We are the batch that has experienced it all—online and offline college, turning virtual reality into a tangible lifestyle while adapting to the pandemic. People complained about not getting the complete college experience right from the first semester. For me, however, having the first semester online was a blessing. I still remember the day online college commenced, our dedication towards the first CPI class, and how it only lasted for that day. I soon realised the online side of MIT was unknown to me for longer than I had thought. So, when I came across a link to a WhatsApp group named Freshers’25, my college life took an unexpected turn for the better.

Connecting Across the Internet

Before I knew it, I had found several other groups of people I could bond with—groups of freshers, dance enthusiasts, and K-Pop/K-Drama fans. MIT seemed to have it all, much more than I had imagined. Late-night meets were a pre-established essential in the online community of MIT.

During the pandemic, MITians started their own little life on the servers of Google Meet. Every evening, multiple meeting links would pop up across groups, allowing batchmates to talk, catch up, and share ideas and experiences all night. My online college life grew beyond just meeting new people on screen—getting to know them and trying to find my people was an essential step in developing the excellent rapport I share with my friends and classmates today. 

Mattu beach, with the sea on one side and a river on the other. [Image credit: Karnataka Tourism]

Like most other freshers, I was overwhelmed by the myriad of student projects and technical and non-technical clubs that MIT had to offer. Cambiar played a vital role here. It was an online event introducing all the major cultural and technical clubs to make this process more manageable for the uninitiated. From the fun interviews with seniors to playing games and crying about boring lectures and enjoying movie nights, or dance nights, we did it all online. I met some of the best people at these virtual meet-ups.

Although our online experience was pretty eventful, it did not hold a candle to what offline college had in store for us. Daydreaming about offline college is how every first year spent their days. While we were busy with our end-semester examinations, the Institute finally decided to release the much-awaited notice about arriving on campus. We were one semester into college, yet everything seemed brand new. Soon enough, we were all packed and ready to leave home. Until then, we had only seen the campus from someone else’s perspective—watching vlogs, reading blogs, and listening to our seniors.

An Introduction to Campus Life

From the beautiful administrative building of MAHE to the large entry of Gate 1, walking into the campus, I had just two emotions coursing through my veins—excitement and apprehension. Some of the faces I saw were familiar from our online stint, but the places around us could not have been more alien. I laugh every time I reminisce about how confused I was the first day I came to campus. The beautiful Student Plaza, clean and shiny, seemed to welcome me as I made my way to my hostel in Block 7. The most independent feeling is when one creates a home out of an allotted room. I made some of my best hostel memories in Block 7 but soon was lucky enough to get a room in Block 22, where I unlocked more memorable experiences.

The Student Plaza extends a grand greeting to everyone walking to their hostels. [Image credit: MAHE]

The first few days for every fresher on campus are a blur. There is so much happening that it feels overwhelming. The next important place to discover is the mess. Several people I talked to swore that Food Court-2 served the tastiest food, so I opted for it too. Food courts are probably the noisiest areas at MIT. You chatter away as you unwind from the long, hard day and catch up with your friends.

Entertainment and Exams

I reported to campus a week before the commencement of offline classes. So I had enough time to explore MIT and Manipal. In the first week, I visited a few beaches like Malpe and Hoode, explored restaurants like Eye of the Tiger and Hadiqa, and went clubbing. Ultimately, I could categorise everything into a list of likes and dislikes. After two weeks on campus, the buzz surrounding Revels, MIT’s cultural fest, began to take hold of the student community. No words would ever be enough to describe the campus atmosphere during Revels. With decorations and posters adorning every building, games and competitions conducted across the premises, the energy on campus was unlike anything I had ever encountered. At the same time, it was everything I had ever dreamed of—the perfect coming-to-life of the “college experience” we had only dreamed of during the two years of the pandemic.

KK’S performance at the ProShow that moved hundreds. [Image credits: Samanway Chakraborty via Revels]

When exam season rolled around again, I remember spending hours cramming the course material with a few friends in the library. Going through our first offline exams after a few years was an endeavour. After several stressed-out and sleepless nights, everything paid off, and we passed with flying colours.

