17th October 2025
My Third Year First Semester Experiences
Hey everyone — this is Celestial V (CH), back on track with writing
after a long break. I’m now in my third year of engineering, and today was such
a good day that I felt like sharing it here. I want this blog to be a place
where, in the future, whenever I feel low, I can come back, read these memories,
and remind myself to rise again with resilience.
It all began in May — right after my birthday. That was when it struck
me: not only had I entered the third decade of my life, but I was also stepping
into my third year of engineering.
Back in 2021, I was sitting hopelessly, watching my dreams fade away. I
never imagined that one day I would resume my studies and pursue engineering.
But life had other plans for me. Though it took time, everything eventually began, and now I find myself surprised and deeply grateful for each day and every opportunity that comes my way.
I know I might sound a little overenthusiastic,
but it’s not exaggeration — for some people, even those with great potential
and capabilities, life tests them in unique ways. In a sense, it prepares them,
and in this process, the universe sometimes delays things significantly, only
to ensure they happen at the right moment.
A Promising Start
From the very first day of my third year, I was full of excitement. My previous semester exams went great, the new subjects seemed interesting, and on top of that, I became a Senior Associate in my association (SPECANCIENS), moving up from Associate.
With time, I noticed a shift in myself — a positive transformation in my
behavior and personality. I remembered the promise I made to myself when I
first joined college:
“I’ll never sit at the back. I’ll grab every opportunity that comes my
way — participate in every activity, no matter what the result.”
And I stayed true to that.
This semester, I attended several workshops, hackathons, and tech
events, both online and offline — like ISRO workshops, NASA Space Apps
Challenge’25, AI Infinity’25, Innovators Drone Workshop, UDYAM’25,
Hacktopia’25, Code for Good AI Hackathon’25, and Adobe India Hackathon’25,
among many others. I completed multiple certifications and learned so much
along the way.
I also started a learning streak, pushing new work to my GitHub every
day. I even sat for mock interviews (which I’ll talk about later in my blog
about MISA’25).
Tech Triathlon
Experience
Round 1: Tech Quiz
And today, I participated in Tech Triathlon, an event organized by the
CSI Student Chapter of my college. The day was a little chaotic because I also
had MISA’25 the next day —
The event began with a Tech Quiz, featuring questions about logo
identification (like Grok, TensorFlow, GitHub Copilot, etc.), and concepts from
Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Blockchain, and other AI tools.
The tension began when they started announcing the names of students who
qualified for the next round. I was confident about my answers, but my name was
called last — maybe the application displayed the most recently submitted quiz
first, and since I was one of the first to submit, mine came last!
Still, there was a moment of doubt — “What if I’m not selected?” I don’t have faith in fate, but the universe always finds ways to
make me believe in it. It constantly reminds me that there are some bugs in my
life’s calculations, or as people say, “bad luck” — but I’ve learned to smile
through it.
Round 2: Logo Design Challenge
Now, it was time for the second round — the Logo Design Challenge.
The task: Create a logo on any topic in just 15 minutes.
I thought for a few seconds: “What should I design?” Then I
decided to create something that truly defines me. So I opened Canva AI and
ChatGPT. I explained everything about myself — my passions, my personality —
and asked ChatGPT to create a prompt for Canva AI. Once I got the prompt, I
instructed Canva AI to design the logo accordingly.
The logo came out beautifully, though it lacked a little finishing.
Still, I managed to tweak and polish it at the last moment.
But I knew — presentation matters as much as the design itself. As the
coordinator began the countdown — “10 seconds left!” — I gathered my thoughts,
preparing what I’d say during the pitch. I realized I forgot to add a chess
symbol — but no worries!
The judges arrived at my desk, and I was the first to present. I greeted
them and began confidently:
“Good Morning Sir/Ma’am. I’ve created this logo titled ‘Ink and
Infinity.’
This isn’t just a brand or startup logo — it’s a reflection of who I am. Every
element in this design holds a piece of my story.
‘Ink’ represents the medium through which I give shape to my imagination — it’s
the bridge between my thoughts and their expression. Whether I write, sketch,
or build ideas, ink symbolizes creativity in motion, the power to bring
intangible dreams into visible form.
‘Infinity’ symbolizes my belief in endless possibilities. It stands for my
mindset — that learning, exploring, and creating have no limits. It’s a quiet
reminder that growth is infinite, and so are the ways to express it.
The compass symbolizes my ever-exploring spirit — my curiosity to venture
beyond the familiar and try new things, no matter how uncertain the path may
seem. It represents my direction-seeking nature, the constant urge to evolve,
and my love for discovering new fields and ideas.
