TRUST THE MAGIC OF NEW BEGINNINGS

As the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato said, "The beginning is the most important part of the work."?

As an aspiring professional, the feeling of having secured your admission at one of the finest institutes, I am sure, feels great. But, as they say, your journey has just begun. That first step you take is a window to your future. It determines the path you choose, your attitude towards the task and has the power to influence your success. So, it is wise to take the efforts to ensure that you are well-prepared for your journey. Let's take a look at a few steps you can take to make the most of your learning journey.

Invest Your Time Wisely: Before you start your course, make sure you brush up on your skills and go through the study material or reference books to get a fair understanding of the basic concepts of your subjects. Try to do a few relevant short online courses before the starting academic sessions. This will augments your skill set and inspire the spirit of continuous learning in the long run. Also, do not forget to get a refresher on your computer skills, especially Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Word.?

Prepare In Advance: For your first day, ensure your formals are ready, shoes and all. Check and re-check your grooming. All the accessories and tools you may require for your classes should be packed and ready. Reconfirm your reporting time, and reach at least 15 mins in advance. Remember, this day is not only a first impression on your professors and staff but also of your batchmates.

Be Pro-active: A lot of students are extremely focused on academics and being in step with the curriculum but neglect participating in extra-curricular activities and events organized by their institutes. One of the vital aspects of pursuing higher education is the numerous opportunities for connecting with individuals and growing your professional network. So, any seminars, social mixers and in-house celebrations are a great opportunity for you to interact with your peers and get to know like-minded individuals.?

Keep Yourself Open To New Ideas: A professional course is more than being one-way dissemination of knowledge from professors and only absorption on the students' end. For example, a business school environment and coursework are curated to encourage students to discover and hone their skills. It seeks to inspire the spirit of ingenuity and collaboration in learners to enable them to create unique solutions. Your peers, like you, are driven and dynamic, intending to make their mark on the world. Listen to them, understand their approach and draw inspiration from individuals around you to make your dreams a reality.

Internships Are More Important Than You Think: Internships are an incredible opportunity for learners to explore the market, get an insight into the operations, and understand work profiles. It is also your chance to identify organizations that are a good fit for you, get a first-hand experience of their work culture and grow your network. All this information is critical for planning and forecasting your career path. Also, if you can make a good impression on your bosses, at the very least, you have a positive endorsement, or you may walk home with a job at the end of your internship.?

With all this said, understand that the best use of your learning journey is to introspect, hone and augment your skillsets and find your niche. No one expects you to launch a successful start-up in the first year of your education. If you do, start your own company or bag a job at your dream company, that is great news, but if not, do not let the pressure get to you. Remember, your pace and priority do not have to match your peers. You are there to learn how to carve out your niche, not fit into others.

Coach Nasir Shaikh (ICF - PCC)