Looking back at my first year, I would say that college is where you have the chance to explore and understand yourself. Bonds were made, faltered, and even broken, but I come out of this year rich in new experiences and learning a lot more about myself and the world we inhabit. Time passes quicker than you can hold on to it, so I recommend taking one step at a time and experiencing it all. Find out who you can trust, what you like to do, and how you want to have fun. Create your boundaries and limits while staying connected to your roots. Do not forget where you come from, but do not let it be the ball and chain that keeps you from trying new things. Usually, college is the first time you will be entirely accountable for your actions. While a thrilling idea, it is best to stay careful till you have grown accustomed to the novelty of it all.

Featured image credits: Kshitiz Bathwal

A year ago, as I stepped across the threshold of high school and into the daunting world of college, I remember feeling nervous, yet excited for the life that lay ahead. Most of all, I was just relieved that the constant worry and sleepless nights caused due to the 12th entrance exams were finally over. None of my cousins or relatives had ever studied in Manipal so it was unfamiliar territory for me. My family was hesitant to send me away to a different state for college but I decided to take a leap of faith and step out of my comfort zone. After a tearful farewell with my parents, I reluctantly walked back to my hostel, anxious about the new journey I was about to begin. I was so focused on what I was leaving behind that I did not anticipate all the new experiences and situations I would encounter.

The first week went by in a blur—attending orientations about our branch and eagerly exploring the sprawling campus. The food courts had surprisingly better quality food than what I expected in any engineering college and the Student Plaza was the perfect example of the melting pot of cultures that Manipal was known for. Taking long walks till the VGT grounds with the cool breeze on my face became my respite after a long and tiring day.

The New Lecture Hall and Innovation Centre in MIT, Manipal

I had taken a triple sharing room in Block 1 which was the oldest block and known for being true to the fabled hostel life. I was initially worried about the common bathroom which our entire floor shared but the cleaning staff made sure to clean it properly thrice a day. Living in a hostel also made me realise the value of something as simple as doing your laundry. Simple tasks like waking up for a class on time and remembering to punch in our fingerprint before our in-time make up some of the fondest memories that I share with my hostel friends.

Despite the initial awkwardness with my roommates and the people in my class, I started getting more and more comfortable with them. It may seem like a daunting task to find your place in college, but one should remember that we are all in the same boat. Somewhere between sharing food, playing card games, random midnight jamming sessions, and even pulling all-nighters a day before the exams to complete the vast syllabus; our group of friends became inseparable. There were regular pangs of homesickness once classes began but they soon became more of a bittersweet ache, as we looked forward to going back home at the end of the semester.

The panoramic view from End Point, a popular tourist attraction in Manipal

For students who come from bustling metropolitan cities, the peace and tranquillity of Manipal make it seem like a world of its own. The clear blue skies and sunsets which paint the heavens in a kaleidoscope of colours, all make you want to kick back and chill.

There is no dearth of variety when it comes to student clubs and projects–both technical and non-technical. Joining one provides ample opportunities of pursuing what you love, and in the process, getting to know the seniors and shouldering responsibilities.

The Yellow Diary performing at Revels’20. (Image credits: Rajat Shenoy)

The entire college is humming with energy and enthusiasm as the campus comes alive with a flurry of activities before and during the fest. It’s an emotion which can only be felt rather than described. The true experience of what Manipal is like comes to the forefront during two college fests–Techtatva in the odd semester and Revels, the cultural fest, in the even semester. It will be an unforgettable and amazing experience for freshers. You will feel the pulse of what Manipal stands for during those four magical days and nights. Since during the days of the fests, only morning classes will be held, many of you will be tempted to grab the opportunity to book your tickets to go back home. Pro tip–don’t do so, as you wouldn’t want to miss the eclectic vibe of the college during this time. There will be innumerable opportunities to showcase and nurture your talents like open mic nights, and various other competitions during the fests and workshops organized by individual clubs throughout the semester.

