Note: I have compiled this after my experience with pure/applied scientific and engineering streams. This may be generalized to other fields of study as applicable.
Two years since graduation, I have known some crucial thing about engineering and science streams. Further as I have been mediocre all my four years of engineering, these are the things that a student should keep in mind. (I never did these things and so things have bitten me hard.)
1. Even if you’re in first year, take a notebook and write down your goals. Don’t be vague like “I want a great placement”, “I want a great GPA”, “I want to do minimal work to survive” or “I want to write bad research papers for getting into universities abroad”. Four years of your life is no joke. As science and technology is a highly competitive(and brutal) field, such vague statements will take you into misery. If you don’t know why you have chosen the stream you’re in, think harder. If you don’t know what potential paths are there, ask your professors and seniors. Seriousness and sincerity are your friends.
2. Treat excellence as a superset of your ideals. You’re not here to survive. Over centuries, science has seen brilliant minds working over great problems. Engineers have built bridges, computers and aeroplanes. These guys achieved something because they worked hard and persevered. Treat your field of study with respect. Don’t sleep during lectures or forget notes till exam deadlines. If something is not clear, explore the internet and find lectures. If something is too interesting, take a book and read it completely. Treat your lab work as something worthwhile. Don’t degrade your study to achievement of numbers and awards.
3. Make a routine. Include 45-60 mins of physical exercise. Fix the time you wake up and sleep. Fix the number of hours you will study everyday. Keep Sunday as a potential break day. As you take the break, think whether what you did this week made you deserve it. With introspection, add improvements to your routine. If you neglect your health and well-being, forget about being a professional over long courses of time.
4. Don’t waste time in comparing yourself with others or resenting with jealousy over achievements of others. Of course, you have brilliant peers. Brilliant people achieve a lot of things over time. But everyone is walking on their paths. Make sure that you stay true to your own(refer point #1). Sometimes other people do show what you’re lacking. Accept it with gratitude. Don't go into vanity - real worth requires no banners.
5. Mental toughness and self-control go hand in hand. Point (3) is for especially for that. Don’t waste time in watching series and movies around the loop. TV has reached a place where there’s no dearth of content. There are superb films made every year. The attraction is immense, but point (2) is not achievable without some sacrifice. Keep series and films to your “break day”. If you’re a person into books, again move fictions and fantasies to your “break day”.
6. The more you study, the more self-aware you become. There will be some psychological problems because of that. Being a member of human civilisation, you have the benefit to solve such problems. Explore the internet with sincerity and you will find resources. Accept those which match your current value system and makes you feel “strong”. Update your value systems as you move ahead. Try to become a decent member of the human pack. You're biologically an adult. It is now the time to become one mentally.
Though these are not exhaustive, these are important for a decent graduation. You will feel good about yourself with that degree in your hand. If you’re a college student reading this, I wish you all the best.
Please feel free to add feedback. I will be happy to extend this list for the benefit of posterity.
Two years since graduation, I have known some crucial thing about engineering and science streams. Further as I have been mediocre all my four years of engineering, these are the things that a student should keep in mind. (I never did these things and so things have bitten me hard.)
1. Even if you’re in first year, take a notebook and write down your goals. Don’t be vague like “I want a great placement”, “I want a great GPA”, “I want to do minimal work to survive” or “I want to write bad research papers for getting into universities abroad”. Four years of your life is no joke. As science and technology is a highly competitive(and brutal) field, such vague statements will take you into misery. If you don’t know why you have chosen the stream you’re in, think harder. If you don’t know what potential paths are there, ask your professors and seniors. Seriousness and sincerity are your friends.
2. Treat excellence as a superset of your ideals. You’re not here to survive. Over centuries, science has seen brilliant minds working over great problems. Engineers have built bridges, computers and aeroplanes. These guys achieved something because they worked hard and persevered. Treat your field of study with respect. Don’t sleep during lectures or forget notes till exam deadlines. If something is not clear, explore the internet and find lectures. If something is too interesting, take a book and read it completely. Treat your lab work as something worthwhile. Don’t degrade your study to achievement of numbers and awards.
3. Make a routine. Include 45-60 mins of physical exercise. Fix the time you wake up and sleep. Fix the number of hours you will study everyday. Keep Sunday as a potential break day. As you take the break, think whether what you did this week made you deserve it. With introspection, add improvements to your routine. If you neglect your health and well-being, forget about being a professional over long courses of time.
4. Don’t waste time in comparing yourself with others or resenting with jealousy over achievements of others. Of course, you have brilliant peers. Brilliant people achieve a lot of things over time. But everyone is walking on their paths. Make sure that you stay true to your own(refer point #1). Sometimes other people do show what you’re lacking. Accept it with gratitude. Don't go into vanity - real worth requires no banners.
5. Mental toughness and self-control go hand in hand. Point (3) is for especially for that. Don’t waste time in watching series and movies around the loop. TV has reached a place where there’s no dearth of content. There are superb films made every year. The attraction is immense, but point (2) is not achievable without some sacrifice. Keep series and films to your “break day”. If you’re a person into books, again move fictions and fantasies to your “break day”.
6. The more you study, the more self-aware you become. There will be some psychological problems because of that. Being a member of human civilisation, you have the benefit to solve such problems. Explore the internet with sincerity and you will find resources. Accept those which match your current value system and makes you feel “strong”. Update your value systems as you move ahead. Try to become a decent member of the human pack. You're biologically an adult. It is now the time to become one mentally.
Though these are not exhaustive, these are important for a decent graduation. You will feel good about yourself with that degree in your hand. If you’re a college student reading this, I wish you all the best.
Please feel free to add feedback. I will be happy to extend this list for the benefit of posterity.
