So now, we were three. It was early December. PLs were encountered and we went to our respective native places (Vinit went to Hyderabad instead). Nandal went to SSB, Allahabad.
We had a limited time. College was to reopen in Jan and it was December 9. We had a deal to reach Pune on or before Dec 15 and open academy before 20th. The first step was to collect study material. I went Behel to my cousin brother who had all study notes of my didi (didi had a coaching from Akash Institute, New Delhi and got admission to Army College of Medical Science). Later I collected all the notes I could find with 'Theta Sir' for Rs. 500/-. On the other hand, Raj was looking for all the notes of his younger brother who had coaching from Motion IIT-JEE Kota. Though Raj himself had coaching from Bansal, Kota. But after getting selected in EML for subsequent two years, he burnt all his books in anger.
Now we had to decide the name of our "to be academy". We came up with many names. List had about 15 names and later we narrowed down the list to only two names: "Amigos" and "Competition Island". Finally, Competition Island was the winning name. Vinit and me made the logo overnight by merging whatever we could get on Google-Images, and after a little fine Photoshop by Vinit.
Next step was to attract all the students. I had phone numbers of all the kids studying at USA. I messaged them all, and a CC to Mr. Anil also. Anil replied that "if you are coming to us as faculty, it is not good to send such SMS to me as well as my students."
On 18th of December, I left Bhiwani to Delhi. My train was waiting for me. After two hours, Raj joined me in Mathura. We had a seat side by side. On December 19, I called all the students confirming the admission and asked them to wait at Dominos in Vishrantwadi (Vinit says, that was the the most stupid thing we have ever done in our so called "Academy-Career") at 5 PM. Vinit reached AIT at 2:00 PM and We all met at Dominos at 5:00 PM as scheduled. Students were told that "tomorrow on 20th, we have the opening, BUT we still don't know what is the address :)". We ordered Pizza for all of them that did cost us arount a 1000 bucks and there were around 10 students there out of whom, only 5 joined.
Raj says "those 5 would have joined us anyhow. Pizza didn't help at all in attracting them". On December 20, me and Vinit went to Manpa and baught a whiteboard marker worth 1080 INR. We kept it at AIT hostel that night and made payments to a 1 BHK ugly room which was to be renowned. It would take another day so we told students that the opening is delayed by one day.
Next day, we ran all the day for furniture. We got a donation of about 9 chairs from a "TO BE KEPT SECRET" source which in return asked for us to have a bit physical pain, shoes filled of mud and a cost of fare to a Sixy-auto at 11:00 PM. So we decided not to buy anymore, and make a sustainable development. But that donation surely . The same benevolent source also gave us some curtains.
Now, it was the final day. On one hand, we had to get our documents for room-at-rent completed by a Govt. Notary. On other hand, we felt that the chairs were less than required. Then, on one side, me and Raj made a leap to Bhosari for cheap chairs. On other side, Vinit was making arrangements of a tube-light in the inner room. We were late. Students were waiting for us since 5:00 PM near Dew-Drops. I went to receive them at 5:15 PM. First class was of mine and I was not in good attire. Parents were also with kinds. Vinit escorted dew students beforehand and other I handed over to Raj. Then I ran to college to change my drapery. At 5:30, class was ready to go on with a rickety arrangement.
Rooms were stinking. Toilet wasn't clean (And Raj says : "Get back to the class. Why the hell are you girls standing outside?"). Mosquitoes were destroying the scenario even more. So, vinit made a quick arrangement of a coil. He made a podium. And finally, we were done with a temporary academy like environment, with our only wealth : the knowledge we had.
That was our first batch. First day, around 15 students arrived. We taught well, and to our full potential. Got all forms filled by students along with their parent's signatures. Fee was very optimal. And most of them kept on attending the classes for around 8 to 9 days until we asked for fee. And as soon we asked for money, they started leaving with excuses. We were left with just 6 students (with a doubt whether they will give fee or they will also run away). But, luckily 5 of them were still retained by us and they performed better than who remained at USA, as far as we know.
