“It’s to do with accounts, math and all. Generic degree baba, nothing fancy.”

That’s how I was introduced to the Bachelors in Commerce Course or as we like to say, B.Com.

How very wrong that was! Yes, it does include accounts and math. But the “and all” section is extremely vast. I’ve had subjects like Manufacturing, Marketing, Human Resources, Statistics, Research, Entrepreneurship, Phonetics and even Aerobics (that’s right).  

I’m currently in my second year of B.Com (Industry Integrated) and I’ve absolutely loved it so far. The entire concept of this course is generic. But that’s where being a student comes in. The opportunities are endless! It’s in your hands whether to grab them or not. The choice of college plays a huge role in whether this course is enjoyable. It’s important to understand the college's rules, the kind of people who could be expected to attend it and very importantly what kind of extracurricular activities they offer and what is their policy on it?

I saw a lot of my friends' rate colleges based on dress code and commute distance and other factors that proved to be unimportant, as they found out later. For me, the main factor was the crowd and the extracurricular policy. The best way to find out about these things is talking to people who are pursuing what you are interested to pursue. They can give you a much more “insider” perspective on the college.

I go to college by 7:30 and be done with it by noon. That leaves me with a lot of time to invest in other things. I took up French classes, Aerobics, Phonetics and Basics of Forensic Science as my extra credit classes. This was despite the fact that my course doesn’t call for compulsory credits. Apart from that, I have the time to read books - my favorite activity. I managed to read 87 different books last year! I’m trying to make that an even 100 this year.

I was also very involved in the college events. I was in the core committee of our International Cultural fest, our Commerce fest, our Fresher’s week, our Intra-College cultural fest and so many more. I was also part of a group which works on social causes by organizing camps, teaching students, and making visits to various NGOs. I’ve also done internships with many companies, my most recent favorite being Konversations.com :)

I still have one year to go, but already, having been part of so many events has started to pay off. It has helped me build a real network of people who I know I can turn to for anything, personally and professionally. I got the opportunity to work with Regional Heads of companies like One Plus, Freshmenu, Vodafone and Jealous 21, to name a few. This has made me very well connected. I’m the person everyone turns to if they need to get in touch with anyone. I’ve made countless friends with whom I share very memorable moments.

And what’s next on the menu for a B.Com graduate? I’m currently looking into two options. The first is doing my Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Again, I’m following the same policy as before. I’m looking at colleges that have diversity, that could make me have new experiences and that also give importance to extracurricular activities, not just academics. At the top of my list would be the Indian Institutes of Management. The IIMs are spread across the country and offer a variety of programs, mostly at the postgraduate level.  A degree from any IIM is invaluable and it offers a scope for success like none other in India.

My second option is the Young India Fellowship. This is a one-year postgraduate program in Liberal Arts offered by Ashoka University in Delhi. I love the subjects of this course! The ones that excite me the most would be Leadership, Women, and Gender in Bollywood Cinema, Mathematical Thinking, The Fundamentals of Law, Philosophy and Cognitive Science. People from all over the world who have made a mark for themselves - CEOs, Founders, Filmmakers, Professors at Harvard etc. teach and mentor the Fellows who are accepted into this program. I believe this course is truly my calling to study Liberal Arts, something that I have always been interested in.

The other options available to me include doing a Masters in Commerce (M.Com), sitting for placements and taking up a job, or taking up other Post Graduate programs. As you can see, the options are endless.

All in all, I have had a great time so far in B.Com. It has given me a broader perspective on people, on the world and in the field of commerce. It has thrown me into the face of diversity and has equipped me to come to a point where I find talking to people much easier than before. I look forward to the rest of this journey.