Summer Internship with IIM Lucknow – Monika from NIT Kurukshetra

Daily Winner for: –  5th August 2012

Name of the intern: –  Monika

Institute: –  NIT Kurukshetra

Organization interned with: –  IIM Lucknow

So, I am an engineering student (IT) and first thing that comes to anyone’s mind about my internship would be some technical core job, involving programming and coding and stuff. But, there I was at IIM Lucknow, pursuing my passion, management. Believe me, people asked me the same question there as well, “What are you doing here?” and I with that smile on my face used to say, “It’s what I am good at”.

It all started in the second year of my B.Tech program when I realized I was trapped in something which did not hold my interest at all. Just to be clear I am a good student; I manage to score good grades too but as they say, there is nothing like passion. It’s something which lets you fly free and while you do that the entire world seems so easy all of a sudden. I like studying economics, business books and I am totally into finance and marketing. Dealing with people, their affairs, mutual coordination issues, all these things excite me. And of course winning business quizzes makes my day.

So, when there came the time to finally choose the ultimate path, I decided to go with my heart. We are required to go through this compulsory 2 month internship after our third year and I wanted to go for something related to management. At first, being a novice and being an Engineering student, I thought I would fail miserably. I had no idea how to proceed. Researching a certain things on the internet, I decided that first of all I needed a mentor, a person who could help with any further directions.

I still remember, I had my final exams of 6th semester going on but there I was writing my cover letter, updating my CV, asking people if they had encountered similar situations. The next day, I started applying and whoa…I got a reply within a day of my application. It was a professor at IIM Lucknow. He called me and I was done.

Now, the next stop was Lucknow after my exams got over. It was the 7th of June, terribly hot but nothing could hinder my excitement then. We reached Lucknow, I and my dad. My parents still think I am a kid. IIM was located in the outskirts of the city, so it was pretty difficult getting there.

As we were heading closer, I thought my heart would cave in. Here  it was — the main gate and like a dream come true. Spectacular campus, calm and lively scenery at the same time. The greenery freshened us. After a bit of trouble with the hostel accommodation, we settled down.

I reached my mentor’s office and we greeted each other. After some small discussions about myself, my college and my hometown, he asked what project I would like to work on. I had so many thoughts hoarding up in my mind and I guess he saw and understood. We decided it would be a research project and we will be analysing the topic of “Recruitment Advertising”. He further gave me a book and asked me to start reading the things I did not know about. And yeah, I did impress him while we were talking about my interests. I was in awe of him too.

In the next few days, he would give me work and I would try to do it with as much energy as possible. Sometimes I did disappoint (I would say disappoint myself and not exactly the professor); but everything taught me something new. I was reviewing academic papers ranging from economics to sales and marketing. The whole learning part took a new course. I realized I was more interested in management than ever. After the reading days were over, I had to get this survey done which would then be analysed for the perception of young graduates about advertising. Now that was something I and my friends could most easily relate to: what factors we consider important in an ad and how it demonstrates a firm’s ability to influence our decision. I had never thought that I would be doing such a practical study in my life ever. And this was also the time when I made a potent impression on my professor. I suggested a few attributes which could be added to the list already framed by him. It was an awesome moment when he uttered the word “Brilliant”.

During the next few days, I analysed the survey, wrote drafts for the paper and of course, enjoyed the campus and the new city. I would work in the morning, update my mentor by afternoon, take some rest and then roam around the green campus in the evening. Often I would sit in the library and read magazines and journals. Let me tell you, the library seemed so cozy that you would love to go there and read. The 24/7 facility made it all the more engaging.

I even attended my professor’s lectures in the meantime. To be frank, I have no words to describe the experience. The lecture halls themselves lure you. And then the courses were so eventful too. I wondered why Engineering could not be that exciting. Well, I guess, interest is the key.

I decided to come back after one and half month since my professor had some urgent work scheduled abroad and he had to leave. So, during the last week, I finished the work and my professor told me he would send the paper to an international journal after some due modifications. I would be the co-author of the paper and he wrote me this extraordinary certificate plus letter of recommendation. The last day he gifted me an Economics book and even invited me for dinner. The whole gesture delighted me. I knew I had found a mentor for life. On the parting note, he asked me to feel free to contact him any time. It was time to leave now. My train about to arrive and it was crazy but I had tears in my eyes. I didn’t know I would miss the city, the campus or the work; but I knew I would definitely miss the time.

So, out of many things I learnt, the most important would be, dreams do come true. All you need to do is keep holding on and swinging till you get what you want. And yeah, when you get that, do your best and show the world who you are! That’s my story. And I doubt if it’s merely a story!

Was this interesting? If yes, please like the post on Facebook (below) and help Monika become winner of the week and win the prize (Rs. 1,000/-) that she truly deserves!