The biggest advantage of going to college according to me is the alumni network. The best schools are made of strong alumni support.
About the Event
The department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Computer Science and Technology of Karunya University (KU) conducted the second national IEEE STEP EVENT 2014 on “GROOMING ENGINEERS AS ENTREPRENEURS” on 27th October 2014. IEEE-Young Professional, Madras Section. The objective of this event is to transform budding engineers as entrepreneurs.
In this regard CSE department of KU invited Mohankumar Swaminathan, an alumnus to be the resource person for the session “Spark of Inspiration” for one hour duration to talk on "Show inspirations of start-ups; Alumni-Start-ups; Incubation Advantages".
My Preparation:
Thinking about going back to my college was early waiting moment, that too for delivering a guest session for a national level event to talk to my own juniors made me work over nights to make sure I give my best.
First, when I decided to prepare, one thing that came to my mind was NOT to make it a boring session. It's NOT about, I got a stage to proudly say what we did, instead i was very keen on take away i wanted to pass on to students.
While i was studying in college, I would start opening my text book just few hours after our study hours in night. But this time absolute opposite, spend more than days digging all my previous tweets and started to put it up in one PPT and organised.
I wanted to make sure even the photos and references i use should be from Karunyans. And when a junior listens to me his expectation would be more of brotherhood. So I need to be open minded to say real inside out, give tips and build bonding.
My Talk
My Experience:
Got up early, grabbed some breakfast at home, got into car on a drizzling climate and took a back seat to make sure I enjoy every second of my travel recollecting my college days. Its about 40 kms from my home and while i entered the college area, I still couldn't accept that it's been three years since I left this place. Smile built up itself and was measuring every step I had recollecting moments spent with friends and teachers.
My session was second in morning and with the above PPT walked them through how we lived in Karunya? and how i was able to find co-founders and build a small start-up from our own hostel rooms.
Had lunch in our hostel mess, went to my department. Had chance to interact with staffs who believed in me even when i was in college being an average student.
News coverage:
HTcampus: http://www.htcampus.com/article/workshop-grooming-engineers-entrepreneurs-karunya-university/
Being an alumni
Getting out of college with a campus placement would be a great thing for us at that moment, but the real happiness for teachers is when you go back visit them and share your industry experience with juniors. It's our responsibility to make sure we keep in touch with our college/department often and give back what ever we learnt to the juniors.
We schedule our vacation and family outing, it's equally important to visit our college every year to meet our juniors, staff and contribute as much as possible. Alumni contribution is very much important to build a strong freshers out of college.
Would like to listen to your experiences on helping or guiding your juniors after coming out of college. Lets get to know your experience in the comments section.