The infinity symbol, styled with brushstrokes on one side and binary digits on
the other, reflects the harmony I try to maintain between my artistic soul and
my passion for coding. It merges art and logic — creativity and computation —
the two sides of me that together define how I see the world.
And finally, the open book at the base signifies my love for learning, reading,
and writing. It is more than just a symbol; it represents my willingness to
stay curious, to keep growing, and to keep documenting my thoughts as I journey
through different experiences.”
The judge smiled — genuinely impressed. I was surprised myself. I didn’t
even know where those words were coming from; they just flowed naturally!
Another judge asked whether the logo was unique or copied. I proudly
replied,
“No, Sir. This is completely original — designed right here, in this
moment.”
I cleared that round too! Once again, my name appeared last (maybe they
were following a LIFO – Last In, First Out order).
Round 3: Website Development
The third round was the toughest — building a website from scratch in 30
minutes. I was so engrossed and excited that I missed several instructions,
which eventually cost me the win, but honestly, I was proud of how far I came.
I gave it my all and learned so much.
The idea was simple yet powerful. With 25 minutes left, I brainstormed
and finally decided on the theme: “Echoes of Impact.” I opened multiple
AI tools — Bolt AI, Vercel VO AI, Lovable, and GitHub — and asked ChatGPT to
create prompts for each to help me build it. But those AIs were taking too
long, and the lab PC didn’t even have VSCode properly installed.
So I switched to my backup plan — building the website manually using
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on Notepad. Yes, Notepad! It was challenging, but I
managed to create a fully functional site. (The code will be uploaded to myGitHub soon!)
I presented it as:
“Imagine a world where every good deed, no matter how small, creates a
ripple that inspires others.
‘Echoes of Impact’ brings this vision to life — a dynamic, interactive map
where acts of kindness, community contributions, and positive actions appear as
glowing ripples across the globe.
Users can add their deeds, see them appear instantly, read inspiring quotes,
and leave comments to encourage others.
Each ripple is permanent — symbolizing that every act of kindness leaves a
lasting mark.
This isn’t just a visualization — it’s a full-stack concept in action, ready to
connect to a backend database.
‘Echoes of Impact’ turns abstract kindness into a tangible, collective story of
human goodwill.
It’s not just a website — it’s a movement, a platform where every good action
resonates and inspires more.”
The judges were impressed. One of them said it was creative and unique,
even suggesting I should build it as my major project. But then came the line
that stung:
“The frontend and backend are good… but where’s the login page?”
I froze. “Login page, sir?”
He smiled gently and said,
“Yes, the presence of a login page is one of the judging criteria. Your
project is great, but we’ll have to cut some marks for that.”
I was speechless. I had missed that detail in my excitement. But I
didn’t feel bad — I felt grateful. That day taught me that excitement is
wonderful, but over-excitement can make us miss the little things. Always
listen carefully and act accordingly.
I didn’t win, but I walked away with satisfaction — I reached the final
round, gave my 101%, and learned a lot.
After the event, I spoke with many participants, shared experiences, and
realized something important — I’m not an introvert,
as people assume.. I’m selectively extroverted — open with the right
people, quiet around the rest.
After Event
After the event ended at 2:10 PM, I attended my CRT session (Campus Recruitment Training). The day’s topic was Soft Skills, and the faculty was amazing — he spoke with such warmth and motivation. He explained beautifully:
“Soft skills aren’t about presentation skills — they’re about
presentation of your skills.
Communication skills aren’t about how you talk — they’re about how you
communicate your skills.
Whatever you mention on your resume, you should be able to explain
confidently.”
His session was motivating and enjoyable. Since I’ve overcome my stage
fear, I’ve decided to work on Group Discussions next.
After 4 PM, I attended another one-hour CRT class, where we revised
Percentages in Aptitude.
Then I headed home, realizing I had three holidays ahead! After having
my late lunch at 6 PM, I sat down with my schedule diary to list everything I
wanted to complete during the break, because right after that, we’ll have
Mid-2 exams and lab tests.
Like last semester, I’m aiming for a 9+ SGPA again and hope to
accomplish a lot more.
Also, I have less than a year left to secure my placement, and it’s not
just about a job — it’s about paving the way for my further studies and, of
course, fulfilling personal goals like buying a high-end telescope to pursue my
passion for astrophysics. With so much on the line, I know I have to stay
focused, disciplined, and determined every single day.
Now, after writing all this, I feel content.
So this was me — Celestial
V aka CH,
with the same energy, curiosity, and gratitude,
signing off.
Thank you for reading. 🪐
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