Sitting down to pen these words, I am overwhelmed with emotions. My official two-year journey with Team ARIITK is drawing to a close, filled with nostalgia, gratitude, and a tinge of excitement for what lies ahead. These past two years have been nothing short of transformative, both personally and professionally. As I prepare to hand over the reins to my juniors, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible experiences, the valuable lessons learned, and the profound growth that has marked this chapter of my life.

InterIIT Tech Meet 11.0 Chronicles

One of the most remarkable aspects of my time with Team ARIITK has been the sheer amount of learning we’ve had, all while having fun along the way. Whether it was celebrating a successful milestone, organizing team outings, or simply sharing a good laugh during late-night work sessions, there was never a shortage of laughter. These moments of fun not only strengthened our bonds as a team but also served as a reminder of the importance of finding joy and fulfillment in our work.

My Y21 gang UwU

But amidst the laughter and camaraderie, there were also moments of challenge and growth. Working with the Team pushed me out of my comfort zone, challenged me to think creatively, and encouraged me to embrace failure as a necessary stepping stone on the path to success. Through every setback and obstacle, I discovered resilience I never knew I had and emerged stronger, more determined, and more resourceful than before.

Me and Atulta. Our day used to begin at 8 in the evening. The work used to last till 5 in the morning. Sleep for 2 to 3 hours and back to attending our morning classes and quizzes ;p

I still remember the state of the Team when we took over as leaders. The hardware was in disarray, with no knowledge transfer due to COVID. More than half of it wasn’t working, and the Team’s finances were a mess (we didn’t even have a budget of 10k). We needed a workspace. We had a company come in for CSR who contacted five teams, and four received some funding. We were the only Team to miss out. We had about 3 to 4 active members when we started, but we never gave up.

Takneek scenes around 3 in the morning

We started with a competition called Robofest 3.0 and secured funding of ₹50,000. This was our turning point. We qualified for further rounds and received cumulative funding of ₹1.5 lakhs. We were even invited to the final round but, unfortunately, we couldn’t make it due to unforeseen issues. We also secured funding from the director and essentially revived the entire Team. While managing the Team and hardware, we focused on outreach and PR, which paid off handsomely. Special mention to Pulak and Atulya – we were a true “tripod.” We managed to get a great workspace, got an amazing faculty advisor, were in the top 24 teams all over the world for ICUAS, and we had just started. We had around 280 students take the recruitment test to join us for this term which was the highest among all teams by a significant margin ;p

The tripod and our cool kiddos

As I prepare to pass the torch to my juniors, I do so with a profound sense of pride in all that we’ve accomplished together and a deep gratitude for the friendships, mentorship, and memories that I will carry with me for a lifetime. My time with the Team has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the next chapter of my journey.

My seniors during recruitment test for the Y23s

In closing, I extend my heartfelt thanks to every member of Team ARIITK for making these past two years truly unforgettable. Your passion, dedication, and unwavering support have not only shaped me professionally but have also made a lasting impact on me as a person.

SnT Pavillion for the Freshersss

Moving ahead, I may not be very socially active, focusing on some personal things, but I want you all to stay connected. Feel free to reach out to me anytime (especially Y22s — You all are my adopted baccha/bacchis, hehe); I realized I love talking about random things. Once again, thanks for all the support and love in this journey. When I look back at my college days, this is going to be, for sure, one of the best parts, and I will always be there.

Post intern drive scenes (yes mujhe and atulya ko loota gya)

I’ll conclude this blog now, or else I’ll keep blabbering about the number of incidents where we had fun. A small message to Y22s, we fulfilled our promises. Now it’s your turn to deliver. Remember, this journey is far from over—it’s just beginning for you. We’ve laid down a solid foundation, and now it’s your turn to build upon it. When it comes to Y23s, trust in their abilities, offer guidance where needed, and watch them soar to even greater heights. Your legacy will continue to shine through their efforts, just as ours will through you.

After a marathon session of interviews starting from 8 till 6 in the morning

Signing off with fond memories and high hopes,
Sappa

PS: More pics and vids coming your way soon (Disclaimer: Subject to my motivation levels.)