Letter from Apex

Dear Fresher

As a fresher, one of the hardest parts is leaving the warmth of home, filled with the comfort of familiar faces, only to step into a sea of unfamiliar ones – each just as nervous, just as unsure, and just as lost as you. And yet, that’s exactly where the magic begins.

So, congratulations! It’s finally time to toss those JEE prep books into the attic, no need for them anymore. The fire-breathing dragon of entrance exams, sleepless nights wrestling with that one last question, comparisons with “Sharmaji ka beta”, and the endless “well-being” inquiries from every aunty around, all of it is now behind you. The dragon has been slayed.

The image of neatly pressed uniforms, plaited hair, and perfectly polished black shoes will soon begin to feel like a distant memory. College marks a shift from a sheltered school lifestyle to one that challenges you to be bold, driven, and self-aware. But be warned: this transformation doesn’t come easy. It’s a demanding process. You’ll strive to grow, not compared to others, but compared to your past self, every single day. And that’s the beauty of it. That’s what college is truly meant for.

You’ll often find yourself stepping outside your comfort zone, facing challenges that seem overwhelming at first. Whether it’s academic goals like excelling in a course, taking up research, diving into competitive coding, or landing internships – or extracurricular pursuits like playing sports, writing for the campus magazine, dancing at college fests, or even forming your own band to perform at Meltdown – you’ll discover talents you never knew you had. Be curious. Be bold. Don’t hold back. Participate in anything that piques your curiosity. These are moments that won’t come again. Live them fully, and don’t be afraid to fail. Fail often. Learn more.

Here at IIIT-H, we are a close-knit family. Thanks to the small size of our campus, you’ll soon know everyone by name. You’ll start this journey alongside your batchmates and seniors, and soon, you’ll welcome your own juniors (currently battling their own dragons). Faculty and professors will be there to support you too. They aren’t just teachers, but mentors quietly guiding you along your path. You’ll form bonds that will stay with you long after college, bonds that shape who you become.

And if ever you feel lost or overwhelmed, don’t worry. You’re not alone. At IIIT-H, we’ve built a layered mentoring system to support you through every step of your journey. We have an Apex body of students who, in conjunction with their Faculty guides, will be coordinating with your direct student mentors. Your mentors and us, the Apex Body, are always available for you to contact with any issues throughout the year. If there is anything we can help you or your parents with, it would be our pleasure to do so. Our Email IDs are given below to get in touch with us at any point of time.

Bipasha Garg	bipasha.garg@research.iiit.ac.in
Dhruv Bansal	dhruv.bansal@students.iiit.ac.in
Harshita Kumari	harshita.kumari@students.iiit.ac.in
Ishaan Romil	ishaan.romil@research.iiit.ac.in
Karthikeya Busam	karthikeya.busam@students.iiit.ac.in
Kiran R	kiran.r@research.iiit.ac.in
Krishna Goel	krishna.goel@research.iiit.ac.in
Krrish Goenka	krrish.goenka@research.iiit.ac.in
Manas Agrawal	manas.agrawal@research.iiit.ac.in
Mohammed Ihsan Ali	mohammed.ihsan@students.iiit.ac.in
Nilanjana De	nilanjana.de@research.iiit.ac.in
Pratishtha Saxena	pratishtha.saxena@research.iiit.ac.in
Soumil Gupta	soumil.gupta@students.iiit.ac.in
Sujal Deoda	sujal.deoda@research.iiit.ac.in
Sukasi Manidhar	sukasi.manidhar@students.iiit.ac.in
Tanish Gupta	tanish.gupta@research.iiit.ac.in
Vaishnavi Shivkumar	vaishnavi.shivkumar@students.iiit.ac.in

Welcome to college life! You're gonna love it!
Don't hold back! Make your own memories!

— The Apex Body '25