future

Hello there! This is Krithi, your captain for the day, here to take you on a ride with a bunch of people who are currently pretending like they’re ready for the next phase of life. Still doesn’t sound familiar? Of course, cuz we’re more popularly known as “the pandemic batch.” Yes, that’s right, folks, the OG lab rats are here, alive and barely surviving. Now, the weather looks particularly dull today, with the rising layoff season and barely progressing final-year projects, but I guess we’ll pull through. 

For all the passengers, there are six emergency exits in this aircraft, none of which you can use to escape the hurdles BTech throws at you. In case of emergencies, oxygen masks will drop down from above your seat, just like your grades. In the unlikely event of an emergency landing and evacuation, leave your carry-on items behind, just like you leave your friends, family, and hope for a good package behind. Please fasten your seatbelts, and hold on tight to the thread you’re hanging on as this is going to be one hell of a ride.

Table of Contents

• Why go back to the future?
• The Map
• The Bucket List
• The Second Chance
• What next?

Why go back to the future?

With all that optimism out of the way, sure, stepping into a new phase of your life in the middle of a pandemic has had its ups and downs, but it was definitely quite the experience. I’ve had the opportunity to meet, interact with, and make fun of so many wonderful and talented people along the way, and wanted to record some of our experiences somewhere out in this large data of IITTP just for a quick nostalgic look someday. 

Treading the same path as one of my favorite Udaan elders, Prabhat, with his work of art Second Chance article, this is my attempt to do something similar, to try and see how my batch has lived their college life and what they would like to change. As an add-on, this article will also serve as a customized guide to our campus and college life with some favorite spots of the ‘24 batch and some items on the bucket list that, hopefully, you guys can add in too! (In case your list isn't already overflowing from stuff you haven't gotten to do since you joined college)

Okay, enough said, folks; I’ll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the flight.

The Map

As one of the first batches to settle into a fully functional ahem transit campus and also slowly transition into the permanent blocks and buildings, there are several places that are home to plenty of memories. With the campus continuously evolving, some of these places don’t even exist now! Let’s take a look at a personally curated campus map of the batch of ‘24, not one with the construction phases, but rather one where new friendships are forged, secrets are revealed, fights are resolved, and memories are made.

PS: I’d like to apologize for the lack of detail in these maps; pls excuse, I tried my best.

Oof, that was like a mini-campus tour, definitely a blast from the past, though.

The Bucket List

We then asked all these people their bucket list what they were able to fulfill in the four years of BTech, and what were the unticked boxes. Let’s take a look at some stats now. Sorry for the responses I’ve not represented here this is just for an all in one bucket list, and some honourable mentions of course.* 

Living the same dream

Formed a secret society that explored hidden tunnels and rooftops after hours. Our motto: “Where the moonlight leads, we follow.”

- J Sai Charan

Travelling for competition has always been on my bucket list, and I got the chance to check it off with SIH’23. Ah, our time at the Smart India Hackathon in Udaipur was a wild ride, full of unforgettable moments that extended far beyond the competition. We endured a grueling 24-hour train journey that left us drained. And guess what? The nodal center for SIH had their own college volunteers slaving away for a whopping two days straight, round the clock. They were practically more zombies than us! 

Picture this: showers with curtains so see-through, you might as well have been outdoors, and washrooms that seemed to have forgotten the meaning of water (seems like those Rajasthan stereotypes aren't entirely off the mark). While every other team had their mentors with them, we were the lone rangers, looking like the competition's forgotten children. And oh, don't get me started on the rule about having at least three team members awake at night! All of us snoozed away, forcing the organizing committee to shake our team leader awake and issue a 3 a.m. warning. I mean, we're from IITT, we're entitled to our beauty sleep, even if there's a competition going on! When we won, everyone was left dumbfounded, wondering how on earth this reckless bunch managed to pull it off. But yeah, that's just the way the cookie crumbles. 

Then there's the hilarious saga of one of our buddies who managed to charm someone within just two days, only to have to say goodbye all too soon. And let's not overlook our stroke of genius: playing Subway Surfers while dodging paans at the station. Despite the chilly weather, the locals were as warm as ever, and the food was simply unbeatable. Teasing friends added some warmth to the cold. When all's said and done, it's a memory we'll treasure forever.

- The Udaipur Odyssey

Some honourable mentions 

• Lying on the road looking at stars
• Try this if you haven’t already, must recommend 
• Write a journal-worthy publication work
• Quite literally a honorable mention
• Sleep for more than half a day

Again, quite literally a honorable mention

• Late Night Maggi

Does anybody know when the night canteen will open again? Nevermind

• Sit in other branches' classes
• Ride a Scooty on campus
• We go Gym
• Constant Life goals
• Falling in love, breakup

Both were written by the same person :’

• Dancing with friends, Pranks on Friends
• DJ Nights, oof, always a memory
• Meeting a stag

A wholesome fateful encounter. 

As a devoted Potterhead, particularly enchanted by the Marauders era, I've always held a fascination for stags. Naturally, meeting one up close became a personal goal, and the most accessible opportunity for this was at IITM. The encounter was nothing short of surreal. Picture this: I was savouring a quiet moment with my coffee in the café near the hostel block when suddenly, a majestic stag came and sat next to me. This will be etched in my memory forever.

