Sandhya Krishnan’s Post

2 months in BITS Pilani: My Journey as a Dropper-Dualite As a dropper, stepping into BITS Pilani has been an exciting and scary journey at the same time. I quickly realized how important this first year was for my CG as a dualite. Every class feels like a stepping stone towards my future. And that pressure is real in two ways. It's been 2 months and the midterm exams are approaching. And I feel the weight of it all. Some days are filled with the excitement of discovery, studying with friends late at night and late night snacking from ANC or DCC. Some days bring stress and self-doubt, which can be difficult. Maintaining balance between acads and club recruitments feels challenging but, that's the fun of it . Many balls are floating in the air, and I know... I'm not alone in this fight. Me, my wingies, my class friends—we're all working together to get through the highs and lows. Each late-night study session and shared coffee brings us closer as we support each other through the chaos. I am learning to push through and find my path, accepting imperfections and fighting an endless fight to make them perfect. It's not just about surviving the midterms. It's about finding joy in the process. Share laughs amid stress and celebrate small victories along the way. Stress LITE!!

𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨, BITS Pilani saw something unforgettable. Students across campuses united in protest against a sudden fee hike. It was one of the first videos I saw when joining BITS, and it stuck with me. Just yesterday, I read about some IIMs sitting on a 780 crore surplus. Completely different scenario, but it got me thinking about our protest again. Watching those videos, I realized how much student voices matter. Our seniors weren't just complaining - they were out there in the scorching Pilani heat, some even on hunger strikes. That's democracy in action, right there. Did we get everything we wanted? Not quite. But today, BITS has way more scholarships and support for students who need it. That's a win in my book. This wasn't a war against the university. It was about making sure students have a say in decisions that affect them. It showed why all stakeholders need to be part of the process. The unity was incredible. All campuses - Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad - standing together. It proved college isn't just about fun and games. Sometimes, it's about coming together for something bigger. Looking back, I think this was one of BITS' finest moments. It taught us that when we unite, our voices can't be ignored. College life isn't just about lectures and laughs - it's about learning to stand up for what's right, together.

In my five years at BITS, I learned; • To say – I don't know When I first came to BITS, I recognized something fundamental had changed about my classroom interactions In contrast to my years at school, where no question was left unanswered, my professors here didn't seem to have answers to all of my questions What had changed was my teachers no longer professed beyond their circle of competence. They were painfully aware of their own ignorance and were full with intellectual humility I learned that it's of great utility to remind ourselves every single day that we don’t know anything like enough yet • To not settle for answers that aren't answers at all Learning about the world around us is often a painfully slow process. It entails a lot of hard work, time, and patience. When faced with a profound hole in our understanding there's often a very prolific tendency to fill the void with unsubstantiated postulations A conspiracy theory seems better than no theory at all, and pseudoscience seems better than unfinished science. Our need for cognitive closure is so high that any answer is preferable to confusion and ambiguity My mentors taught me to resist the temptation of accepting non-answers • To have a voice While intellectual honesty demands that we reject pseudo explanations, moral courage demands that we call out those who pretend to know that which we don't know When I first started looking into what it is that informs my beliefs, I realized a large part of it was cultural conditioning and very little of it, critical thinking. BITS exposed me to ideas very distinct from my own A few good ones and a lot of crazy ones too. I was part of two associations, what I would now identify as cults, in my freshman year. I did find my way out, but the recognition that there were so many like me who did not and have not, filled me with an urgency to not let false ideas remain unchallenged I learned to be vocal against superstition and dogmatism • Responsibility of freedom Freedom to attend classes or to skip them, freedom to choose my interests and my subjects, freedom to invest/waste my time in any manner I pleased I was at a place where I could get what I wanted. I was paralyzed with choices. I studied science, engineering, finance, literature, and philosophy on this campus Most most importantly, I learned to take responsibility for my actions. I learned freedom without responsibility is wasteful, and life without responsibility is meaningless • To listen I recall chatting up with my political theory professor after one of my classes, when he unexpectedly asked me, ‘what is the greatest danger that humanity faces today?’ Here was a well read, well traveled Oxford graduate asking a twenty something full of ignorance, biases, and flawed thinking, a civilizational question, genuinely interested in my answer as if I had something worthy to say on the subject If he can be that kind of a person, so can I. #BITSPilani - It's Magic!

Why B.Pharm at BITS Pilani? While selecting colleges a year ago, I didn’t have very good marks in BITSAT (175/390) (reasons? lite, stories I just don’t want to recall...). So, my choices were MIT and VIT, but I had an interest in the business world, I was drawn to BITS’ startup culture, something I discovered through online resources and videos. Seeing folks building things, always working on something, and the overall energy was very fascinating to me. I sat down and asked myself what I really wanted to do: - I’m not inclined towards pursuing a job. - I have an interest in the startup world. - I like to create, manifest, and explore. - I want to meet great, passionate people and have access to a strong network. - I enjoy coding and can teach myself with the resources available. - I’ll have free time to build my own path and develop skills. Hmm, I just followed my gut, and it led me to BITS. :) Hope, i will stop getting this question from now on...

