College to corporate!!!

The best lived years of one’s life are definitely the ones spent in college. We cherish these moments for life and there is absolutely no doubt that given a choice we would revert back to college life. However, the final year of college marks the commencement of the anticipation of students to enter corporate life. For some it is a new life expected to be with new challenges, for some it’s an ending of one phase of life and beginning of another, but for too many people it’s just something that will give them a social status and guarantee income and for few others’ it signifies responsibility. According to me, the transition from college to corporate varies from person to person, however one challenge is common to all irrespective of whatever their motto was for entering corporate world, is remembering how we really were and what friendship meant. Now one may argue that they face this particular issue everywhere and may question its impact exclusively during the college to corporate transition phase. However, one must not forget that during college a fellow colleague doesn’t make or mar your life greatly. Sadly, the same cannot be said for office life.
One thing which is true for office is “nobody is unimportant”. Everyone has their own circles prior to the new-bee arrival and everyone is observing you. The people who tend to ignore you the most are the ones who are most interested. Before you know it, impressions about you are sweeping the place. There are different categories of people in the office. First, there are those who understand thoroughly what it means to be a fresher and are extremely caring and help you whenever you ask. Secondly, there are those who despise you because of your package/profile and tend to find everything about you ill-mannered or irritating. Thirdly, there are those few who don’t give a damn about your or anybody else’s existence. These are usually the best people to hang out with. Somehow everyone loves them even when they hardly care about you, simply because these people do not interfere and lead a life indifferent to what happens in others’ lives. Lastly there is this amusing category which enjoys the seniority bestowed upon them. They go out of their way to help you, not because they want to help you, but simply because they are seniors and they know stuff!
Fresher’s are broadly of two types, the one which is a very passive crowd which nods heads to every statement, does assignments on time, works super hard on presentations, maintains decorum in office, etc. You get the drift. The other crowd is more like a mob, works in packs, is friendly with majority people around, high in socializing and in making contacts, easily noticed and they generally move with a spot light on their head. Disciplinary requirements and expectations are learnt with time. Work is practiced. Excellence achieved. Slowly fresher’s move into the office acceptable category.
Somehow while getting our office life to accept us and blend into work culture and becoming career oriented, money minded, we forget what it is to be surrounded by friends. Our personal success is all that matters and we seldom think how it will be to move ahead with a bunch of friends that just trying to reach the finish line alone. Some of us are lucky to get friends again in office too, just like I got 3 more idiots with me, the fourth idiot. This one is dedicated to the three people who make life easy in office and the only reason why I look forward to coming to office daily and office isn’t just compulsion anymore. It is advised to keep personal and professional lives apart. But they are that professional part which I willingly take home.