Because there was 08.08.08..

Because there was an 08.08.08, four years later, a farewell speech just had to be there.

To 13.07.2008, because an 08.08.08 was on its way.

To the college, because you gave me a recognition.

To the road(s) of MIT, because dreams were birthed and friendship bonds were made stronger.

To the administration, because you made me realize that it is not a fair world all the time.

To the department, because I can't imagine myself sitting in front of anything but a computer in the field of engineering.

To the numerous projects done, because we are now proven last minute workers.

To fyp (final year project, as they call it), because you gave me those Calvin moments.

To the exams, because my writing skills just kept getting better.

To group studies, because I owe you all my marks.

To CEG, because your question papers were easier to answer than ours.

To the grades, because you taught me not to really care.

To placements, because I have a pay check today.

To facebook and twitter, because we mastered the art of wasting time.

To the labs, because we love our Gravity Master and Type Racer.

To the lectures, because we improved our drawing skills and got crazy over Sudokus.

To the prayer cell, because you gave me a reason to come to college.

To mitra/quill/csmit for giving me an opportunity to do what I love doing- write!

To the cultural fests, because you gave me an extra holiday.

To the travel from home to college and back, because you taught me to survive the Chennai traffic.

To the share autos, because you are the best mode of travel. And to the local trains, for the morning running race. Hey Bengaluru, now beat that!

To the hostel, because you always provided rescue-on-demand.

To the college canteen, because you gave me food at prices we could never imagine. And your meals, I eternally fell in love with.

To lunch hours, because lunch boxes were never ours. And our lunch days, what variety!

To the co-ops and kiosk, because you were our favorite hang-out spots.

To birthdays, because surprises were always flops.

To the treats, because they were never given and were never got.

To the college bunds, because you patiently heard and withstood all our endless chit-chats.

To GJ Park, because observations and assignments were copied sitting on your benches bearing all the mosquito bites.

To the library, because you were the best hide-out spot upon being late to college.

To Industrial Visits (read as ‘tours’), because they simply were the best things to happen during these four years. 

To the sincere first row/hostel and other studious friends, because four years without an arrear wouldn't have been possible without your notes.

To the 14MP camera and Picasa, because we no longer spent money on getting the notes Xerox-ed. E-notes all the way!

To the security uncle, because all my lost belongings were found in no time.

To the senior-junior relationship, because it was unique to our college. Yay we!

To the Castle twiends, because Tuesdays and Wednesdays couldn't have been any better in the last sem.

To the classmates, because yes, we had a lot of fun and we know it.

To the best mates, because college would have sucked without you guys.

To the family, because you were working behind the scenes always.

To my Jesus, because all this was a reality.

To 2008-02-'40', because you were my roll number and I have 40 reasons to be grateful for in these four years!

“To the four years of magic, days of inspiration, making something out of nothing;

the need to express, to communicate;

To going against the grain, going insane;

To loving tension, no pension, to more than one dimension;

To starving for attention, hating convention, hating pretension;

To no absolutes, to absolutes;

To choice, to the village voice;

To any passing fad, and to being 'us' and going mad.”

Viva La Vie Bohem!

What a ride! I remember stepping into college on the first day at 7:45 am for an 8:30 lecture, doesn't seem that long ago. And here I am, four years later, no longer a college girl but a working woman.

Hard to believe, tough to accept, left with no choice, don’t know what to expect.

“From college life to the corporate world,
From friends to colleagues,
From IVs to team outings..
Indeed, a transition in progress!”

P.S.: If you're still wondering what exactly happened on 08.08.08, I would like to proclaim that it was my first day in college.

P.P.S.: Here's a post I wrote on Lessons I Stumbled Upon In College, in case you want to give it a read.