- WOE

Items Unchecked

• Interact and make friends
• Spend four years in college
• Freshers Day
• Sports from First Year
• Intra/ Inter IITs

See kids? The effect of a corona batch is real: No Freshers Day, forced to introduce each other on gmeet, no Tirutsava (twice, and one online and one… I deny all allegations), Inter IIT, and even NSO is in the very last semester. God, I almost forgot the half online, endsem offline semester.  

• Singing/Learning a Musical Instrument
• Treks/Trips
• Internship/Job

Of course, we also had to be the batch with the recession period 

• Girlfriend/Boyfriend

Get a girl to walk and talk.

- Anonymous romantic

Oh no, remember, this is the guy who liked the white flowers!

Sorry, Krithi but I really must interject here. Ma dude, your statement more less feels like you'll be better off getting a dog; You should get a dog; If you treat it well, it won't bite you if you take it walk and talk. Kinda makes sense why might not have a girlfriend.

.That was well, I think you can guess. Moving forward

1. Go on a cool trip with friends.
2. Have a bonfire and an all-nighter fun session.
3. Run at full speed all the way along the residential quarter road with hands swaying wildly. (just like Phoebe would do). 

- dotdot&dot

Anybody who makes friends references definitely deserves a cool trip!

I have never engaged in a fight, and I've never wanted to engage 😂. But I wanted to be the judge for resolving a conflict (rather than actually resolving it), which seemed more interesting to me because I know the context of most of the fights that have happened on our campus through gossip.

- J Sai Charan

The Second Chance

Now, with bucket lists exposed, let’s move on to the final stage of existential crisis, the What Ifs. Now I asked all these people what they would change if they had another shot at BTech, another chance to go through college with all they know now. We have some “hurts right here in my meow meow” responses, and I leave it to you, dear passengers, to travel at your own risk. Jk, you have no choice, just check if your seatbelts are still on.

Oh, I'd definitely have done some things differently. I wasn't interested much in the very department I chose at the start, Chemical Engineering, and joined here after a last-minute thought, but over time I'm facing interesting and challenging things in this subject that are fuelling my curiosity. If I'd got another chance, I'd planned things beforehand to free myself some time for learning Telugu, which I decided to do for four straight years, but never did :)

Lastly, I'd interact with people a lot more (given going back in time doesn't mean dreadful CoVID comes back again) in person, which I feel is important to be ASAP to plan bigger and sustainable events in the future.

- Frustrated Mess eater

Of course, there’s always the confused state of what you like and what you don’t. Frustrated Mess eater, I hope you find many more opportunities to explore and learn about the things you like!

I believe that one should not regret the choices one made; either take those consequences or make new consequences.

This was struck the first time in 4th sem when I always hated my past year, but once I realized those cannot be undone, we can only move forward from now. Then I started to question every moment, "Will I regret this?" if I got the answer "no," I proceeded.

Leave all these as for now My-Redo-BTech things:

1. Wake up at 7 and do exercise (lol).
2. Make class notes.
3. Study good (lol).
4. I started friendships with guys, then girls, and I will change this.
5. Play every sport.

- The anonymous romantic

I would have tried my best to stay away from getting close to any of the girls. Could have led a better life actually doing that. That's it.

- Game Cocaine

Who hurt you guys:’ On Another note, some of those sound like the New Year resolutions I took knowing they would die within a week. 

If you look at it, there are infinite ways this could have gone down. But it has gone down a certain way. And I don't have any complaints about it as such. So, I think what I did was the best way forward for me. On a lighter note, I would have chosen IIT Bombay and stayed closer to home. Would have dug metal ores out of the ground for a living after that

- Ishaan Kulkarni

I would sleep better. I think I have not been getting enough sleep. Other than that, my BTech life was pretty chill. I didn't bother about grades, just wanted to not get a backlog, and I have managed that well. So that's good enough. 

I wanted to be more involved in cultural. And I guess I did kinda manage that as well. We conducted a Tirutsava and we had a pretty good cultural year as well. So that's all good as well. Still think I could have had more stuff going on. Probably if I go back, I will be a little more involved in cultural.

Pretty much that. I ain't got no regrets. I would have loved to have a proper friend gang, but that's alright; I am more of a free loner anyway. 

- Shamil Niyas

This dude has been up and about talking to people since day one. Of course, there is prominent discrimination in this campus, and this guy has ignored it all to become a secretary, and personally joke around with people from the most diverse backgrounds. Of course, his tenure had its own ups and downs, but he brings the energy to every party, and at least that’s enough to get things started. 

1. Build better rapport with classmates and professors right from the first day.
2. Be in all clubs, no matter the quantity of quality work you do.
3. Taking up more multi-disciplinary stuff.

- dotdot&dot

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

Firstly I wouldn't join IIT Tirupati. I wouldn't have taken mechanical engineering. I would've gone to a top college in Bangalore for CSE or got for VIT so that I could have some all-round development, experience college culture, explore extracurriculars well and have more fun rather than joining this shitty college where I was deprived of these.

