Building a Foundation for the Future: My Transformative Journey at RKMRC

Choosing My Path: A Journey Towards a B.Sc in Computer Science

After my Higher Secondary Examinations, my parents insisted I pursue higher education with a Science background of my choice. I didn't appear in the JEE Main/Advance examination like my other friends as I was aspiring to be a Bureaucrat. After receiving the ISC results of 2021, I started applying to various colleges based on the NIRF ranking list and the distance from my home. I applied to a total of 5 colleges for admission in their BSc in Computer Science program and received acceptance from all of them. St. Xaviers College (NIRF Rank 4) and Ramakrishna Mission Residential College (NIRF Rank 21) were at the top of my list. Out of these, RKMRC was just 15 minutes away from my residence. Cherry on top, they also have compulsory Hostel facility.

Exploring the College

It was the time of Covid, and I received an email to appear for the interview via Zoom in August. Surprisingly, I got selected after a tough interview. The online classes for 1st Semester started on 7th November 2021. Life barely changed but I enjoyed the classes. Offline classes started at the beginning of the 2nd Semester on 24th March 2022. The college was just one of the buildings on the 181-acre campus. Some of the major buildings were a school for boys – Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys Academy, the Largest Braille printing press in Eastern India, the university – Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational & Research Institute, and separate hostels for each respectively. Other buildings were the Monks quarters, Student’s hospital Arogya Bhavan, Ayurvedic Hospital, Vocational Institute, ITI, etc. The campus is filled with greenery serving a pleasant environment.

Building Blocks at the Ramakrishna Mission Residential College (Autonomous)

Apart from the magnificent infrastructure, I met my batch mates with whom I spent the most productive three years of my life. Initially, the strength of 1st-year students of the department was 12, which was reduced to 9 when we were promoted to 2nd year of our studies. Some left because of some of the strict monastic rules that we had to follow and if someone was caught defying the rules, he/she had to face tough consequences. This may sound very tough till now but all enjoyed as well. We got wonderful seniors, and when we became seniors, we got very cooperative juniors. The campus runs on the Gurukul concept of learning where the administrative heads, mostly monks of the Ramakrishna Order used to stay with us in our hostels as Hostel superintendents. With the lack of professionalism, all developed a feeling of being a part of a family where students can call their seniors, teachers, and other administrative heads as ‘dada’ (big brother in Bengali) as a gesture of appreciation. They also used to treat us like their own younger brother. I can challenge such deep bonds that can’t be seen in any other colleges around. Our faculties were very experienced and had three permanent professors and four part-time professors along with one Lab assistant.

A Journey of Leadership and Learning

I was selected as the students’ coordinator for the College Colloquium, and a member of the Seminar sub-committee & IT sub-committee. Apart from that, I was a part of college NCC where I was appointed as a Company Quarter Master Sergeant. In my third year, I became the founding member and the 1st head coordinator of the RKMRC UPSC/PCS Study Circle which is now part of the college’s placement cell. I was quite ambitious and ended the course in June 2024 with convocations to be held in December 2024.

Lessons of Life and Leadership

Looking back, my journey at Ramakrishna Mission Residential College was not just an academic endeavour but a transformative experience. The disciplined environment, enriched by the monastic ethos, taught me the values of perseverance, humility, and community. The bonds I formed with peers, mentors, and seniors shaped my character, and the leadership roles I undertook instilled a sense of responsibility and vision. These years were a microcosm of life itself, where I learned to navigate challenges, embrace diversity, and remain steadfast in my ambitions.

As I stand on the threshold of new opportunities, I carry forward the lessons of discipline, teamwork, and resilience. These attributes align with my aspiration to become a bureaucrat—serving the nation with integrity and empathy. My time at RKMRC was not just an academic chapter; it was the foundation for a lifetime of service and learning.

About the author:

Soham has recently completed his graduation journey in June 2024.He is a BSc in Computer Science graduate from Ramakrishna Mission Residential College (Autonomous). He is very ambitious. He wants to serve the nation with integrity and empathy.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely the author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.