‘I was in the hostel, so my college days were fun-filled’

What does a student who has lived all his life and done his schooling in Tijara, Alwar district in Rajasthan do when he comes to study at Apeejay Stya University (ASU) to pursue his higher education? There are no guesses to get this one right – have loads of fun staying in the hostel.

“That was the best part of being at ASU. I had loads of fun. My seniors were extremely helpful. We would go to movies, participate in festivals, or just go for walks and have scintillating conversations with everyone,” Nishant Jain, who is working as a software developer, said.

Excerpts from an interview.

How and why did you choose to study at ASU?

Once I completed my schooling in Alwar, I was exploring my options of where to study and pursue a BTech in Computer Science. I was at a loose end and had not made up my mind about where to study. That is when someone told me about a counseling session. I went because my friends were going. I had no expectations since I was still looking for that perfect college.

It was here that I heard about ASU. I saw their brochure and read about the School of Engineering and Technology. I came back home and did a lot of research on my own. I visited social media and read only good things that students had to say about the faculty and the infrastructure. The rest is history.

Can you share some fond memories of your days?

The first two years were a blast. I had so much fun. The days were spent studying but the evening and nights were spent meeting friends and seniors and generally having fun on campus. Our living premises were within the campus so it was good to interact with students who had come from all over the country. It was such an eye-opener; I learnt so much about India without having to visit these places.

But then in 2020 COVID-19 hit and classes went online. I was a bit sad but happy too as I was home. But my friends and I stayed in touch online and would talk for hours on end. We would help each other if we got stuck on a topic we were studying.

This is your first job. How does it feel to be earning and how did you spend your first salary?

All through college, I couldn’t wait for the four-year degree programme to get over so that I could start working. Then I started working in March this year; I was on probation for four months and got my confirmation in June only. It feels great to be working. The advantage is that this company allows me to work from home. While I would love to work in an offline mode, I am glad I am with my parents.

Also, when I got my first salary, instead of splurging on an expensive gadget or going out with friends I decided to take a short vacation with my family to Haridwar; my parents had been wanting to visit this Holy place.

Did ASU help you find this job?

Yes, definitely. I got this job through the placement cell. When I went to them, we discussed my programme and what area of work interested me. Based on that, they recommended that I apply to three-four organisations that we short-listed. It was a meticulous process. I was told that there would be a written test and then an interview. I then prepared my CV; I saw a few YouTube videos to prepare for the interview – how to dress, speak and behave during the entire process.

“The small projects that I have done at ASU helped me hone my skills. I use the practical skills that I learnt in college in my present job”

Nishant Jain, Software Developer, Global NCAP  

What is your job profile?

The good thing about where I am working as a software developer is that they allow us to work from home. I mostly deal with front-end issues. My company – Global NCAP – has a project on which I am working and for any issues that arise related to the front-end issues like changing coding, I do those changes. Then some tasks need to be done on a priority basis.

We are a team and coordinate our work online after a daily morning meeting. We discuss what needs to be done for the day and plan the day accordingly. If we get stuck, our team leader is always available and helps us.

Would you recommend ASU to others in Tijara?

Definitely. It is a great place to study as far as I am concerned. The best part is that if you have any issues or problems the faculty is always there to help you out. They never get tired of answering your questions or get irritable. They even help us with any project that we may have taken up. Take an example. If we are studying Database. They offer us an opportunity to have hands-on practical know-how.

These small projects that I have done at ASU helped me hone my skills. I use the practical skills that I learnt in college in my present job. There are so many small issues that crop up daily on the job but I know how to deal with them and don’t have to keep running to my team leader.