As I look back after a year, I am grateful for the amazing experiences which have truly shaped me as a person. First-year seems like a blur of adjusting to college life with assignments, labs, exams, fests, parties blending seamlessly one after the other. I remember entering college nervous yet brimming with anticipation for the journey I was about to experience and ending my first year as a more independent, responsible and hopefully wiser person. My first year in Manipal was an experience like no other. Countless memories were made which I will forever hold close to my heart and remember fondly for years to come.

Featured Image Credits–The Photography Club, Manipal

A week after my 18th birthday, I arrived at the place that was to be my home for the next four years of my life. I didn’t really know what to expect from Manipal; it was a small town, quaint and quiet. A bit odd to a person who lived in a steel and concrete jungle, but a refreshing change nonetheless.

I was greeted by the infamous Manipal rains as I stepped out of Mangalore airport: a light shower, unlike the constant deluges we would be battered with for the rest of the semester. I got into a cab and promptly fell asleep. By the time I got up, we were already in Manipal. Was the town well equipped to deal with the urban student populace? As we drove through the city, I saw all the big brand shops and food chains, something that gave me a slight sense of familiarity. Perhaps I had been too quick to judge the place.

I got a room on the 10th floor of Block 17. Sheer luck had me choose an odd-numbered room, and that was excellent because the view I got was insane. A vast wooded expanse with rolling hills in the distance, it gave me the motivation to get up early in the morning. That, as I would come to find in the subsequent months, was one of the many beautiful sights Manipal had to offer.

The breathtaking view from the First-Year hostels

The first few weeks were a whirlwind of classes, exploring the campus, and meeting new people. The rains were ferocious, relentlessly beating down on us as we made our way to class at 8 in the morning. As per tradition, most of us would have our umbrellas stolen, and would, in turn, steal a few of our own. Living alone might have been a new experience for a lot of people, but I was used to it, and I adapted quickly. The campus had stores with pretty much everything you could need, and if there wasn’t something you could find, there was a market right outside campus. Pretty soon, I made myself at home in Manipal.

Soon after the start of college began the sickness. A new environment, different weather, and long hours took its toll on most people, pretty much everyone fell sick a couple of times. The all-important 75% attendance rule had us walking through the cold rain to get to class, no matter what. Around the same time, we had various clubs and student projects wooing us. There are a ton of options to choose from and motivated by newbie fervour, most people opt to join more clubs than they can manage.

The heart of the campus: The Student Plaza

By the time club membership was finally done, their ranks solidified, we had our technical fest: TechTatva. In my opinion, the better of the two fests, TechTatva had us MIT Post recruits running around campus covering events and then slaving late into the night working on the next day’s newsletter. A thoroughly exhausting experience, yet still fun in a weird way.

After TechTatva, the rest of the semester was a rush of tests and labs, interspersed with a beautiful Diwali celebration and a food poisoning event that put half the college out of commission. The first semester ended with parties and hugs all around, and we went on the month-long sabbatical none of us wanted.

The night sky bejewelled with lanterns on Diwali.  Credit: Debarun Ghosh, The Photography Club, Manipal

Back in January for a new sem, we were stoked. With more fests, Holi, inter-section football, and no rain, this sem was bound to be a lot more fun. Unfortunately, the forces that be in the universe had other ideas, but we still made the best of the time we had. Revels, the cultural fest, was a lot more fun to cover for the MIT Post, and we still had plenty of time to hang around campus and explore the fantastic food available.

The only other event we had was Holi, a wild celebration, and shortly after, the year was cut short to send us back home in the wake of the coronavirus. This time there were no goodbyes, owing to the general confusion and panic.

Though the end was sudden, the first year of college was unreal. It is everything you dream of, and it can be everything you want it to be. It really is the best time of your life.

Finally, as a total abstainer, I never really got to see the wilder side of Manipal, but there are plenty of opportunities for that too, in case that is your game. I wouldn’t know.