This was the story of "The Origin of Competition Island".
We had a limited time. College was to reopen in Jan and it was December 9. We had a deal to reach Pune on or before Dec 15 and open academy before 20th. The first step was to collect study material. I went Behel to my cousin brother who had all study notes of my didi (didi had a coaching from Akash Institute, New Delhi and got admission to Army College of Medical Science). Later I collected all the notes I could find with 'Theta Sir' for Rs. 500/-. On the other hand, Raj was looking for all the notes of his younger brother who had coaching from Motion IIT-JEE Kota. Though Raj himself had coaching from Bansal, Kota. But after getting selected in EML for subsequent two years, he burnt all his books in anger.
Now we had to decide the name of our "to be academy". We came up with many names. List had about 15 names and later we narrowed down the list to only two names: "Amigos" and "Competition Island". Finally, Competition Island was the winning name. Vinit and me made the logo overnight by merging whatever we could get on Google-Images, and after a little fine Photoshop by Vinit.
Next step was to attract all the students. I had phone numbers of all the kids studying at USA. I messaged them all, and a CC to Mr. Anil also. Anil replied that "if you are coming to us as faculty, it is not good to send such SMS to me as well as my students."
On 18th of December, I left Bhiwani to Delhi. My train was waiting for me. After two hours, Raj joined me in Mathura. We had a seat side by side. On December 19, I called all the students confirming the admission and asked them to wait at Dominos in Vishrantwadi (Vinit says, that was the the most stupid thing we have ever done in our so called "Academy-Career") at 5 PM. Vinit reached AIT at 2:00 PM and We all met at Dominos at 5:00 PM as scheduled. Students were told that "tomorrow on 20th, we have the opening, BUT we still don't know what is the address :)". We ordered Pizza for all of them that did cost us arount a 1000 bucks and there were around 10 students there out of whom, only 5 joined.
Raj says "those 5 would have joined us anyhow. Pizza didn't help at all in attracting them". On December 20, me and Vinit went to Manpa and baught a whiteboard marker worth 1080 INR. We kept it at AIT hostel that night and made payments to a 1 BHK ugly room which was to be renowned. It would take another day so we told students that the opening is delayed by one day.
Next day, we ran all the day for furniture. We got a donation of about 9 chairs from a "TO BE KEPT SECRET" source which in return asked for us to have a bit physical pain, shoes filled of mud and a cost of fare to a Sixy-auto at 11:00 PM. So we decided not to buy anymore, and make a sustainable development. But that donation surely . The same benevolent source also gave us some curtains.
Now, it was the final day. On one hand, we had to get our documents for room-at-rent completed by a Govt. Notary. On other hand, we felt that the chairs were less than required. Then, on one side, me and Raj made a leap to Bhosari for cheap chairs. On other side, Vinit was making arrangements of a tube-light in the inner room. We were late. Students were waiting for us since 5:00 PM near Dew-Drops. I went to receive them at 5:15 PM. First class was of mine and I was not in good attire. Parents were also with kinds. Vinit escorted dew students beforehand and other I handed over to Raj. Then I ran to college to change my drapery. At 5:30, class was ready to go on with a rickety arrangement.
Rooms were stinking. Toilet wasn't clean (And Raj says : "Get back to the class. Why the hell are you girls standing outside?"). Mosquitoes were destroying the scenario even more. So, vinit made a quick arrangement of a coil. He made a podium. And finally, we were done with a temporary academy like environment, with our only wealth : the knowledge we had.
That was our first batch. First day, around 15 students arrived. We taught well, and to our full potential. Got all forms filled by students along with their parent's signatures. Fee was very optimal. And most of them kept on attending the classes for around 8 to 9 days until we asked for fee. And as soon we asked for money, they started leaving with excuses. We were left with just 6 students (with a doubt whether they will give fee or they will also run away). But, luckily 5 of them were still retained by us and they performed better than who remained at USA, as far as we know.
This was the story of "The Origin of Competition Island".
No comments:
Post a Comment