“TAKE INITIATIVE-Learn, Communicate and Excel” says Afreen Meghani, St. Gonsalo Garcia TYBMS Topper 2013

An Interview with Afreen Meghani, TYBMS Sem 5 Topper, St. Gonsalo Garcia College (74%) –

2nd rankholder

• Tell us more about yourself.

Hi friends, I am Afreen. Meghani student of St. Gonsalo Garcia College, currently pursuing Bachelors of Management Degree. (5^th SEM- 74%)

 I am an outgoing, friendly, short tempered (but with self control) and extrovert person who loves to meet new people and explore new horizons. Aspiring to be an Entrepreneur, I have already started off with it (home based business).

• Were you expecting to top in the exams? To whom would you credit this success to?

I have been consistent throughout (always in the top 3), thus this was well expected. However, I was never overconfident about it. “Confidence is good, Overconfidence is DISASTER”.

Special thanks to my parents who always believed and had faith in me.

 I was never ashamed to ask doubts and approach teachers and my friends as well. I would like to thank all those who helped me throughout, professors, friends, and guides.

• Did you prepare religiously from day One or A few weeks before the exams?

Day ONE!! Who does that!!

Frankly speaking NONE of the student does that (me too). The major reason is INTERNALS. As soon as semester starts one is flooded with presentations, assignments, tests, projects, IVs also we had to work on our 100marks project. So all together, it was not possible to focus on the EXTERNAL exam preparation from day one.

Trust me; regularly attending the lectures helps a lot. I had also prepared my notes in order to make it easy for me to understand in a better way.

• How did you allot time to different subjects? 

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.”

I was successful in making and FOLLOWING a timetable 2 months prior to exams. With calendar on my desk I started with “One (theory) subject at a time, along with regular practice of FM.”

As a helper in family business, I hardly got any time during day. Starting after dinner at 10p.m I continued till 2a.m. It was not about time or hours; it was about completing 1 unit at a time. It took me only 3-4 days to complete one subject THROUGHLY.

• Can you share some insights on how to crack the subjects before exams? 

1.       SSM being easy subject I started off with it (starting with an easy subject builds up your interest and keeps you going.)

2.      Later Business Ethics and Marketing (Too many concepts and needs understanding as well as good examples.) EXAMPLES ARE A MUST.

3.      HR- Believed to be very vast, I followed the same rule ONE UNIT ONE DAY.  I wrote down the question and its MAIN POINTS, which I explained in my own words with suitable examples.  MAKE CUES TO HELP YOU RECALL THE POINTS.

4.      Logistics took a lot of time as it has too many concepts to be understood and constant guidance from my professor helped a lot. ATTENDING LECTURES IS A MUST.

5.      FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: The word finance itself scares me. However, quality of teaching matters the most. I was fortunate to have excellent faculty for FM. REGULAR PRACTICE IS A MUST.

• Do you think BMS student require coaching classes or is self-study enough? Had you joined any coaching class for a particular subject?

Being a weak student in accounts I opted for Marketing. But FM was compulsory so with no other option left, I took coaching for FM.

(If you are a true management student) No other (theory) subject requires coaching unless you are weak, “EXTREMELY WEAK” in understanding concepts.

• Did you participate in college fests or extra-curricular activities? Do you think a BMS student can manage both studies and extra activities?

WHY NOT!!

BMS is all about multi tasking and managing your time. I was a part of our college fest “HORIZON” and was elected as the VICE PRESIDENT, also hosted the event for two years.

I have always been a FAVOURITE STUDENT (because of my communication skills and initiatives) from school times.

“TAKE INITIATIVE- Learn, Communicate and Excel”

I also own a home based business (Ladies Traditional Wear) for which I need time to get the stock, billing, arranging, building contacts, supplying stock to boutiques, etc. Despite all this I have been consistent with my academics.

• Did you pursue any additional courses/ internships alongside BMS?

Yes, I have also opted for BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEGREE.

• Today, we often come across students committing suicide out of failure, depression or tension of exams. What do you have to say about this? Did you use any special techniques for stress management?

The causes for committing suicide can range from depression, family and relationship problems, expectations, pressure to succeed and
academic failure, not reaching the goal that is desired and many more. Only way to overcome is POSITIVE THINKING.

For a student who had pursued BMS, even 24hours will be less, so managing time smartly is the only alternate to overcome work load at the end of the semester.

“Failure is opportunity, not THE END”

Too much of study pressure is also not good. You have no time to communicate and NO SOCIAL LIFE. This depresses you. Thus, one should definitely go out, communicate with friends, family and professors.

• Do you think the number of Industrial visits should be increased for BMS Students? Which industries have you visited?

Yes, it is only through practical knowledge that a student learns management theories. Also, it builds team spirit, group participation and gives exposure to the industrial world.

I have been to:

1. CAMLIN Ind. Tarapur, Boisar
2. Nilkamal Limited. Silvassa

3.     Sudarshan Chemical Industries Ltd. Silvassa

4.     National Institute Of Oceanography (NIO), Goa

5.     Voltas Limited – Silvassa

6.     Reliance Energy, Borivali

7.     Electromax Industries – Silvassa

• Do you think BMS students are flooded with assignments, projects and internal exams round the clock? What changes would you like to bring in the BMS Curriculum?

UNAVOIDABLE…Common guys we are MANAGEMENT STUDENTS!! BMS teaches us the same thing to M-A-N-A-G-E.

Taking positively, we need to MANAGE OUR TIME (The Only Option).

I won’t crib about the BMS curriculum and about changing it. However, one thing which I would want to ask the professors is please SET A UNIFORM PATTER FOR INTERNAL MARKS DISTRIBUTION, so that the student is very much clear about how he is being evaluated and would take internals seriously. This will increase class performance and more number of students to come forward and take initiatives.

• What message would you like to give to the next batch of BMS students?

MARKETING V/S FINANCE:- Very 1^st thing, 75% of the students are confused between MARKETING AND FINANCE.

I would say GO WITH THE SUBJECTG YOU ARE GOOD AT. Don’t think that finance will fetch me more marks than (theory) marketing. NO a BIG NO..!! I am not favoring any subject as such but just do what you are good at and your liking and basic knowledge about the subject will help you to get good scores.

INTERNAL EXAMS: – Be in the good books of all the professors, because no matter what, 40marks are in their hands. Not only that, but it also motivates you to take initiative (in presentation groups), it brings you to lime light, and boosts your confidence level.

EXTERNAL EXAM:-

• One subject at a time
• Practicing FM
• Understanding Concepts thoroughly
• Solving as many Case Study

• What are the future plans post BMS?

For the next 1 year I would concentrate on my BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEGREE. Along with it I am planning to expand my business as much as possible.

 “BUSINESS ON MY MIND” 😛 With my 100marks project on “Women Entrepreneurship”, I am very well prepared to move in this direction and my findings and knowledge from that project is going to help me in future.

• Any Feedback/Suggestions for BMS.co.in?

BEST BEST BEST site for a BMSite!!

Good Going. Your updates, events, contests, solved papers, have helped me a lot.

THANK YOU.