A Nostalgic journey to Golden era ! Watch this vintage video of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

#HappyTeachersDay BITS Pilani WILP alumni share how BITS Pilani faculty made their return to academics smooth and impactful, and how their guidance helped them apply their learning to real-world challenges. Have a special memory or message for a favourite teacher? Drop it in the comments below! Nikhila Sindhe Manasa S A Anand Jha #BITSPilani #BITSPilaniWILP #WorkIntegratedLearning #BITSWILP #shapingpathfinders #education #workingprofessionals #TeachersDay2024

Gain relevant and #renewed skills, and unlock your true potential with BITS Pilani Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP), without taking any career break. #Admissions are closing for our programmes on June 17, 2024. #ApplyNow!  Click on the link to know more - https://lnkd.in/g_mJJAVY #BITSPilani #BITSPilaniWILP #WorkIntegratedLearning #ShapingPathfinders #ContinuingEducation #SkillsDevelopment #CareerGrowth #countdown

As a college student who has to attend lectures just for the 75% attendence criteria , I often question the value of attending theoretical lectures that feel disconnected from real-world applications. Many lectures revolve around memorization rather than fostering skills that truly matter in today’s dynamic world. Instead of sitting passively in such classes, I prefer dedicating my time to building projects, learning new skills, and exploring subjects that excite me. I’ve gained more from online courses, coding personal projects, and networking with ambitious peers than from conventional classroom learning. I believe education should be about understanding concepts and applying them rather than simply fulfilling attendance requirements. Zero attendance policies like BITS Pilani’s allow students the freedom to take charge of their learning journeys, which I think is a game-changer. What are your thoughts on balancing college attendance with personal skill development? #SelfLearning #SkillBuilding #CollegeExperience #CareerGrowth #BITSZeroAttendance

There are countless memories that shaped my time at BITS Pilani, but one tradition stands out above all—the write-up culture. Hyderabad ones might want to call it testimonials <3 When you’re in your final semester, standing on the brink of graduation, a write-up becomes the final chapter of your incredible story at BITS. Imagine your closest friends—your wingmates—coming together to reveal every quirky, funny, and heartwarming moment you shared over the last four years. They dig deep into your shared history, uncovering secrets, teasing you about your crushes, and narrating tales you might have preferred to keep hidden. But that’s the beauty of it—it’s raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal. This isn’t just a story told; it’s a celebration. It’s organized by the people who know you best—your club members, wingmates, and closest friends. One of the most cherished aspects of a write-up is the speeches. As you stand there, trying to hold back tears, you reflect on what these four years have meant to you. You talk about the friendships that turned into family and the countless memories made. Your friends take their turn recalling your best qualities and reminding you of the impact you’ve had on their lives. And it doesn’t end there. The entire event is recorded, capturing every laugh, every tear, and every word. This video becomes a treasure, allowing you to relive these precious moments years down the line. When life takes you to different corners of the world, this video brings you back to the heart of BITS Pilani, where you can once again feel the warmth of those extra-ordinary days. As you watch your friends stand up, one by one, and share their memories, you realize that this is what you’ve truly earned in these four years—unbreakable bonds and memories that will last a lifetime. They tease, they roast, but they also remind you of your strengths, your kindness, and the unique mark you’ve left on their lives. To all the ex-students, as you read this, let your eyes swell with tears of joy and nostalgia. Remember the laughter, the secrets, the speeches, and the love that defined your time at BITS Pilani. It’s truly magic♥️

Leaving BITS Pilani for 2 months… Yaa! My first year at BITS Pilani gets over here, and we got a nice two-month summer vacation, thankfully! Yup, Rajasthan is hot 🥵🔥! It's my first LinkedIn Post after entering into BITS. And, here I bring tech story(ies) of the week with me (every weekend). Life is a rollercoaster journey. Several challenges come and go, but one can't stop progressing. In reality, failing a race doesn't mark your failure but not participating does. And come on, I'm not going to use GPT for composing my Posts. They shall be original, and as I'm just starting, I ought to make mistakes and sound casual. But believe me, I trust in learning with all, I believe that “Gyān bātne se badhtā hai!” So, I'm starting this chapter of my life on LinkedIn… Chalo Gyān ki bānte karte hai! The exchange of knowledge and ideas is necessary for progress. Chalo fir milte hai iss Weekend ek Dhamākedār Tech story ke sāth! #WeekendStories