Forum for Plus 2 Science students of Orissa

How should you change the image of our state….

August 20th, 2007

BJB Junior College was my awakening to a competitive and treacherous world. As students you might think that getting admission into a top engineering college is the ticket to a “great” life. Let me assure you IT IS NOT. It is but merely like a ticket to participate in a marathon race. Once you enter it, you have to reinvent yourself, prepare to take up any challenge that faces your way. My personal experience has been in reading 500 pages overnight because of the enormity of the syllabi. And then topping the exam!

You are at the cusp of change. You are among the best Orissa has to offer today. And you have been placed in an institution which has produced so many proud Oriya sons. Do not be overwhelmed by the apparent difficulty of problems and the amount of knowledge you not only have to digest and retain. Take this race in the right spirit. Do not forget that in case someone has formulated a problem, there has to be a solution. That is the easier part. Some years later, either in research or competitive jobs, you do not have that surety. If there is a problem and it definitely doesn’t have one solution, possibly no correct solution. This is where your problem solving ability and confidence will hold your spirits. The entrance examinations are merely a test of this resilience.

On a practical note, please do not ignore classes. Sometimes you might feel that you already know what the teacher is discussing. This is good. You are one step ahead. But that is not enough. You have to be at least ten steps ahead of your peers. Take it in the right spirit. Don’t comment or belittle the teacher (I have myself seen this when I was BJB). Their blessings and goodwill will stand you in great stead. Try and understand how he/she has retained such knowledge. Don’t be a simple rote learner. Be different. This is going to differentiate you from the rest of the class not only now but years later in worse circumstances.

I fondly remember my time in BJB College. I was so happy Panda Sir allowed me to address you last month. I remember the captivating discussions with Tripathy Sir in Alternative English class, Tapan Sir’s Math classes, and Manorama Madam’s physics classes. You might feel that PCM are the only subjects that you need to concentrate on. The answer to this is an emphatic NO. English as a medium of worldwide communication is EXTREMELY important for engineers and technocrats. I have faced such situations myself – when you have found something out and are not able to communicate this to anyone effectively. As I emphasized, during my interaction with you at BJB – Nobody ever gives you a second chance. You will have one opportunity to do it and do it right. They were the electronics lectures by Kamila Sir that made me choose Electrical & Electronics at BITS Pilani. My rank after the first year had enabled me to choose any discipline.

It is extremely worrying to see the number of Oriya students from premier colleges like BJB and Ravenshaw that join in. In fact, at BITS I was only one among TWO students who had made it during my batch. Of my class of 600, more than 300 had come in from AP, a hundred more from TN and the rest from a few North Indian locations. Only two from Orissa? Do we deserve it? Do you deserve it? Are we technically incompetent or come from the middle of a deep jungle. I do not think so. When I had first introduced myself to my friends, some of them knew Orissa as something which is above AP and before Calcutta. Is that all ? If you feel scared and angry, you have every reason to be. And that is more the reason, you must resolve to do well – not only in +2 Annual Examination but also in any challenge life throws at you. BITS Pilani still allows toppers from the Board to join, in addition to entrants through BITSAT.

Just concentrate on digesting whatever is on your plate – it is Physics. Chemistry and Mathematics that you have to concentrate on. Do take time to participate in community service. Strengthen the hands of the Principal through collective action and not merely be a critical bystander. Leave the “chalta hai” and “me and my exam preparation” attitude. Please respect your teachers and take advantage of their years of experience. They have been the best teachers I have met not only for their dedication but also for the depth of their experience. Do not just take notes in class. Share your experiences (problems etc) with them and find your lacunae. Also do not bunk classes for coaching centers. This gives NO DIRECT ADVANTAGE. As Chitta Sir himself has said, with the right preparation and temperament, you should go in for the Mock Tests conducted by these institutions.

Visit us seniors at http://plus2sc.orissalinks.com/ and http://www.bits360.com/forum when you have the time.

I wish you all the best of luck. Make Orissa proud of you.

– Aalap

Entry Filed under: Aalap/BJB/BITS,BITS AT,Chemistry,English,ENTRANCE,Mathematics,Physics