"Engineering -- Smile because it happened.”

With the last working day of our final year nearing us, facebook is cluttered with full of emotional quotes on leaving college and friends. These observations gave me the fuel to write about my engineering life and how it changed me into a better person.

Engineering is all about treasuring fond memories ... making friends n fighting with them; flirting with crush’s n falling in love; bunking classes, hanging out in the canteen, watching lame movies together, week end get-togethers, birthday parties, playing volley ball; Messaging, chit-chatting, catcalling, making fun of lecturers, sleeping, drawing, reading novels n what not except listening to the lecture during a class; copying assignments n last minute submissions; combined mugging up, cursing the paper setter for screwing up the exam, waiting for the results and finally applying for revaluation.

These memories made us forget 7 semesters of 36 subjects, 17 labs and uncounted lectures and assignments.

But on personal terms,

Engineering for me has been a journey of self discovery. I made great friends and had great fun with them. I made people laugh and laughed with them. I made people cry and cried even more for making them cry. I made goals and worked towards them. I made mistakes and learnt from them. I made compromises and lived contently. I made great impressions with the faculty and got great grades ( :D ). But, I made one thing of which I am very proud -
“I lived this journey with a perpetual smile no matter what came to me".

I call engineering a journey because; every journey has a purpose and brings certain impactful changes. Every journey surprises with its gifts and grieves. My journey of engineering has been no exception - it taught me lessons like a mother, protected me like a father, encouraged me like a sister, helped me like a friend. It made me the complete man I am today.

Engineering taught me to make FRIENDS. My first year had been a joyful ride. I made great friends in a very short span of time. My second year tested my ability to stand by my friendships. I tumbled down for a while, but resurrected only to win my friends back. My third year also tested, but this time it was my ability to balance my new friendships with the old ones. I wanted both of them and hence, didn’t give up; I then learnt to master the art of balancing my life for my dearest ones. Today , my final year gave me all I could ask for in this front. On looking back, I am glad that I made this journey.

"A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles .. :-)"

Engineering taught me to WIN. In my schooling and intermediate days, I never won any major competitions, I was always lost in a contention.Speaking in front of a group of people was a nightmare to me. I was a very under confident person; I used to shy away from meeting new people.But engineering changed it all for me; it gave me the courage and opportunity to face these challenges. I won over stage fear and can speak with confidence; I can now stand up to any problem and face it on my own. I won many International and national competitions during my engineering. On looking back, these winning moments make me feel proud.

"Winning moments .. :-)"

Engineering taught me PASSION. During my third year I realized computer science is where I should be in. I think it was my destiny which chose this field for me when I was completely in-cognizant of its potential and I really thank my destiny for this. When I look back at my 17 years of education, it is, at my engineering I actually read with passion. I enjoyed working in some of my labs and loved reading some of my academic text books. Academically, my first two years have been regretful but fortunately, last two years have covered up for this remorse. On looking back, I may not be a class topper but I am a very content person in this regard.

"Product of passion -- a winning website :-) "

Also, Last but definitely not the least, engineering taught me to LOVE. Life is a journey too, and love is what makes that journey worthwhile.

Speaking of my engineering friends,

We might not be the best of best friends, but we all lived our joyful and sorrowful days together. We stood for each other when needed. We all found solace from our problems in each other’s presence under the roof of engineering. On looking back through my last four years, we have shared every emotion possible among ourselves. We loved, laughed, pulled each other’s leg, gossiped, got possessive, fought, cried, hated, repented, repaid and rejoined.

I wanted to write this blog because, we all traveled through the same journey but we forgot that we are destined to different destinations. With the journey of engineering coming to its end, everyone is so preoccupied with the destination that they are forgetting the course of journey. We are at the destination, and its appropriate only at the destination to appreciate the journey we had.

Time is a companion that goes with us on our journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. " What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived ". Our lessons come from the journey not the destination.

Dedicated to,
CSE - 1,
Silver Jubilee Batch,
MVSR Engineering College.

Finally,

“Don’t cry because it’s getting over. Smile because it happened.”