- The Finance Manager

If I had a chance to redo my B. Tech, I would have opted for another IIT (I believe the question is set up, and I am seeking this answer). In the case, I am constrained to pursue my B. Tech at IITT, I would not change a lot. I am grateful that I got to study the discipline of my preference. Having said that, I probably would back myself a bit more, get involved in some club activities, say a few jokes out loud, work on a few interdisciplinary projects, interact more with the faculties, and be more decisive about my future.

- Songs_of_solemn_birds_sound_silent

Well, the college sure has its ups and downs, being a newly established third-generation IIT. But on the plus side, as a student, you get to start cultures, clubs, ideas, events, and whatnot! It’s like writing your name on the moon so every other person who visits will see that you’ve made a mark. Openly getting access to clubs, and facilities, organizing events, and being a part of a directly influencing committee for big events like Tirutsava are all experiences that you usually don’t get in more established colleges. You also openly have a say in the development of this college and get to make several changes (like the girls' hostel curfew) that are stepping stones for years to come! All in all, it might have its downfalls, but it’s definitely an experience!

If I could do Btech again, I wouldn't. But if I were forced to, I probably would have studied a bit more in my second and third years coz gpa ☠️. Apart from that, would've probably tried to learn some marketable skills and marketed it earlier on some side hustles to enjoy a more comfortable college experience. Probably would've also made some changes in choices in college politics, but not sure how much of a difference it would've made 🤷🏽

- Sathyanarayann

I'd involve myself more in cultural and literary activities like quizzing, debating, and skits. I would love to work on more research projects and get tangible outputs in the form of publications. Most importantly, I would be more cautious not to fall for pranks by my friends through fake confessions xD.

- J Venkatesa

Despite multiple requests from the admin, legends say that the confession page still continues to be widely used to give hope to hopeless romantics like this one poor victim here

I would try to be an extrovert from the start. I would have tried learning some new musical instruments. I would have attended a lot of debates and oratory events. I would try to enhance my communication and interpersonal skills. I would have started hitting the gym way earlier. My friend's circle was initially very small. If I had tried interacting with a lot of friends at the start, I would have known them better. I would have planned a lot more trips, and I for sure wouldn't have missed any musical concerts or events. 

- Arun Kumar

Here comes the one behind the hope given to the previous victim. But seriously, communication and other soft skills play an equally important role in anything you plan to do after college. The debate club conducts several events and competitions; make sure to pop in whenever you’re free, even for an hour or two, and just talk it out! It’s okay if you get stuck; we all started with very shaky half-minute speeches but learned so much along the way from the community!

I’d focus more on building lasting friendships and less on cramming for exams.

Academic Explorer: Would take more elective courses outside my major to broaden my knowledge.

Networking Guru: Would attend more seminars and workshops to connect with professionals in my field.

Community Contributor: This would start a sustainability initiative to make the campus greener.

The Digital Uprising: I’d lead the charge for seamless IT services. Wi-Fi signals would be as strong as our academic resolve and mobile data as fast as our sprint to morning classes. (Well, I used two wrong examples 😉). These are the changes I’d fight for, ensuring our B.Tech journey is not just about degrees but about quality experiences that fuel both mind and body. 🎓💪

- J Sai Charan

Would I opt for a different route if given the chance? Perhaps.

Reflecting on the possibilities, there are moments where I can't help but wonder, "What if?" What if I had invested time in learning a musical instrument or continued with my BTP? Should I have chosen a different elective? Maybe I shouldn't have indulged in binge-watching ten seasons of Grey's Anatomy. Could things have unfolded differently? Maybe.

But here's the kicker—I don't regret where I am right now. Nope, not one bit. 'Cause every quirky detour, every wrong turn, and every bizarre decision I've made has led me to this very moment. And guess what? I kinda like the person I've become along the way. So, would I rewrite history if given the chance? Nah, I'll stick to my weird and wonderful journey, thank you very much. After all, it's the mishaps and misadventures that make life truly awesome.

- Sneha

Nothing much; I am happy with whatever I did…

- Doraemon

Lastly, we have our survivors of the repeated existential crisis! That’s all for the Ted Talk, do like share and subscribe!

What next?

Authors note now? Well, if you ask me, I would not have wasted my holidays binging random TV shows in guilt and rather have done something productive. Ah, but all’s well that ends, kinda, well. To all of you guys, college is fun, you can make it fun (after barely surviving) It’s fine if you don’t have an in-house Domino’s or a good restaurant in a 5km radius (It’s not really fine, but let’s pretend it is).

Just one thing, at the end of your four years, make sure you have something to look back to, something to take with you, and something to leave behind. For BTech students, you have 8 beautiful semesters with so many events and competitions, and college is like an empty page waiting for you to draw a self-portrait. It’s okay if you’re bad at drawing; you can just call it abstract art and make millions out of it.

Well, that’s it, ladies and gentlemen; we’ve successfully landed. You may now take off your seat belt, give us a good farewell, and proceed to your connecting flights to embark on your journey. We hope this has been a pleasant ride and that you leave with nothing short of an unforgettable experience. This is your captain, signing off!