Skip to main content

B.Tech Diaries: The Code, the Crisis, and the 30-Page Chemistry Saga

Hello readers! Welcome back.

In Part 4, I talked about the end of the semester and the chaotic events surrounding Manoj’s birthday. Today, we dive into the "boss level" of the first semester: Lab Externals and the Final Exams. The pressure was on, the internal marks were in, and we were about to face the real test. Let’s get into the page!

The CP Lab: Code & Confusion

The first external was the Computer Programming (CP) Lab. Now, unlike Intermediate practicals where things are often predictable, here we had to execute the code perfectly.

Before entering the lab, I met Neeraj. If there’s one person who can "mug up" code better than anyone, it’s him.

"Ganesh, do you know how to do Matrix Multiplication?" he asked. "Yeah, I’ve got it," I replied.

Then, he started explaining his own version of the logic, and honestly? He totally confused me! When I got inside and saw the Matrix Multiplication program on my paper, I should have been happy. But thanks to Neeraj's last-minute "explanation," my logic got tangled, and the code wouldn't execute. Lesson learned: Never talk to a "topper" right before an exam!

We also had a running joke about the Viva. Usually, if a teacher asks "What is an Array?", you’re supposed to say: "It is a data structure consisting of a collection of elements identified by an index." But in our heads, the answer was: "Sir, an 'Arey' is for calling people! Like, 'Arey Suresh!' or 'Arey Ramesh!' Or it’s for singing, like 'Arrarey Arrarey Manasey Jarey' from the movie Happy Days!"


### The English Lab: From Discussion to Debate Next was the English Lab. This one usually covers vowels, grammar, and pronunciation. The highlight was the Group Discussion (GD). Neeraj was the initiator, but within minutes, our polite "discussion" turned into a full-blown heated debate! Somehow, we managed to conclude it and move to the Viva.

As the CR, I had to stay back to organize everyone and send them into the Viva cabin one by one. By the time I finally finished my own Viva, the college bus had already left! I had to take an auto home—the first time I’d ever had to do that.

Chemistry Lab: The Power of Three

For the Chemistry Lab, I had prepared for all the toughest experiments, but I ended up drawing a very easy one. Devendra and Ruthvik got the same one! We worked like a well-oiled machine, sharing readings and finishing the whole thing in 30 minutes. We submitted our records to Indhu Mam and went outside to prepare for Viva, though the questions they asked were nothing like what we studied!

The Finals: M1 Fear & 30 Pages of Chemistry

Then came the External Semester Exams. The "M1" (Mathematics-1) fear is real for every B.Tech student. Seniors had spooked us so much that my heart was racing until the moment the paper was placed in my hands. I just wrote everything I knew and hoped for the best.

But the Chemistry exam? That was a legend. I opened the paper and realized—I didn't know the answer to a single question! But I didn't give up. I started writing... and writing... and writing. By the time the bell rang, I had filled 30 pages of content!

The Last Hurrah: Environmental Studies

Our last exam was Environmental Studies. It was a special day because Nani’s movie MCA (Middle Class Abbayi) was releasing in theaters. Indhu Mam was our invigilator. She was strict, but since she had become friendly with us by then, she gave us a little motivation: "Write fast, finish up, and go catch your movie!"

Holidays & The Road to Semester 2

Exams were finally over! We were rewarded with a 25-day holiday. I spent the time visiting Tirumala with my relatives and traveling to Bangalore for my mom's medical check-up.

When college reopened for the second semester, I was still in Bangalore, missing the first few days. But don't worry—the story of the Second Semester is even better.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this journey through my first-semester struggles, make sure to follow the blog!

What was the one subject that gave you "exam fever" in college? Let’s hear your stories in the comments!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Journey to SVCE: A Story of Second Chances

Hello everyone! Before starting this blog, I spent a long time wondering where to begin. Then I realized: I need to take you back to my 12th-grade year (Intermediate). The High Stakes of EAMCET After completing my 12th grade, I jumped straight into EAMCET coaching. Everything seemed to be going well until the day of the entrance test. My exam center was about 25km away from home, so my dad drove me there along with a friend who was also appearing for the test. When the time finally came, we stepped into the hall and poured out everything we had spent months memorizing. As I walked out of the exam, the clouds opened up. It started pouring rain. I told my dad, "We can't wait here, let's just go!" We hopped on the bike and started the long trek home. "Go faster, Dad!" I urged as the rain got heavier. By the time we finally made it home, I was soaked, but the stress of the exam was over. I remember an IPL match was on that night—CSK vs. MI. From that day on, I ...
5 comments
Read more

B.Tech Diaries: From the Back Bench to the CR Seat

Hello everyone! In my last post, I shared the fine details of my very first day at SVCE. As promised, I’m going to keep things a bit more brief from here on out—but that doesn't mean the story is any less exciting! Let’s dive back into the journey... The Front-Row Shift On the first day, I ended up on the last bench, but deep down, I’ve always been a "first-bench student." By the second day, I knew I had to make a move. I walked up to a guy in the front row and asked, "Mind if I sit here?" He smiled and said, "Yeah, no problem!" That was Akhil —a guy who, coincidentally, shares a birthday with the superstar Prabhas. From that moment on, the front row became my home. Meeting the Legends: Drawing and Humor As the week progressed, I met more of the faculty: A. Venugopal Sir (Drawing/Year In-Charge): A legend at SVCE with nearly 40 years of teaching experience. As the first-year Mechanical In-Charge, he came in to check on the second-counseling students. ...
2 comments
Read more

B.Tech Diaries: A Heartbreaking Farewell and a Cold Welcome

Hello readers! Welcome back. In my last post, I shared the highlights of Teacher’s Day and Engineer’s Day—some of the proudest moments of my early college life. But today, I have to tell you about the first real "sad" moment of my first year. I know I promised to keep things brief, but this story is close to my heart. Let’s get into it. The News No One Wanted to Hear About a month after college started, we were all buzzing with excitement for Fresher’s Day. But then, a "fine day" turned into a gloomy one: Rupa Mam announced her resignation. We didn't know how to react. In those short weeks, she had become more than just a teacher; she was someone we could talk to about anything. My friends and I would often visit her cabin during free hours just to catch up and gossip. She always made time for us. October 14, 2017: The Last Day Wednesday, October 14, 2017, was her final day at the college. We weren’t going to let her leave without a proper goodbye. We planned a ...
2 comments
Read more