I was very confident that my team will make it to the telephonic interview (considering the fact that we had a very strong application and mini-campaign) and we did it. We, Pro_Actives, were one of the six teams shortlisted. The individual interview was scheduled on 10^th of May. Gautam called me up at around 7 pm on that day to give me the id of the conference which I was supposed to join. I had some problems while logging in and meanwhile my restlessness grew. Finally I logged in… Aditi, Keeki and Gautam were on the interview board. I was a little nervous initially, but once I gave my introduction I felt much better. I guess you always feel comforted with the Grassroutes team, they are a bunch of very friendly and cool people \m/.

“Grilling”….Grilling is the word I use to describe the interview.

It would be a lie if I say I did not speculate on the questions they were going to ask in the interview. Our team discussed the kind of questions they might ask and helped each other prepare for the interview despite the fact that we had comprees going on ( Compre Lite..). But then trust me the prep did not help one bit. None of the questions were expected. It was obvious that the team analyzed my application through and through. The interview went on for nearly half an hour, Aditi asked me questions about our mini-campaign, mass media and my interest in social entrepreneurship. The best thing is they wanted practical examples for everything, I guess they were trying to figure out my zeal and commitment for the cause and to learn more. After Aditi was done with her questions, she asked Keeki and Gautam if they had any further questions and here comes reply from Keeki,” No Aditi, I think I got all my answers”. Now whatever that meant but it left me with mixed emotions….anyways me not trying to speculate on that any more . My first round of telephonic interview ended ( and at that point of time I had no idea there was another one too), I wasn’t completely satisfied as I felt I could have done much better and honestly speaking I wanted to speak more (typical of me ). I was more confident after I discussed the interview with Harshi and Krushi. And the funniest thing probably was that each one of us felt we could have spoken more.

I went out for a walk and then to jhopdi for Mahesh’s tea and Jinca Marina \m/. I came back to the hostel at around 10:30 pm and I get a call from someone and that someone was Dilip Dsouza. Wait a second..who is this chap…I know him…yes I know him…he is this “Swades” chap whose lecture I once attended three years back. Wow!!!. And this was how I began my second round of telephonic interview. I guess it went on for another half an hour and this time I satisfied all my urges to talk more. He asked me questions about the slum, we discussed some books that I have read and my interest in travelling and “psychology”. This time the interview was more personal. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I bet he was impressed \m/. After my interview with him, Harshi and Krushi too had theirs.

Though I was pretty confident after the round of telephonic interviews, I was toooo eager to see my team’s name in the finalists. The results were supposed to be declared on 14^th of May ironically on the last day of my comprees and one subject which I never studied throughout the entire semester. The result wasn’t out till evening and Harshita called up Keeki, only to find out that the wait continues till 16^th. I reached home on 15^th. At around 11a.m. on 16^th Keeki called me up to inform that my team made it to top 3. We are in .

I would have jumped in excitement, but I was a bit engrossed in the election results: P

Anyways the entire process of applying for Grassroutes in itself was a journey worth it \m/

Cheers!!!