From safe harbour to open seas…

November 12, 2025

Over the past couple of years, I’ve worked on many business projects. Through all of them, one thing always worked in my favour. It saved me from harsh feedback and unnecessary stress. That was my “student card.” I was just a student, learning how to do things. It was okay if I made mistakes or messed up a few things. My mentors were always there to guide me, making sure I stayed on track and learned along the way.

Now, as I transition from doing student projects to working on impactful projects at an organisation for a longer time, the change feels a little scary and intimidating. The “student card” I relied on is slowly losing its power as I step into the professional world.

Each project I worked on in the last two years came with new learnings. Most of these projects were with my amazing peers, with whom I felt extremely comfortable. I’ve seen their growth journeys up close, and that made our bond stronger. Working with them hardly felt like “work.” We poured our best efforts into every task, from late nights to early mornings, just to get the best outcomes. It was an exciting and fun ride.

I still remember a project we did just a few weeks back. We were completely burned out, trying to handle multiple projects at the same time. We had to prioritise and work on the top ones first. I was juggling between my apprenticeship hunt and another industry project with my peer. So, we reached out to our mentors. One of them personally sat with us, helped us finish the project, and even invited us to his home. We pulled an all-nighter there, completed the project, and gave the presentation the next morning. Because our mentor decided to work with us on this project, I could spend time doing the other things I needed to. That’s just one of the many special experiences I’ve had over the last two years.

Looking back, I see that all these projects were preparing me for the real world. I got a safe platform under expert guidance to try new things, learn, and even fail multiple times. Now, as I begin my 9-month apprenticeship, I feel both nervous and excited. Excited because I’m sure I’ll get to learn many new things and work on interesting projects. Nervous because the training wheels are coming off. What if I get bored after a couple of months or don’t feel like working? It’s a little scary, but I know it will be alright. I really don’t want to focus on the negatives. I want to start this new chapter with optimism and gratitude. This is the next step, slowly moving from being a student to becoming a professional.

Piyush Pandit

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