Never get distracted during college life, as it this phase that gives you clarity and helps in building your future
She has seen so many places many youngsters don’t get an opportunity to, during one’s early life. Meet Shubhra Lal, one of the pass outs from a wellknown institute (BITM, Pune) who made it big by getting herself placed through campus placement at one of the well-known data and information management services company, Writer Corporation. Though she did not make the cut in a couple of companies that came to the college campus for placement earlier, it was her determination and making amends of all that went wrong in her journey that helped her finally. Her parents’ efforts and her institution helped groom her and made her a part of the corporate world. It was a tough journey for this girl from Jamshedpur who had to leave her parents and stay all alone in Pune. Attending conferences and meeting people from the corporate world moulded her to face the challenging corporate world.
The daughter of a banker, Shubhra was born in Giridih in Jharkhand. She spent her early childhood in a small village, Sahore near Indore, in Madhya Pradesh. She started her schooling at Vinayak Public School and MGM School there. And when she was in the fifth standard her father was transferred to Jamshedpur, and it was here that she completed her schooling. She graduated with English honours from Jamshedpur Women’s College. Then she opted to do her masters from one of the best colleges in Pune, even though it meant that she had to stay away from her family. Being the eldest in the family, Shubhra was pampered by her parents. “It was tough staying away, but I recalled my days when my parents gave me everything I wanted. And I thought to myself that it was time for me to give back to them. I did miss them, especially my younger brother, but to get something one has to sacrifice, and I did that,” she said. Shubhra, who always wanted to explore the world says her favourite subject was geography. “After being in different states and cities, I had this natural inclination towards geography as a subject.”
“I have participated in interschool essay writing competitions at various levels and that helped me meet people and make friends. And most importantly, sports brings out your hidden potential and gives your personality an extra edge! I was a yoga student.”
The best thing that can happen to any youngster who is pursuing her masters is meeting people from the same arena which was part of the curriculum of the college. “I had many opportunities to attend conferences and seminars. I had the chance to be at the Hyatt and Conrad Hotel to attend marketing conferences, where I had the chance to interact with successful people in this field, which was a great learning time for me. And also being the CR of the class helped me in more than one way”, she said.
Shubhra Lal with her friendsPlacement is the biggest fear every student faces after academics, and Shubhra was no exception. “Yes, you do have fears and that is pretty normal when you see 350 other students competing for the same job,” recalls Shubhra. “Like other students during placement, even I went through my share of anxiety and fear of missing out,” she said. And due to that she could not make it with the first three companies, HDFC Bank, Mother Dairy and Bajaj Finserv. But she did not lose confidence, as each of these interviews helped her to garner more knowledge and she made amends. “For some reasons I could not make it. That somewhere hit me from inside. But what makes you strong is having faith in yourself and patience that whatever is happening will ultimately turn out best for you,” she stated. “But, because of my positive frame of mind, I was picked up by Writer Corporation, said Shubhra. The struggle did not end there as she had to move to Mumbai for a three-month training session. Although her place of residence was close to her office in Mulund, that she used to travel by local trains. “I used to wonder how people travelled in local trains whenever I used to see them on TV, and it became a reality for me, when I was one among them during my stay in Mumbai. I feel I have overcome all the negative aspects of life.”
“I had many opportunities to attend conferences and seminars where I had the chance to interact with successful people in this field, which was a great learning time for me. And also being the CR of the class helped me in more than one way”
There were many teachers and others who came into her life at different stages. Her friends too played a vital role in shaping her personality. “Preparing for exams, staying awake the entire night was fun. But your childhood days at school and college determine your future, as each phase adds to your overall personality and hence every phase has its own importance.” She emphasises that one should never get distracted during college life.
“The happiest moment was when I sent my first salary to my parents,” says Shubhra. During her masters, she overcame stage fear which was a big achievement for her. Her faculty helped her in this mission through her role as a host at the Achievement Night function for seniors. “Overcoming stage fear and hosting a crowd of 500 people made me very happy. That was also one of the many happy moments.”
Shubhra Lal with her family“There is no singular definition of life. For every individual it holds a different meaning. For me, life is all about being happy and enjoying small moments. It’s all about making your parents, family and friends proud of you. Life is not something you have to understand. It is something that you have to live. Give your best each day and take it ahead, keep your conscience clear. Facing corporate life is different than the theories learnt in college life.”
By Joe Williams
