‘Being part of organising teams for major events like Alcheringa and UDGAM exposed me to large-scale management and teamwork,’ says IIT Guwahati first-year student Nehal Aggarwal.My decision to prepare for the IITs did not come from a fascination with a single branch or a childhood dream of becoming an engineer. It came from my long-standing love for mathematics. From learning abacus and Vedic maths as a child to attempting multiple Maths Olympiads, numbers always felt familiar to me. Even today, irony strikes when I realise that I barely pass my college mathematics exams – but my curiosity and affection for the subject are what pushed me to take this path.I began preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in 2023. After completing my board examinations, I appeared for JEE Main and JEE Advanced in 2025 and secured an All India Rank of 11,789 in JEE Advanced. The result may not have been extraordinary, but it was enough to open the doors to an institution that would change how I see learning and life.Today, I am a first-year undergraduate student in the Mechanical Engineering department at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, navigating both academics and independence in one of India’s most unique IIT campuses.I come from Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, in Uttar Pradesh. I studied at Seth Anandram Jaipuria School and enrolled in a coaching program in collaboration with my school during Classes 11 and 12. My father is a businessman, and my mother is a tutor. Moving away from home, I miss my friends and family the most, but the independence I’ve gained has been equally defining.The reality of JEE preparationTwo years before stepping into IIT Guwahati, my entire universe was confined to the four walls of my room and a towering pile of books in the corner. Seniors had warned me that JEE preparation was no cakewalk, and I understood that the moment I entered Class 11.The vast syllabus, relentless mock tests, constant peer comparison, and mounting expectations often led to burnout and self-doubt.Story continues below this adThere were days when I questioned my decision entirely. What helped me stay afloat were small, realistic study plans and weekly motivation sessions with my parents. I am a Bharatanatyam dancer, and I consciously made time for dance to keep myself mentally active. Walks, short outings, and friends who cheered me up after bad tests – sometimes with food, sometimes with humour – made all the difference. Those two years taught me that optimism around you can be as important as discipline within you.Choosing mechanical engineering: A match made by rankWhen my JEE Advanced rank came in, I had limited options. I neither had a deep passion for a specific branch nor the liberty to be selective. I chose to prioritise the institute and the peer group over the syllabus. In many ways, my rank became the matchmaker between me and mechanical engineering.With time, I have learned to appreciate the branch – not as a rigid destiny, but as a toolkit I am slowly learning to use. I see it as one part of my education, not the entirety of my future.First days at IIT GuwahatiI entered IIT Guwahati on July 20, 2025. As I crossed the main gate, a sudden realisation hit me – I was on my own. It was my first time living away from home, and the sheer scale of the 700-acre campus was overwhelming. Surrounded by the Brahmaputra on one side and rolling hills on the other, the silence of the campus felt louder than any city noise I had known.Story continues below this adSitting in lecture halls filled with state toppers and Olympiad winners, I didn’t feel exceptional – I felt like an imposter. Beyond academics, I had to learn life skills I had never practised before – washing clothes, managing a budget, and deciding daily meals. My first week wasn’t just an academic transition; it was a crash course in adulthood.Finding belonging beyond the classroomTaking one step at a time – figuring out routes to classes, making friends, and breaking the ice with hostel mates – made me realise that everyone around me was just as lost. Trauma bonding over bad mess food, making chore schedules, and sharing struggles helped me feel at home.What surprised me most was that IIT wasn’t an endless academic race. People around me were musicians, artists, dancers, cricketers, and organisers – each excelling in something beyond textbooks. Being surrounded by smarter people pushed me to grow.Clubs, fests, and learning time managementInitially, I wanted to join every club I came across. IIT gave me absolute freedom, and I soon realised that managing it was harder than any Physics problem. I joined several cultural and technical clubs along with welfare boards in my first semester itself.Story continues below this adBeing part of organising teams for major events like Alcheringa and UDGAM exposed me to large-scale management and teamwork. Time management is perhaps the most valuable skill IIT teaches you. Concentrating during lectures and making detailed notes have helped me balance academics with extracurricular commitments.How IIT changed my definition of successFor two years of JEE preparation, I lived with tunnel vision – rank, marks, cut-offs. Life at IIT shattered that mindset. I have seen students struggle academically yet build remarkable startups, and toppers who are incredible musicians. I have stopped measuring my worth through numbers and started valuing experiences and relationships instead.Everyday life on campusMy day usually begins with a hurried breakfast and cycling – or hiking, given IIT Guwahati’s terrain – to classes. Lab days are exhausting, but evenings are reserved for friends or club activities. The campus itself is our hangout space – from sunrise visits to KV Ghat to quick runs at Khokha Market. Late-night Maggi sessions at Disang Hostel turn ordinary nights into lasting memories.Teachers, trust, and freedomOne unexpected highlight of IIT has been the approachable nature of professors. Their support makes academic pressure far more manageable. I still remember a professor treating us to chocolates at the end of our first semester to congratulate us – it was a small gesture that meant a lot.Story continues below this adUnlike many other colleges, IIT Guwahati places immense trust in its students. While my friends in other institutes have strict curfews, here, 11 pm often marks the start of work. This freedom isn’t about rebellion; it’s about responsibility. We learn time management because we must, not because we are forced to.Learning to handle money and independenceManaging expenses here has been a reality check. Tracking spending has made me more responsible and appreciative of my parents’ sacrifices. Financial independence, I’ve learned, is not about having money – it’s about knowing how to manage it.Beyond the campus: Discovering GuwahatiIf IIT Guwahati feels like a black-and-white short film, the city and nearby places are a technicolour web series. From the Brahmaputra and Kamakhya Temple to Meghalaya, the region adds depth and vibrancy to college life.What IIT has ultimately taught meThe most important lesson IIT Guwahati has taught me is the art of figuring things out. Whether it’s handling academic pressure, managing time, or navigating independence, I’ve learned to stay calm amid chaos. IIT hasn’t just shaped me as an engineer – it has shaped me as a person still learning, still evolving, and still curious about what lies ahead.